ERRORS IN USING INFLECTED ADJECTIVES IN GERMAN OF STUDENTS AT VNU UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

  • Thi Bich Thuy Le Faculty of German Language and Culture, VNU University of Languages and International Studies, No.2 Pham Van Dong, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
Keywords: inflection, adjective, errors/mistakes, German

Abstract

According to a number of studies on the use of inflected adjectives by German learners as well as our teaching experience, the rate of learners making related errors is often high. In order to investigate the frequency of students’ errors at Faculty of German Language and Culture, University of Languages and International Studies, ​​Vietnam National University, Hanoi (ULIS) when they used German adjectives in comparative/superlative form, we surveyed 48 students online. After doing statistical analysis of the errors made by students when they did five given exercises related to the use of adjectives in inflected form, the study showed the following results: Students made a lot of mistakes when they had to change the adjective into the comparative as well as the superlative form, and at the same time filled in the adjective ending. In addition, they had difficulty using adjectives before plural nouns accompanied by possessive pronouns or definite articles keine (in all cases). In the exercise of choosing one of four available options, the correct rate was highest. Perhaps because this was not a production or application exercise, but simply an exercise with closed questions. The opposite result could be seen in exercises which students had to complete sentences. The results of this study will help teachers of German to review and innovate methods of teaching grammar in general and adjective inflection in particular to help students reduce difficulties in learning this grammatical phenomenon.

Tác giả

Thi Bich Thuy Le, Faculty of German Language and Culture, VNU University of Languages and International Studies, No.2 Pham Van Dong, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

According to a number of studies on the use of inflected adjectives by German learners as well as our teaching experience, the rate of learners making related errors is often high. In order to investigate the frequency of students’ errors at Faculty of German Language and Culture, University of Languages and International Studies, ​​Vietnam National University, Hanoi (ULIS) when they used German adjectives in comparative/superlative form, we surveyed 48 students online. After doing statistical analysis of the errors made by students when they did five given exercises related to the use of adjectives in inflected form, the study showed the following results: Students made a lot of mistakes when they had to change the adjective into the comparative as well as the superlative form, and at the same time filled in the adjective ending. In addition, they had difficulty using adjectives before plural nouns accompanied by possessive pronouns or definite articles keine (in all cases). In the exercise of choosing one of four available options, the correct rate was highest. Perhaps because this was not a production or application exercise, but simply an exercise with closed questions. The opposite result could be seen in exercises which students had to complete sentences. The results of this study will help teachers of German to review and innovate methods of teaching grammar in general and adjective inflection in particular to help students reduce difficulties in learning this grammatical phenomenon.

điểm /   đánh giá
Published
2025-06-02
Issue
Vol. 40 No. 2 (2024)
Section
RESEARCH