The Importance of English Phrasal Verbs Use in the Business Writing-A Qualitative Analysis of Perceptions of Non-native Business Students in Pakistan

Abstract

The study aims to analyze the perception of students about the importance of phrasal verbs (PVs) in the academic writing and explore their reasons behind avoidance of PVs in their writings. Phrasal verbs are comprised of a verb+ preposition or verb + adverb combination. The most common English phrasal verbs are as important as other more frequent phrases during the process of English learning (Chen, 2007).  In the context of Pakistan, students use phrasal verbs but are unaware of its importance in their writing composition due to lack of its teaching at primary and secondary level. Due to the same reason they avoid them in their writings. The study has followed qualitative approach to understand student’s perception about the importance of phrasal verbs in writing composition after giving them practice lessons on phrasal verbs for a month. Participants of the study are 50 undergraduate students enrolled in the Management Sciences degree program. The data is collected from focus group discussions and analyzed through the transcription of emerging themes. The results showed positive perception of students regarding use of phrasal verbs in their writing, yet they feel hesitant in using them without teacher guidance due to their lack of practice. Phrasal verbs should be included in syllabus as students are using them unknowingly and incorrectly that is adversely affecting their writing skills.

Keywords: Phrasal verbs (PVs), perception of students, writing composition

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-6-01