Surface Structure Taxonomy on Journal Texts: The Case of Filipino ESL Learners

Errors in the subject-verb agreement are most common problems among elementary learners an English as Second Language (ESL) class. Thus, this study aimed to investigate types of errors committed by twelve (12) Grade 6 pupils Hadiyyah International School, Marawi City, Philippines, and prevalent participants. The employed a descriptive research design that explored participants’ two-month written journal. Using Dulay, Burt, Krashen’s Surface Strategy Taxonomy, these were categorized Omission, Addition, Misordering, Misformation. Findings show 198 found four identified: Omission (12.5%), Addition (11.5%), Misordering (3%), Misformation (73%). reveals error participants is misformation. Moreover, researcher discovered simpler sub-types errors. This concludes it possible for commit multiple sentence, reflected current study. These results suggest call language teachers systematically diagnose their revisit teaching approach corresponds learner’s needs. Effective methods grammar, especially at level, should be practised prevent fossilization difficulty un-learning prior wrong perception grammatical rules.