Mother-tongue interference Explanation of Errors
From the result of questionnaire, the writer also get data that 40 of students thought both regular and irregular verbs have similar form or
pattern. So, it may lead false hypothesis for them which made some errors in applying the regular and irregular verbs in the past form. The writer also
get data from the questionnaire that 56 of students admit that they did not memorize more than 10 verbs of regular and irregular verbs.
According to Brown, learners have begun to acquire parts of the new language system, but generalization within the target language is
manifested.
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Many students did some errors in transforming the irregular verbs by adding
–d or –ed. They simplified the way in forming the past form of irregular verbs. For example:
I maked a rainbow cake yesterday. students 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
22, 23, 24, 25
Mr. Agus teached us about the narrative text last week. students
7, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Fauzi Bowo leaded Jakarta last year. students 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
I readed this novel five days ago. Students 10, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 My brother Chris and I went walking on the beach one sunny day,
and we finded a little cubby out of overgrown bushes. Students:
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
First, Christ tried it out and he slid down and soon comed back up
saying that it was safe, and that it was great fun. Students: 16, 20, 23, 25
Then I went for another slide, but I frezed too because I saw what
he has seen. It was a long snake and it was heading for me. Students: 3, 11, 12
Then I went for another slide, but I freezed too because I saw what
he has seen. It was a long snake and it was heading for me.
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Brown, op. cit., p. 264
Students: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
I looked at Chris and he maked a rustling sound of wind in the
bushes. Students: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
I maked a rainbow cake yesterday. Students: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, 22, 23, 24, 25
Mr. Agus teached us about the narrative text last week. Students:
7, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Fauzi Bowo leaded Jakarta last year. Students: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
I meeted my old friend in the restaurant yesterday. Students: 16,
18, 19, 23, 24
All tickets for the concert were selled very quickly. Students: 13,
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 25
I goed to bed early because I was tired. Student: 2 Last night, David drived his car very fast. Students: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7,
11, 12, 13, 115, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Zamzami sitd in the chair because he was tired. Student: 2 Zamzami sited in the chair because he was tired. Students: 16, 23,
24
Some examples above are caused by overgeneralization. Students made a simplify in transforming irregular verbs into the past verb just by
adding -d or –ed. This source of error is the dominant errors in the
students’ answer sheet of SMP YPN Bojong Gede.