Grammar Spotlight
The English Grammar Profile (EGP) is a sister resource to the English Vocabulary Profile, and has been put together by Anne O'Keeffe (Limerick University) and Geraldine Mark, the co-authors, along with Ron Carter and Mike McCarthy, of English Grammar Today (Cambridge University Press). Mark and O'Keeffe investigated the extensive data in the Cambridge Learner Corpus to establish when learners begin to get to grips with different linguistic structures.
A series of insights from their research will be posted on this page, each one putting the spotlight on an interesting aspect of learner grammar development. Please note that all of the learner examples come from the Cambridge Learner Corpus, a 55-million word electronic collection of written learner data. The examination and the candidate’s first language are given in brackets after each learner example.
See the latest Grammar Spotlight entry below. Scroll right down to the bottom of this page to browse through previous entries.
The most significant period for learner development with object pronouns occurs at the A1 level. At this level the full range of object pronouns (me, you, him, her, us and them) appear in learner work in the direct object position after a transitive verb.
I’m very happy that you want to see me. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; German)
I can see her on Saturday at 8 pm. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Arabic)
It protects us from rain, wind and sun. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Portuguese)
Learners are also able to use me, you, him, her, it, us and them in the object position after prepositions. Common preposition and object pronoun combinations include with/for/to me and with/for/to you.
I’m going to buy a gift for you. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Tamil)
Thank you for your note to me! (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Polish)
Can you please bring it with you? (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Arabic)
Learners can use the pronoun it as a direct object to refer to an object or situation already referred to.
The maths is boring and I don’t like it. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Portuguese)
If you can’t find it, call me. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Turkish)
Do you like it too? (Skills for Life: Entry 1; German)
After the A1 level, it no significant progress is made with object pronouns until the B2 level is achieved. At this stage learners can use it as an object with make to introduce something the speaker or writer is going to refer to.
This shyness makes it hard for me to speak in public, or even to go out with my friends as often as I should. (Cambridge English: First; Spanish – European)
Other retail companies with cheaper prices and lots of discounts make it impossible for us to do business. (Cambridge English: First; German)
Unlike subject pronouns, the majority of learner progress with object pronouns is achieved at the A1 level. Yet, true mastery still does not occur until much later on.
