The prevalence of morphosyntactic features in simple sentence construction among FAL learners in English essay writing tasks

The prevalence of morphosyntactic features in simple sentence construction among FAL learners in English essay writing tasks

Mzamani Steven Khosa, Emmanuel Sikitime & Innocent Zitha

Issue: Vol. 7 No. 10 2026 Article 1 pp. 1169- 1181
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.20267101 Published online 12th November 2026.

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ABSTRACT

Mastering the construction of simple sentences is essential for effective communication in various contexts, including academic environments, narrative storytelling, and routine correspondence. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the construction of simple sentences by Grade 10 learners of First Additional Language in a South African secondary school. A qualitative research design was employed for this analysis, utilising document analysis as the principal data collection method. The learners’ essay scripts were collected and analysed thematically to derive meaningful insights. The study comprised a sample of 15 Grade 10 First Additional Language learners from the Malamulele Northeast circuit. Stratified random sampling, in conjunction with purposive sampling, was employed to select this sample for the investigation. This research was grounded in the Communicative Competence Theory by Swain and Canale (1980). The findings indicated that Grade 10 First Additional Language learners in South Africa utilise various types of simple sentences, including (Subject + Verb), (Subject + Verb + Object), (Subject + Verb + Adjectival), (Subject + Verb + Complement), (Adverbial + Subject + Verb), (Subject + Verb + Object + Complement), and (Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object). Furthermore, the analysis revealed that the participants predominantly did not employ extended simple sentences, characterised by double or triple structures in the subject, verb, and object positions. Additionally, the results indicated that some learners have difficulty constructing simple sentences. Understanding and applying the principles of sentence construction can enhance learners’ language skills and improve their overall linguistic proficiency. This study contributes to the existing literature by addressing the knowledge gap concerning students’ comprehension of morphosyntactic sentence patterns.

Keywords: Communicative Competence, Essay, First Additional Language learners, sentence construction, simple sentences.

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AUTHOR(S)

Dr. Mzamani Steven Khosa is a lecturer, researcher, and academic supervisor at the University of Venda with over 15 years of teaching experience. His research interests include English language education, discourse analysis, academic writing, and multilingualism. He has published extensively and supervises postgraduate research across several areas of applied linguistics.

Thifhelimbilu Emmanuel Sikitime is a lecturer in the Department of English, Media Studies and Linguistics at the University of Venda, South Africa. His PhD research focused on multimodal affordances and the assessment of readers’ interpretative repertoires, forming the foundation of his ongoing scholarly interests. His research explores emergent literacy practices, with particular emphasis on multimodal representation, a key feature of meaning-making and communicative practices in contemporary contexts.

Innocent Zitha is a lecturer and researcher specialising in English Academic Literacy within the Department of English, Media Studies and Linguistics in the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education at the University of Venda. With over 5 years of experience in higher education, he has developed a profound understanding of the challenges students face in mastering academic writing and literacy. His research focuses on enhancing educational practices and promoting effective English communication among diverse student populations. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he has made significant contributions to his field through his scholarly work. He has authored and co-authored 31 papers and 4 book chapters, all published in reputable peer-reviewed journals. His publications reflect his commitment to advancing knowledge in English Academic Literacy and improving educational outcomes for students.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Khosa, Mzamani Steven, Emmanuel Sikitime and Innocent Zitha.“The prevalence of morphosyntactic features in simple sentence construction among FAL learners in English essay writing tasks.” Journal of Education and Learning Technology 7, no.10 (2026): 1169 – 1181. https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.20267101