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Grammar

0. Introduction

0.1 This study: purpose, source of data and statistical results

0.2 The background: the problem of describing and classifying learners errors

[In the following, the number in each category represents the frequency of occurrence of errors in that category, expressed as a percentage of the total number of errors in all categories (1-8), rounded off to the nearest whole number. + means that errors in this category amount to less than .5%.]

1. The noun phrase 31

1.1 Generic reference 5

1.2 Specific reference 5

1.2.1 Specific definite and indefinite reference 4

1.2.2 A(n) with professions, nationalities +

1.2.3 One vs. a(n) +

1.2.4 Which vs. what +

1.2.5 This/that vs. these/those 1

1.3 Unique reference 1

1.4 Count and mass nouns 5

1.4.1 Mass nouns and the plural, a(n) 4

1.4.2 Count nouns and count quantifiers 1

1.5 Adjectives as noun phrase heads 1

1.5.1 Abstract adjective as noun phrase head

1.5.2 Ellipsis of noun phrase head +

1.6 Possessive and genitive expressions 3

1.6.1 Possessive with parts of the body, clothing 1

1.6.2 Own 1

1.6.3 Inanimate nouns and -s genitive +

1.6.4 Pronouns and of genitive +

1.6.5 Possessive adjectives and relative clauses +

1.7 Quantifiers 2

1.7.1 Last few, next few 1

1.7.2 Some in time adverbials 1

1.8 Predeterminers 1

1.8.1 Position of predeterminers +

1.8.2 All with temporal nouns +

1.9 Other premodifiers 2

1.9.1 Noun modifying -ing participle +

1.9.2 -ing participle modifying noun 1

1.9.3 Order of adjectives before noun +

1.9.4 Plural noun as premodifier +

1.9.5 Addresses +

1.10 Postmodifiers 5

1.10.1 Infinitive vs. preposition + participle 2

1.10.2 Infinitive introduced by wh- word 1

1.10.3 Conversion of infinitive to relative clause +

1.10.4 Restriction on -ing participle clauses +

1.10.5 Being introducing relative clause +

1.10.6 Relative pronouns 1

1.10.7 Position of postmodifier +

1.10.8 Omission of relative pronoun +

1.10.9 Omission of that in appositive clause +

1.11 Noun clauses 1

1.11.1 Infinitive vs. participle +

1.11.2 Non-finite clause as extraposed subject +

1.11.3 Extraposition of nominal relative clause +

2. The verb phrase 26

2.1 Future and present 2

2.2 Past and present 2

2.2.1 Past vs. present 2

2.2.2 Back-shifting +

2.3 Progressive 3

2.3.1 Verbs not allowing the progressive 1

2.3.2 Progressive and temporary or incomplete action 2

2.3.3 Progressive with adverbs of indefinite frequency +

2.3.4 Progressive with adverbs expressing continuous activity +

2.3.5 Progressive as time-frame +

2.4 Perfective 8

2.4.1 Perfective and state-up-to-present 4

2.4.2 Perfective and indefinite past 3

2.4.3 Past perfect 1

2.5 Conditional sentences 4

2.5.1 Real conditions 1

2.5.2 Unreal conditions 2

2.5.3 Understood if clauses 1

2.6 Modal and auxiliary verbs 2

2.6.1 Shall +

2.6.2 Should +

2.6.3 Must 1

2.6.4 have (got) to +

2.6.5 Will +

2.6.6 Omission of auxiliary verb +

2.7 Be to + infinitive 2

2.7.1 Subject of infinitive after be to 1

2.7.2 Verbs occurring as infinitive after be to 1

2.7.3 Be to + infinitive in if clauses +

2.8 Subjunctive +

2.9 Formation of past tense and past participle 1

2.10 Subject-verb agreement 2

3. Complementation 9

3.1 Verbs not allowing infinitive objects 3

3.2 Verbs not allowing -ing participle objects 1

3.3 Verbs not allowing finite clause objects 1

3.4 Intransitive and transitive verbs 1

3.5 Misuse and omission of to 1

3.6 Omission of infinitive subject 1

3.7 Malformation of infinitive subject +

3.8 Position of infinitive clause subject +

3.9 Position of complement 1

3.10 Time reference of perfect infinitive object +

3.11 Like + infinitive vs. participle +

3.12 Adjectives not allowing infinitive postmodifier +

3.13 Adjectives not allowing modification by passive infinitives +

3.14 Verb of perception as infinitive postmodifier 1

3.15 Future time reference with infinitive postmodifier +

4. The prepositional phrase 18

4.1 That clauses and infinitives as prepositional complements 1

4.2 Misuse and omission of various prepositions 18

5. Pronouns and other pro-forms 3

5.1 Reflexive pronouns +

5.2 How vs. what +

5.3 Such +

5.4 So +

5.5 Or so +

5.6 Do the same +

5.7 Formulaic questions +

5.8 Sentence relative clauses 1

6. Negation and non-assertion 3

6.1 Non-assertive forms after negative words 2

6.2 Assertive vs. non-assertive forms in questions +

6.3 No modifying subject complements 1

7. Comparison 2

7.1 Comparison of non-equivalent items +

7.2 Comparison of equivalent items 1

7.3 Enough and too +

7.4 Another +

7.5 Such vs. so +

8. Adverbials 8

8.1 -ly as adverb suffix 2

8.2 -]y as adjective suffix +

8.3 Initial negative adverbs and inversion 1

8.4 Misuse of various adverbs 1

8.5 Position of various adverbs 3

8.6 Infinitive clauses as adverbials +

8.7 For + -ing participle vs. infinitive of purpose 1

8.8 Being introducing adverbial clause +

9. Conclusion

References