Investigating the EFL learners' errors in using the gerund, verbal noun, and devrbal noun

Abstract EN

Gerund, Verbal noun, and deverbal noun are grammatical terms related to nouns formed from verbs.

They are different kinds of nominalization and the choice of these nouns for certain structure is not easily predictable and it causes a problem for EFL learners.

This study is designed to investigate Iraqi EFL learners' errors in using gerund, verbal noun , and deverbal noun.

The sample of the study is randomly chosen from the fourth year EFL students of the College of Arts , University of Baghdad , for the academic year 2012-2013.

The theoretical background of the terms under investigation is mentioned with reference to Chomsky 's Remarks on Nominalization (1970) and Quirk et al ' s A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1985).

The subject's performance indicates that the grammatical terms gerund, verbal noun, deverbal noun are problematic in certain points and difficult to master.

The results of both tests indicate that Iraqi EFL learners cannot distinguish between a gerund and a verbal noun, but they can identify a deverbal noun .