Get Ready! Sail - PROGRAM SAMPLER

The Grammar Transfer Charts provide a quick reference for comparing English grammatical features to those of other languages . Specifically, the charts identify areas in which the various home languages of ELs will pose some difficulty in acquiring English grammar (syntax) . The type of transfer error that causes interference is outlined for each grammatical category . Each cell in the chart gives an example of the grammar point, the type of transfer error, the home languages in which it occurs, and the cause of transfer difficulty . English Grammar Point Language Transfer Issue Sample Transfer Error Language Background Cause of Difficulty ADJECTIVES Word order Places adjectives after nouns I read a book interesting . (I read an interesting book .) Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic nouns often precede adjectives . Comparatives and superlatives Avoids - er and - est I am more old than you . (I am older than you .) The most funny joke … (The funniest joke …) Spanish, Vietnamese Spanish and Vietnamese show comparative and superlative forms with separate words . ADVERBS Word order Places adverbs before verbs You hard work . (You work hard .) Mandarin Mandarin adverbs usually come before verbs, and this tendency is transferred over to English . ARTICLES Omission Consistently omits article He has job . (He has a job .) They want cell phone not tablet . (They want a cell phone not a tablet .) Vietnamese, Spanish (to lesser extent) There is no article in Vietnamese and no difference between the and a. In Spanish, certain contexts don’t require an article, but it is required in English . Overuse Often overuses articles The English is difficult to learn . (English is difficult to learn .) The Dr . Martínez is kind . (Dr . Martínez is kind .) Arabic Spanish An article is used in Arabic and Spanish in places where it is not used in English . In Spanish, definite articles are placed before professions . Txlii GRAMMAR TRANSFER CHARTS