Categories Of Errors in The English Language As Committed By ESL (English
As A Second Language) Learners
Daisy M. Cepillo
MaED – English
Lexical Errors:
1. “My mother raised three childs [children] including me.”
2. “I am the most happiest [happiest] person when my mother came back from
Korea after ten years.”
Equivalence Errors:
1. “Most Filipinos carry their own bench [tooting their own horns].”
2. “My mother commanded [told] me to clean the house before I leave the house.”
Conceptual Confusion:
1. “I couldn’t see him because I have sick [fever].”
Formal Confusion:
1. “Growing up, my mother gave me advices [pieces of advice].”
2. “She loved me, irregardless [regardless] of my flaws.”
Word Formation Errors:
1. “As far as I am concerning [concerned], happiness must be the priority.”
2. “I am hardworking and dedicating [dedicated] to all the tasks I assigned to.”
Colligation Error:
1. “I do not allow people hurting [allow to hurt] me.”
Overuse and Underuse.
1. “The most important person in my life is my mother…… She is very
important because she loves us deeply… Every time I need advice, she is
always ready to give it, - and that is very important to me.”
Word Frequencies:
1. “In my opinion, I believe [I believe] that the LGBTQ community should have
equal rights with men and women.
Lexical – Teddy Bears:
1. “First and foremost, [To begin with] I would like to acknowledge the people
who shaped me through the years. They are my family, friends, teachers, and
of course, my boyfriend.”
Collocations:
1. “The mistake that I did [made] is not forgivable.”
2. “As I have been a faithful customer [loyal customer] to their sari-sari store,
her father has approved our relationship.”
Preposition:
1. “I have been talking with [to] him for a long time.”
2. “I prefer listening than [to] sharing with someone.”
3. “We discuss about [remove] our goals and dreams together.”
Formal Error:
1. “He gave me a handwritten letter instead [instead of] a flower.”
Categories Of Errors in The English Language As Committed By ESL (English
As A Second Language) Learners
2. “Inspite of [In spite of] getting everything I need and want; I am still so much
lonely.”
Preposition Use:
1. “Besides [Aside] from me, he has nothing.”
2. “We are in [at] the beach.”
Spelling:
1. “He is a lier [liar].”
2. “My father was once a kernel [colonel].”
Word Pairs:
1. “He ensured [assured] my family that he will take care of me.”
2. “He gifted me my favorite desert [dessert].”
Compound:
1. “We lived in a two-storeys [two-storey] house.”
2. “I believe that my hardwork [hard work] will pay off soon.”
Apostrophe:
1. “Were [We’re] enjoying the beach, when she came and pulled my friend’s hair.”
2. “Lets [Let’s] talk later.”