Analysis Of Non-Finite Verb Errors Made By Vocational English Majors

Second language acquisition is a complex process, during which learners commit a large number of errors. The study of error has been focused on by many scholars at home and abroad. The study is to describe, classify and analyze non-finite verb errors by Chinese Vocational College English majors through Interlanguage Analysis and Error Analysis.Before the analysis, a grammar test on non-finite verbs and a questionnaire about the strategies of grammar learning were carried out. The results were unsatisfactory although the students had studied English grammar in both middle and high schools. After identification and categorization, the errors were divided into four major parts: errors between finite and non-finite verbs, errors in infinitives, errors in participles and errors in non-finite verb usage. At last, detailed analyses of the errors are made in accordance with the four categories.The major findings are as follows:Firstly, the mother tongue interference has not been the major cause of the learners, but the intralingual influence will play an increasingly large part in grammar learning.Secondly, the students favor the strategies of teachers'instruction and grammar exercises, and they learn grammar in a passive way.Thirdly, the grammar courses are needed in vocational college to enhance their grammar knowledge.