ESL Writing  for East Asian Learners: Tackling Syntactical Errors

For East Asian learners of English, mastering syntactical nuances can be a key to writing with polish. Here’s a guide addressing common issues and offering strategies for improvement:

1. Difficulty with Articles (a, an, the)

  • Error: Incorrect or missing use of articles, influenced by differences in article usage in East Asian languages.
  • Fix: Familiarise yourself with English article rules. ‘A’ is used before words starting with a consonant sound, ‘an’ before vowel sounds, and ‘the’ when referring to a specific noun.

Example:

  • Error: “She is student.”
  • Correction: “She is a student.”

2. Subject-Verb Agreement

  • Error: Inconsistencies in matching subjects and verbs, a common challenge due to dissimilarities in syntax.
  • Fix: Pay attention to the number (singular/plural) of the subject and choose the corresponding verb form.

Example:

  • Error: “The team are playing well.”
  • Correction: “The team is playing well.”

3. Overuse of Passive Voice

  • Error: A tendency to rely excessively on passive voice, affecting the clarity and directness of writing.
  • Fix: Prioritise active voice for straightforward and engaging sentences.

Example:

  • Error: “The book was read by Mary.”
  • Correction: “Mary read the book.”

4. Complex Sentence Structure

  • Error: Overcomplicating sentence structures, influenced by the preference for more complex constructions in certain East Asian languages.
  • Fix: Practice using a variety of sentence structures, incorporating simple and compound sentences for clarity.

Example:

  • Error: “Due to the fact that it was raining, we decided to cancel our plans, and, as a result, we stayed at home.”
  • Correction: “Because of the rain, we canceled our plans and stayed home.”

5. Misplaced Modifiers

  • Error: Misplacing descriptive elements, impacting the intended meaning of sentences.
  • Fix: Ensure modifiers are correctly placed to describe the intended word or phrase.

Example:

  • Error: “Almost John bought a car.”
  • Correction: “John almost bought a car.”

6. Incorrect Use of Prepositions

  • Error: Misusing prepositions in phrases or expressions, stemming from variations in preposition usage in East Asian languages.
  • Fix: Learn common English prepositions and their usage in different contexts.

Example:

  • Error: “I am good in playing the piano.”
  • Correction: “I am good at playing the piano.”

7. Word Order Confusion

  • Error: Shuffling word order due to differences in syntax, leading to awkward sentence constructions.
  • Fix: Adhere to English word order conventions, especially concerning adjectives and adverbs.

Example:

  • Error: “He saw in the park a beautiful flower.”
  • Correction: “He saw a beautiful flower in the park.”

8. Lack of Variety in Sentence Beginnings

  • Error: Repetitive sentence structures with the same sentence beginnings, affecting overall writing style.
  • Fix: Experiment with different sentence openings to enhance variety and engagement.

Example:

  • Error: “I like to read. I like to write. I like to learn.”
  • Correction: “Reading is enjoyable, and writing allows me to express my thoughts while learning new things.”

9. Incorrect Verb Tense Usage

  • Error: Difficulty in choosing the correct verb tense, influenced by distinctions in tense usage in native languages.
  • Fix: Pay attention to the context and timeframe of actions, selecting appropriate verb tenses.

Example:

  • Error: “Yesterday, I will go to the store.”
  • Correction: “Yesterday, I went to the store.”

10. Unnecessary Repetition

  • Error: Repeating ideas unnecessarily within a sentence or paragraph.
  • Fix: Review your writing to identify and eliminate redundant information for conciseness.

Example:

  • Error: “In my opinion, I believe that the movie is interesting.”
  • Correction: “I believe the movie is interesting.”

By addressing these common syntactical errors, East Asian learners can refine their English writing skills. Consistent practice, exposure to diverse sentence structures, and feedback will contribute significantly to improvement. Happy writing!

2 responses to “ESL Writing  for East Asian Learners: Tackling Syntactical Errors”

  1. lifestyle tips avatar

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    1. My English Coach avatar

      Thank you very much. Do let me know if there are any specific ESL topics you’re interested in.

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