ABSTRACT

CELESTIAL, ANDREA B., DELA CRUZ, DANIELLE R., ISAAC, CEEJAY P.,
Common Errors in Usage of Preposition as a Basis for Teaching Grade 7 Students
in Cavite National High School S.Y. 2017-2018. Bachelor of Secondary Education
major in English, Cavite State University-Cavite City Campus, November 2017. Adviser:
Ms. Xyza Marie B. Balangue.

This research study entitled, Common Errors in Usage of Preposition as a Basis

for Teaching Grade 7 Students in Cavite National High School, S.Y. 2017-2018 aimed to

investigate the common errors in usage of preposition as a basis for teaching grade 7

students in Cavite National High School. Specifically, the study aimed to: 1. determine

the demographic profile of the participants in terms of age and sex; 2. determine the

common errors in the usage of preposition particularly time, place and direction; 3.

determine the gender that has a greater possibility of committing errors in the usage of

preposition particularly time, place and direction and 4. to determine the teaching

approaches used by teachers to correct the common errors in preposition.

This research study used descriptive type of research to determine the common

errors in usage of preposition particularly time, place and direction of Grade 7 students of

Cavite National High School S.Y. 2017-2018. The researchers used stratified random

sampling method to choose the sample population. The instrument that was used by the

researchers was standardized cloze test questionnaire provided by Professor Bradley Kjell

of the Computer Science Department at Central Connecticut State University and was

validated by the thesis adviser and the accredited English critic to ensure its validity and

conciseness. The following formula were used in the study: frequency, percentage,

scaling, mean, standard deviation and t-test.

 Based on the analysis and interpretation of data, results revealed that there is an

equal distribution of both male and female strata with a frequency of 160 for male and

female for a total of 320 participants. The data also showed that most of the participants

were 12 years old. The findings also showed that male participants were more prone to

commit error in the usage of preposition than the female participants.

With regards to the distribution of participants’ scores in the cloze test

questionnaire, among the three, preposition of direction exhibited the highest mean

frequency error of 180.375 which indicates that more error has been committed within its

type followed by preposition of place with 154.375 and lastly preposition of time with

120.5 mean frequency error which is lowest among the three that indicates a few

participants committed an error within its type. Thus, the results implied that more errors

have been committed in the use of prepositions of direction and place rather than

prepositions of time. The possible reason for the problems in the use of prepositions of

place and direction is due to the lack of understanding the usage and poor prepositional

knowledge while writing.

Based on the results, preposition of direction exhibited the lowest t-value which

indicates that more errors had been committed within its type followed by preposition of

place and lastly preposition of time which has the highest t-value among the three that

indicates a few participants committed an error within its type. The findings revealed that

there is no sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis. Therefore, there is no

significant difference between the sex in terms of the committed prepositional errors

particularly time, direction and place.

 The teaching approaches and strategies used by the teacher which has been

interviewed by the researchers are inductive method in teaching preposition because they

believe that through set of examples, exercises, drills, games and more activities, the

students’ grammar skills will be developed as well as their knowledge in using

preposition properly. The participants also answered that if they were having a hard time

in understanding prepositions, the first thing to do is to reteach the lesson. One of the

participants said that through teaching this part of grammar, teacher should start with the

simplest or basic rules in usage of preposition. In addition, the participants agreed to

make the study a basis in correcting the common errors in preposition and stated that the

study would be of great help for them and for the students which later on use the

prepositions properly in their writing activity.