An investigation into the University EFL Students use of Phrasal Verbs: A case Study of Third Year Students at Sudan University of Science and Technology

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the uses of phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs by university EFL learners. the study also surveyed the learners attitudes towards using phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs. The descriptive analytical method was adopted in this study. To collect the data required, a test and a questionnaire were administered to seventy two third year English language students at Sudan university of science and technology. The findings of the study have revealed that most of the university EFL students were unable to use phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs; they didn’t have enough vocabulary so that they could easily understand phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs. The findings of the study have also showed that most of the students had negative attitudes towards using phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs, for they considered them the most difficult areas of language and that the meanings of phrasal verbs can’t be inferred from the meaning of individual words. The study recommends that the use of phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs should be further emphasized in the syllabuses. Effective strategies of teaching these language items should be introduced to help promote learners awareness in using phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs, and that more practical approaches to teaching and learning phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs should be used in EFL classroom. Other sources of phrasal verbs also should be included.