Investigating the English Sentence Types in Albanian Middle School EFL Students’ Essays: Syntactic Perspective

Abstract

This study investigates the types of English sentences used in the essays of Albanian middle school students in Kosova learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL), with a particular focus on syntactic structures. The topic was chosen due to the crucial role sentence variety plays in developing students' writing proficiency and enhancing clarity, engagement, and coherence in written communication. The primary objectives of the study are to identify the types of sentence structures and functions used by EFL learners and to highlight the importance of syntactic variety in academic writing. The research is grounded in syntactic theory, emphasizing the role of sentence structure in language development and written expression. A qualitative study with quantitative elements was conducted, using content analysis of student essays alongside numerical analysis of sentence types based on structure and function. Sixteen Albanian middle school students participated in the study, each submitting one essay on a topic of their own choice. Analysis of 164 sentences revealed that the most frequently used sentence structure was the simple sentence (97 occurrences), while declarative sentences were the most commonly used sentence function (143 instances). These findings indicate a strong preference among students for simple and declarative forms, suggesting limited syntactic range. The study concludes that relying heavily on a single sentence type may hinder the effectiveness of student writing, making it monotonous and harder to follow. Therefore, the ability to use a variety of sentence structures is essential for effective written communication. Mastery of syntax and grammar is fundamental, and language educators must prioritize teaching sentence diversity and grammatical accuracy to support students' writing development.