Under-representation of Phrasal Verbs in EFL University Students’ Free Writing

Abstract

This study investigates the use of phrasal verbs by EFL students and calls for a more
realistic expectation. A total of 444 phrasal verbs were found in 84 essays written by Arabicspeaking
male and female university students. Most of these verbs (82%) were correctly
produced, a finding that shows that phrasal verbs are not as problematic as they are portrayed
in previous studies. Under-representation of these constructions in written production is a
natural phenomenon in classroom EFL learning situations. The non-use of phrasal verbs could
be attributed not only to avoidance but also to ignorance and passive learning for
comprehension. EFL students’ overt errors in the use of phrasal verbs need to be carefully
analyzed with regard to the underlying interlingual and intralingual strategies. To help EFL
students learn phrasal verbs both implicit and explicit instruction are recommended.