TENSE ERRORS IN ENGLISH ESSAYS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (A CASE STUDY OF COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL AND SOMORIKA SECONDARY SCHOOL BOTH IN AKOKO EDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF EDO STATE)

ABSTRACT

This Research Work focused on the tense errors in the English essays of Secondary Schools Students. Using Somorika Secondary School and Comprehensive High School Igarra as a case study. The research was conducted on essays written by Seventy (70) Students of the above schools. The analysis of the essays revealed the deficiencies of some of the Students in using English tense. In the use of the present tense, for instance, Students had more difficulties in the use of present tense compare to the use of other tense. It has also been observed that students commit these errors as a result of their mother tongue interference. It was also found out that the errors were as a result of poor teaching methods, lack of adequate textbooks and qualified English teachers. To minimize these problems, we suggest that the government should provide adequate textbooks on English grammar and qualified English teachers. So that student in the lower classes should be exposed to the various situations in which tenses should be used.