DECODING SENTENCES: THE IMPACT OF SYNTAX AWARENESS ON READING COMPREHENSION OF EFL LEARNERS IN PAKISTANI UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This study investigates the role of syntax awareness in reading comprehension among EFL learners in Pakistani universities. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, using a 10-item Likert-scale questionnaire completed by 100 students and semi-structured interviews with 6 participants to explore learners’ understanding of sentence structure, difficulties with complex sentences, and strategies for comprehending reading texts. Findings reveal that EFL learners have a moderate to good level of syntax awareness, and this awareness positively influences their reading comprehension. Long sentences with multiple clauses, passive constructions, and sentences with connectors such as although and which were identified as the most challenging. Learners use strategies such as identifying the subject and verb first, breaking sentences into smaller parts, and focusing on connectors to understand complex texts. Overall, the study confirms a positive relationship between syntax awareness and reading comprehension, highlighting the need for targeted grammar instruction to enhance EFL learners’ reading skills.