Evaluating Iraqi EFL learners' performance of ditransitive and complex transitive verbs

Abstract EN

This study sheds light on the two major types of transitive verbs which are ditransitive and complex transitive.

These verbs (simple or multi-word) not only denote actions (physical or mental), but also affect other elements in the sentences, namely, the objects.

Additional elements subjected to grammatical rules should appear in the sentence after the objects as substantial necessities to express the transferred actions of the verbs.

Two objects (direct and indirect) are required in the state of ditransitive verbs while complex transitive ones demand an object complement along with the direct object.

The term (verb complementation) comprises all the mentioned elements that follow the verb (ditransitive or complex transitive) and complete its meaning.

Since ditransitive and complex transitive verbs differ in meaning, various types of complementation arise to go well with the various meanings denoted by each.

Most of the Iraqi EFL learners at the university level find it difficult to differentiate between the ditransitive and complex transitive verbs because of the similarities of their structures.

This study aims at evaluating the recognition and production of sentences with ditransitive and complex transitive verbs and their complementation in the performance of the fourth year Iraqi learners of English at the College of Arts, Ahlulbait University.