Difficulties in using correct English prepositions among EFL students

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to find out the reasons of this problem and find some solutions. The participants were ten students at levels seven and eight, at the Faculty of Sciences and Arts. The researcher used the Descriptive Statistical Method and collected the data via a written test as the main research tool. The data were then analyzed using a Statistical Package of Social Sciences Programme (SPSS). The results were as follows: Saudi students faced problems with using the correct prepositions after certain verbs. Students encountered difficulties in identifying the correct prepositional phrase. Students experienced the same problem with the use of English prepositions in writing tasks and in daily communication. The recommendations of this study are that students need to revise the use of English prepositions in general and need more practice in the use of prepositions after certain verbs. They also need to make a greater effort to use English prepositional phrases in their written work. Regarding writing courses, students need to focus more on the use of prepositions in general. Curriculum designers need more attention about teaching prepositions in their textbooks and curriculums.
 HIGHLIGHTS:
 
 Saudi students faced problems with using the correct prepositions after certain verbs.
 Students encountered difficulties in identifying the correct prepositional phrase.
 Students experienced the same problem with the use of English prepositions in writing tasks and in daily communication. 

Analisis Kesalahan Gramatikal Dalam Abstrak Berbahasa Inggris

“…Kata depan (preposition) adalah sebuah kata yang digunakan untuk menghubungkan antara kata benda atau kata ganti dengan kata-kata lain dalam suatu kalimat berbahasa Inggris (Amara 2015). Penggunaan kata depan/preposisi dalam bahasa Inggris dianggap sulit bagi pembelajar bahasa Inggris karena terdapat beberapa sifat preposisi dalam bahasa Inggris yang berbeda dengan bahasa pertama si pembelajar misalnya perbedaan penggunaan preposisi waktu dan tempat (Abdalla 2021). Dalam penelitian ini, terdapat 12,9% kesalahan penggunaan kata depan, berikut salah satu contoh kalimat dengan kesalahan penggunaan preposition.…”

Investigating Mother Tongue Effect in the Acquisition of English Prepositions by Indonesian-Speaking Learners

“…Another study was carried out by Abdalla (2021). He examined Saudi university students' difficulties with using correct English prepositions in their writing and communication.…”

Preposiciones espacio-temporales en inglés como L2 desde la corporeidad

“…Si bien existen distintas categorías, como las de tiempo, espacio, dirección, entre otras (Abdalla, 2021), Balboa (2005) propone que existen preposiciones que son más complejas debido a que se utilizan tanto para concebir el tiempo como el espacio. Por esta razón, la autora las concibe como "preposiciones espacio-temporales", en donde solamente in, on y at cumplirían esta doble función.…”