Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Education, Language and Art (ICELA 2021)

The Avoidance of Non-finite Verbs for Senior High Students in China

Authors
Shanshan Huang1, *, , Kaining Mo2, , Chen Xie3, , Jialuo Zhang4,
1School of Language and Translation, Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao, 820004, China
2School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong Province, China
3School of Business, Griffith University, Queensland, 4215, Australia
4School of Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei province, China

Those authors contributed equally.

*Corresponding author. Email: p1907712@ipm.edu.mo
Corresponding Author
Shanshan Huang
Available Online 1 February 2022.
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.220131.202How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Avoidance; Non-finite verbs; Senior high students; China
Abstract

Avoidance is a significant linguistic phenomenon in the process of second language learning, especially in writing. Writing is an effective form of language output and reflect the students’ capability of using grammar. To meet the requirement of writing, high school students are supposed to use non-finite verbs. However, avoidance strategies are used based on observation. This paper mainly tries to offer explanations for students’ avoidance behaviors by conducting an empirical study via questionnaire among 114 participants including high school students, people who are non-English majors but pass different kinds of English examinations, students in English majors and some teachers teaching English in high schools. It is found that students avoid the non-finite verb consciously or unconsciously to ensure the correct rate in the important exam such as IELTS. Moreover, the significance and high examination fee prevent students to try to use non-finite structure as it is a kind of unfamiliar although complex grammar structure. However, the number of tests is limited, so trial and error is so costly in writing that they avoid it rather than try and error. In addition, most people would prefer to use compound sentences and clauses to replace using non-finite verb to reduce making grammar mistakes. During the learning process, negative transfer of mother tongue Chinese is also a cause of avoidance. Furthermore, the complex grammar uses of non-finite verb confuse students and therefore they choose not to use it. This paper also gives some advice to teachers on improving the use of non-finite verbs including reducing the first language negative transfer and improving teaching methods and learners’ comprehensive ability.

Copyright
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Education, Language and Art (ICELA 2021)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
1 February 2022
ISBN
978-94-6239-527-5
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.220131.202How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Shanshan Huang
AU  - Kaining Mo
AU  - Chen Xie
AU  - Jialuo Zhang
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/02/01
TI  - The Avoidance of Non-finite Verbs for Senior High Students in China
BT  - Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Education, Language and Art (ICELA 2021)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 1114
EP  - 1120
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220131.202
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.220131.202
ID  - Huang2022
ER  -