Research article | Open Access
International Journal of Language and Education Research 2025, Vol. 7(3) 15-47
Acquisition of English Uncountable Nouns by Moroccan EFL Learners
pp. 15 - 47
Publish Date: December 31, 2025 | Single/Total View: 3/2 | Single/Total Download: 3/2
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Moroccan Arabic (MA) on the acquisition of English uncountable nouns among Moroccan EFL learners and to determine the role of proficiency level in this process. The research aimed to answer two key questions: 1) Does L1, Moroccan Arabic, affect the acquisition process of English uncountable nouns by Moroccan EFL learners? and 2) Does the proficiency level of Moroccan EFL learners play a role in the acquisition process of English uncountable nouns? Correspondingly, the study hypothesized that there is a negative influence of learners’ first language, Moroccan Arabic, on the acquisition of English uncountable nouns, and a positive influence of proficiency level on this acquisition process. Data were collected through three tasks: translation, grammaticality judgment, and multiple-choice question, which were administered to beginner, intermediate, and advanced Moroccan EFL learners. The findings revealed that beginner learners frequently made errors in distinguishing countable from uncountable nouns, indicating a strong L1 influence. Intermediate learners showed improvement across tasks, while advanced learners demonstrated high accuracy and fewer errors, suggesting that proficiency level positively impacts the acquisition of English uncountable nouns.
Keywords: L2 Morphology; Countable and uncountable nouns; Proficiency level; L1 interference; Moroccan Arabic.
APA 7th edition
Yassine, B. (2025). Acquisition of English Uncountable Nouns by Moroccan EFL Learners. International Journal of Language and Education Research, 7(3), 15-47.
Harvard
Yassine, B. (2025). Acquisition of English Uncountable Nouns by Moroccan EFL Learners. International Journal of Language and Education Research, 7(3), pp. 15-47.
Chicago 16th edition
Yassine, Bensaad (2025). "Acquisition of English Uncountable Nouns by Moroccan EFL Learners". International Journal of Language and Education Research 7 (3):15-47.
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