How Does Vocabulary Knowledge Affect Chinese EFL Learners' Writing Quality in Web-based Settings?—Evaluating the Relationships Among Three Dimensions of Vocabulary Knowledge and Writing Quality

This study investigated the relationships among different dimensions of vocabulary knowledge （passive, controlled active and free active vocabulary knowledge） and how they affect EFL learners＇ writing quality. Participants were a whole class of web-based English learners （N = 31） of tertiary level in the Chinese mainland. The results show that free active （above 2000） vocabulary knowledge has a much stronger correlation with controlled active than passive vocabulary knowledge, and writing quality has a stronger correlation with free active vocabulary knowledge than with the other two dimensions of vocabulary knowledge.