Patterns of verb usage in Swedish children with SLI: an application of recent theories

Data from several languages, including Swedish, have shown that children with specific language impairment (SLI) have particular difficulties with verb morphology. In the present study, the verb morphology of six Swedish children with SLI was further explored in longitudinal and cross-sectional data. It was found that the children with SLI had significant problems with the use of auxiliary and modals, compared with younger MLU-matched controls. Although the children with SLI omit auxiliary and modals less frequently with increasing age, their levels of omission are not compatible with their MLU levels. The results are discussed with reference to recent accounts of the underlying nature of SLI