THE INFLUENCE OF UZBEK LANGUAGE STRUCTURES ON ENGLISH GRAMMAR ACQUISITION AMONG EFL LEARNERS

This study investigates the influence of Uzbek language structures on the acquisition of English grammar among Uzbek learners of English. As Uzbek and English belong to different language families and demonstrate significant structural differences, learners often experience grammatical transfer from their first language. The research focuses on identifying common grammatical difficulties that arise due to structural contrasts between the two languages, particularly in areas such as word order, tense usage, articles, and prepositions. The study analyzes typical learner errors produced by Uzbek students studying English at intermediate levels. Data were collected through written assignments and grammar tests administered to university students. The analysis reveals that many grammatical errors can be attributed to negative transfer from Uzbek, including omission of articles, incorrect word order, and misuse of tense forms. The findings highlight the importance of understanding cross-linguistic influence in second language acquisition. The study suggests that English language instruction for Uzbek learners should incorporate contrastive analysis techniques to address structural differences and improve grammatical competence.