Problems in Conceptualizing the Timeline of Past Tense Aspects by Libyan Students

الملخص

To master any language, grammatical rules are the backbone of producing accurate and meaningful messages. Past tense and aspect is one of the most important components of grammar that EFL learners and teachers should take into consideration. However, Libyan EFL learners encounter difficulties in forming and using past tense and aspect as a result of either their mother tongue influence or the lack of language competence which may lead to fossilization. On the other hand, teachers who teach English may not be aware of the importance of giving it right from the beginning. Therefore, teachers should give more emphasis on those areas of weaknesses in order to help students to master the past tense and aspect.