BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Tenses refer to the form of a verb in English Language that clearly indicates time. We use Tenses to show clear time specification. In this sense, it is seen that without verbs, there will not be Tenses as tense in grammar does not only refer to time but also the action of the verb or state of being at a given moment. Tense is a way of making us know that a thing has happened at ‘present’ (present tense), a thing happened some moments in the ‘past’ (past tense) and a thing will happen in ‘future’ (future tense).
Communication is the process or act of expressing ideas and feelings to one another or a process of giving out information to people.
Language as a medium of human communication, socialization, civilization and development has been given a full-length treatment by linguists. Language is quite complex and for this reason, linguists had to devise ways of making it easier to analyze and describe so as to present a true and full structure of any definition given. However, the attempt to describe and study language gave rise to a number of schools of linguists. All of them developed from the same root of traditional grammar.
Sidney Greenbaum defines grammar as “a general theory of language description” In this sense, grammar refers to the properties and processes that underlies the use of language. By implication, the speakers are expected to be equipped with the knowledge of the rules of the language they intend to speak and apply them properly when using them.
Traditional grammar precedes what is now regarded as a scientific approach to the study of language. Its approach is one that is normative, definition-oriented and prescriptive in nature. It represents an attempt to prescribe rules for language use. It prescribes rather than merely describe language. Emphasis is on correctly usage that is what speakers should say rather than what speakers actually say. Indeed, it is the attitude to correctness of the traditional grammar that has made it to always prescribe what sort of language ought to be used. Such terms as noun, verb, adverb, preposition, object, subject, etc. and of course, tenses are derived from the traditional grammar and are used to analyze sentences today.
It is interesting to note that traces of these grammatical terms or features are still found in use in schools today. However, the traditional grammar which is normative, prescriptive and definition-oriented has provided us with clear explanations on the uses of tenses in English and going by this, one is able to detect errors made by students in using tenses.
In this research work, the researcher intend to draw attention to the problem with tenses in communication using the students of university of Abuja as a case study.
STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
When Nigerians speak English, especially the students whom the scope of this research is limited to, they tend to make mistakes in their usage of English Language tenses. It is the level this problem has reached that prompted the researcher to investigate into the problem with the aim of highlighting the causes as well as the features and also the gateway of solving this problem.
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the Influence of income and savings on purchasing behaviour of working class Women in Niger State. The study...
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A change of administration following a general election tests both the quality...
ABSTRACT:- The broad objective of this study is to examine the impact of twitter ban on security threats inf...
ABSTRACT:- This study was carried out to examine impact of workplace motivation and commitment on employee effici...
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Adult education is a process in which adults engage in systematic and organized...
ABSTRACT
The study investigated the impact of computer assisted instruction on students‟ academic performance in civic education in senio...
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to determine the impact of fraud and related financial crimes on the growth...
Background to the Study
Business studies refers to those business subjects taught at the secondary school level such as...
ABSTRACT
The research work “Online Store Management System” includes sales, stock keeping, warehouse managem...
Background Of The Study
Over the years, there have been a lot of concerns over the effectiveness of lea...