Which error type occurs when a learner applies a rule too broadly in their second language?

• A. Overgeneralization
• B. Fossilization
• C. Transfer
• D. Interference

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that learners form general rules and apply them widely in the new language, even when they don’t fit every case. This is overgeneralization. In second language development, a classic example is taking the regular past-tense rule (add -ed) and applying it to all verbs, so learners say things like goed for went or comed for came. It shows the learner is actively testing and extending their grammar rules, a sign of growing competence, and it’s usually a temporary stage that gets refined with more exposure and practice.

Fossilization describes errors that become permanent despite continued learning and feedback, not the moment of applying a rule too broadly. Transfer and interference involve pulling patterns from the learner’s first language or cross-language influences into the second language, rather than creating new generalized rules within the L2 itself.