This study investigated the problem of teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools. The study adopted descriptive research design. Questionnaires was the major tool for data collection and data collected were analyzed using the statistical tools of frequency counts, simple percentage for the demographic data while the inferential statistics of Pearson Chi Square with the aid of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to test all the stated hypotheses at 5% level of significance. A total of 150 copies of questionnaires were administered to the respondents. Among other things the result of the study revealed that there are teachers’ factors that hinder the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools, there are pupils’ factor that hinder the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools, teaching method is a problem in teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools in Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun State. The study recommended that schools should organize debate and essay competitions among students within and outside their schools. Students should also be given the opportunity to explain points and express views in class discussion and any error made on usage of regular and irregular verbs should be corrected by the teacher without any intimidation as these will enhance a proper evaluation of learners’ performance or progress in English language.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

English language in Nigeria is a second language to primary school students and because of little provision made for the teaching of regular and irregular verbs on the school time table, it has become difficult for the students to make effective use of regular and irregular verbs in their spoken and written works. There is an overlap in the verb which poses a problem to learners of English as a second language. For example start is a regular verb because the past tense is started and the future tense is will start. However, a word such as eat is an irregular verb, because the past tense form is not eated, but is ate.

Moreover, participles which are derived from the verbs have their present and past forms as ordinary verbs. The present participle form also ends in -ing and past participle form ends in -ed for regular verbs and -en, -t and other ways for the various irregular verbs. This kind of similarity in form brings about difficulty in differentiating between verbs (present and past tenses) and participles. The problem of teaching the participle is certainly not simplified by the fact that this term is obviously a misnomer.

The student, accustomed to present tenses which indicate present time and past participle which indicates now present, now past, now future time... they insist on calling the participle in -ing present no matter, what time it happens to be indicating.

With all the problems encountered in teaching and learning of regular and irregular verbs, little research has been conducted in this area. The result is that some of the teachers are not quite informed and since one cannot give what one does not have; this study is designed to fill the yawning gap in order to provide a reliable data for both the teachers and students. Hence, this research seeks to investigate the problem of teaching regular and irregular verbs in primary schools with particular reference to selected schools in Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun State.

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The general objective of this study is to examine the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools with particular reference to selected schools in Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun State. Other specific objectives of the study are:

            1.  To examine the teachers' factors which hinder the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools.

            2.  To investigate the pupils' factors which hinder the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools.

            3.   To find out if teaching method is a problem in the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun State.

            4.   To examine the school  factors which hinder the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary school pupils Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun State.

1.4       Research Questions

The research will be guided by the following research questions:

i.          What are the teachers' factors which hinder the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools?

ii.         What are the pupils' factors which hinder the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools?

iii.        Is teaching method a problem in the teaching of regular and irregular verbs in primary schools  in Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun State?

1.5       Research Hypotheses