65 merely correct structure. And so, absolute construction can be a way out, able to
help avoid dangling verbal and to preserve more important idea.
c. Double finite verbs
A sentence must consist of a subject and at least one finite verb. Should a sentence have the second or the third finite verb, it should have conjunction to
make parallel structures, which leads the sentence to be of compound ones. Yet, if this very sentence is not intended to contain multiple finite verbs, other than the
main verb of the sentence, all other verbs should be made non-finite or be accommodated in dependent clauses.
Taking that into account, what is meant by double verbs is the existence of one or more finite verbs not within a dependent clause besides the main verb,
which should undoubtedly be finite. And so, the existence of the latter finite verbs is grammatically incorrect.
Since the fundamental pattern of the simplest sentence is a subject and a finite verb, errors of this kind can be said to be a very basic errors. In students’ writing,
very frequently did the writer find these errors. Some of them are presented in the following.
1 Original : Half of the respondents said agree in using novel in the Book
Report class.
Corrected : Half of the respondents said that they agreed in using novel in
the Book Report class. 2 Original
: I am more understood material are taught by lecture.
Corrected : I am more understood more the materials which are were taught by lecturer.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
66 We can see from the examples above that in each sentence written by the
students, there is more than one finite verb without any conjunction in between. Students’ errors were mostly on the inexistence of subordinator. Yet, for some
sentences, as represented by the first example, the errors can be categorized as the omission of subject, too.
Double finite verbs cases often happen on those who have not understood the concept of subordination. That was why, that such errors were still made by the
respondents, who had obtained five Structure classes, was a little bit strange. To cope with this problem, there is no other way but to deepen their understanding on
the basic concept of sentence structure as well as the way to make subordinations in a sentence.
To minimize the occurrence of such basic errors, additionally, students’ mastery on non-finite clause should be improved. Non-finite forms can be the
focus because of its simplicity compared to the finite clause. In dealing with long sentences, complete clause, which is usually quite long, can be a problem. On the
other hand, once students understand the concept of making a non-finite clause, they will more easily avoid making double finite verbs in their sentences.
d. Subject Verb Agreement violation
