Problems Encountered by EFL Learners in English Relativisation

Abstract

The present study investigates the problems that EFL learners at Mohammed Seddik Benyahia University-Jijel encounter in English relativisation , with a particular focus on identification and production problems. The first assumption posits that EFL learners encounter problems in identifying the different types of relative clauses and fail to recognize all relativizers. The second posits that they fail to produce grammatically correct relative clauses. To validate these two assumptions, a grammar test and a questionnaire were administered to 42 third-year EFL students at the aforementioned university. The findings of the study revealed a number of problems, including a lack of knowledge regarding the appropriate usage and placement of relative pronouns, problems in determining the boundaries of relative clauses, incorrect utilization of the comma as a punctuation mark for non-restrictive relative clauses, and an inability to produce relative clauses that adhere to grammatical rules. Based on these findings, some recommendations were provided to students and teachers and a suggestion was made to researchers