Analysis of Grammatical Errors in Writing at the Tertiary level

Abstract

This study aimed at analyzing the students’ performance in grammar when writing composition in the tertiary level, it also aimed at investigating the problems that face the students when they write compositions and suggest solutions in order to overcome these problems. The study assumed that students in the tertiary level lack the knowledge of the correct use of verb as well as their inability to write good and coherent paragraph in addition to their inability to use parts of speech appropriately, then these assumptions are tested via the suitable tool (the test) in the form of composition which was given to the students of English language in the second level, College of Education at Sudan University of Science and Technology. After analyzing the students’ performance the study has come out with the following results: 1. In using verbs, errors are committed in subject verb agreement particularly in present simple tense. 2. Regarding the modal auxiliaries, almost all the students tend to omit auxiliaries from the structure in spite of their obligatory 3. Most students make mistakes when using preletters when writing expressions and not being able to use properly the characteristic that suits the described. 4. The study also indicated that students are not familiar with the full knowledge of the linguistic compositions of sentences and their inability to properly use the pronouns and the comparative formulas. In the light of the above findings, the study recommends the following: 1. Students must be aware of the correct use of the acts and know the time of the verb in the actual sentences. 2. English teachers must carefully follow students and raise them to use the correct parts of the speech. 3-giving students exercises that help raise their level and awareness of the proper use of English grammar.