53
3 Other Errors in Simple Present Tense a
Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have [56]
Student‟s answer: He has usually speaks so quickly that I do not
understand. R 26 In present perfect tense, auxiliary havehas are followed by past participle.
In this case the sentence is in simple present tense not in present perfect context. It expresses an activity that the boy or man usually does. It expresses a habitual
action.
b Mixed Tenses
[57]
Student‟s answer: His father didn’t works in a department store. He
works in a hospital. R 47 Auxiliary do, does, did are followed by bare infinitive. In sentence [57], did
not is followed by simple verb + -s or
–es. Besides, it uses two tenses in one phrase, did not + works, did is an auxiliary for the simple past tense while the
word works is in simple present. The context of the sentence is in simple present. The correct answer is
“His father does not work in a department store. He works
in a hospital.”
b. Errors in Present Progressive Tense
The errors the students committed in using present progressive tense were classified into three main categories. Those three main categories have sub-
categories. Those categories can be seen in Table 4.5. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
54
Table 4.5: Errors in Present Progressive Tense
Category Types
Frequency Context-related errors
a. Wrong Choice of Tenses 185
Form-related error a. Omission of
–s 2
Other Errors a. Subject and Verb Disagreement
27 b. The Use of be with Ordinary Verb
6 c. Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary has
4 d. The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
2 e. The Use of Negative in Affirmative
Sentence 1
1 Context-Related Errors
a Wrong Choice of Tenses
One of the functions of the present progressive tense is to express annoyance or anger with certain adverbs such as always, forever, and constantly.
In the test, items number 2 and 48 have function to express annoyance or anger. [58]
Student‟s answer: I always pick up Mary‟s dirty socks R 1
Always is used in simple present to describe habitual or everyday activities.
In special circumstances, it may be used in the present progressive to express annoyance or anger Azar, 1989: 16. Sentence [58] has function to express
annoyance or anger; thus the correct answer is as in sentence
“I am always picking up
Mary‟s dirty socks” [59]
Student‟s answer: What do you do at this moment? If you do not do
anything, please help me. R 4 Another function is to express an activity that is in progress right now. The
adverb at this moment means right now. The appropriate tense for sentence [59] is PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
55
present progressive tense “What are you doing at this moment? If you do not do
anything, please help me.” [60]
Student‟s answer: She writes another book this year. R 6
The other function of present progressive tense is to express an activity of a general nature: something generally in progress this week, this month, this year
Azar, 1989: 11. Sentence [60] has a meaning that writing a book is a general activity she is engaged in at present, but it does not mean that at the moment of
speaking she is sitting at her desk with a pen in her hand. Other examples, which are not appropriate with the context are in present perfect tense, simple future
tense, simple past tense, present perfect progressive tense, past perfect progressive tense, and past perfect tense. These following sentences should be in present
progressive tense. [61]
Student‟s answer: I have taken five courses this semester. Present
perfect tense, R 46 [62
] Student‟s answer: She is going to write another book this year. Simple
future tense, R 52 [63]
Student‟s answer: She wrote another book this year. Simple past tense,
R 53 [64]
Student‟s answer: She has been writing another book this year.
Present perfect progressive tense, R 63 [65]
Student‟s answer: She had been writing another book this year. Past
perfect progressive tense, R 11 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
56 [66]
Student‟s answer: Tom can‟t have the newspaper now because his aunt
had read it. Past perfect tense, R 4 2
Form-Related Errors a Omission of be
[67]
Student‟s answer: I always picking up Mary‟s dirty socks R 42
The pattern of present progressive tense is S + the present of be + the –ing
form Alexander, 1988: 164. Sentence [67] is lack of be „am’ because be for
subject I is am. It is incorrect, the correct answer is
“…am always picking up…”
It uses present progressive tense because it expresses anger or annoyance.
3 Other Errors in Present Progressive Tense
a Subject and Verb Disagreement
[68]
Student‟s answer: He always mess up the kitchen R 10
Sentence [68] is incorrect both in form and in context. Grammatically, subject He should be followed by simple verb + -s or
–es. He is a singular noun. Contextually, it uses inappropriate tense. The correct answer is sentence
“…is always messing up
…” in present progressive tense because it expresses anger or
annoyance.
b The Use of be with Ordinary Verb
[
69] Student‟s answer: He is always mess up the kitchen R 4
Sentence [69] was incorrect. The use of be with an ordinary verb was incorrect. Be should be used for passive meaning with past participle or with
adjective, adverb, or n
oun. The correct answer is “He is always messing up the
kitchen” because the sentence expresses anger or annoyance. In special PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
57 circumstances, it may be used in the present progressive to express annoyance or
anger Azar, 1989: 16. c Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary has
[70]
Student‟s answer: She has wrote another book this year. R 44
Has is an auxiliary verb. It is used for subject He, She, It, singular person or
noun. To form tenses, has is used with the past participle to form present perfect. Sentence [70] is incorrect both in context and in grammar. Contextually, the
correct answer is in present progressive tense because it has function to express an activity of a general nature, something generally in progress this week, this month
or this year. While grammatically the appropriate answer is has written not has wrote
. Auxiliary has is followed by past participle. The correct answer is
“…is writing
…” d The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
[71] Student‟s answer: Tom can‟t have the newspaper now because his aunt
has been read it. R 59
Sentence [71] should be an active sentence. Its function is to express an activity which is in progress now. His aunt is as a subject. His aunt does an
action. She is reading a newspaper. The correct answer is in active, using present progressive tense because there is an adverb now that indicates at the moment.
Meanwhile, sentence [71] is in present perfect tense and it has passive meaning. e The Use of Negative in Affirmative Sentence
[72]
Student‟s answer: Tom can‟t have the newspaper now because his aunt
has not read it. R 29
58 The answer for sentence [72] should be in affirmative, because it does not
provide any negative word. The context is also in affirmative, therefore the answer should be in affirmative
. The correct answer is “Tom can‟t have the
newspaper now because his aunt is reading
it.”
c. Errors in Simple Past Tense
