Abstract：Listening, speaking, reading and writing are four basic skills of English learning. However, English writing is one of the most serious difficulties in English teaching and learning, especially in middle school. It challenges both teachers and students. What are the students’ writing problems? This paper attempts to examine middle school students’ general English knowledge such as spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation and role of mother tongue in English writing. Probably, the results of this survey would help both students and teachers in their English teaching and learning.

Keywords:  English writing；difficulties; English general knowledge; mother tongue

摘要：听说读写是英语学习中的四大基本技能。在四大基本技能中，特别在中学，英语写作一直困扰着老师和同学们。写作是英语教学中的难点之一。 教学中的难点何在？为了解学生在英语写作中的问题，本文试图从语法、词汇、标点符号、单词拼写等方面去调查中学生英语写作中存在的病句以及母语对英语写作的影响。其调查结果将为中学生面临的英语写作问题提供参考。

关键词：英语写作；难点；英语基础知识；母语