63
Table 4.7: Errors in Past Progressive Tense
Category Types
Frequency Context-related errors
a. Wrong Choice of Tenses. 78
b.
The Use of Passive in Active Sentence 2
Form-related errors a. Subject and Verb Disagreement
16 b. Omission of be
3 c. Wrong Spelling
2 Another Error
a. Subject and Verb Disagreement 4
1 Context-Related Errors
a Wrong Choice of Tenses
The writer also found some students made errors related to context in past progressive tense. The functions of past progressive tense are to express an
activity that was in progress was occurring, was happening at a particular time in the past, and to express two actions which are in progress simultaneously Azar,
1989: 24. These are the examples of context-related errors: [86]
Student‟s answer: A: Who were you talking to on the telephone as I came in?
B: I talked to Mr. Pitt. Simple past tense, R 5
[87]
Student‟s answer: I went to bed at ten. The phone rang at eleven. I had slept
when the phone rang. Past perfect tense, R 39 [88]
Student‟s answer: I went to bed at ten. The phone rang at eleven. I had been sleeping
when the phone rang. Past perfect progressive tense, R 9
[89
] Student‟s answer: While I study in my room, my mother was cooking in
the kitchen. Simple present tense, R 23 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
64 [90]
Student‟s answer: A: Who were you talking to on the telephone as I came in?
B: I am talking to Mr. Pitt. Present progressive
tense, R 8 Sentence [90] is in present progressive tense. The sentence is incorrect. The
context is speaker A asked an action which was in progress during the speaking in the past. The correct answ
er is in past progressive tense “…was talking…”
[91]
Student‟s answer: The boys have played cards when they heard their
father‟s step. Present perfect tense, R 5
b The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
[92]
Student‟s answer: I went to bed at ten. The phone rang at eleven. I was slept
when the phone rang. R 4 Sentence [92] should be in active sentence. Sentence [92] is incorrect
because it is passive sentence. Subject I is a doer. I is as a subject not an object. I did an action. I sleep.
2 Form-Related Errors a Subject and Verb Disagreement
[93]
Student‟s answer: The boys was playing cards when they heard their
father‟s step. R 11 Subject the boys is plural. Be for plural nouns in the past is were not was.
Was is for singular noun. Sentence [93] is incorrect because subject the boys is
plural noun, which is followed by was. It is past form of be for singular noun. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
65
b Omission of be
[94] Student‟s answer: The director didn‟t allow the actors to travel by air
while they working on the film. R 11
The pattern of past progressive tense is S + to be was,were + V-ing. Sentence [94] is incorrect. It is lack of be
„were’ because the past form of be for subject they is were.
c Wrong Spelling
[95]
Student‟s answer: While I was studiing in my room, my mother was
cooking in the kitchen. R 46 Sentence [95] is incorrect. In order to change the word study into verb -ing,
final –y is kept and –ing is simply added after it. The correct answer is studying.
3 Another Error in Past Progressive Tense a Subject and Verb Disagreement
[96] Student‟s answer: The director didn‟t allow the actors to travel by air
while they works on the film. R 4
Sentence [96] is incorrect both in context and in form. Subject they is plural noun. They is followed by simple verb. It is not followed by verb
–s or –es. Verb – s or
–es follows subject He, She, It or they are called third singular pronoun.
e. Errors in Present Perfect Tense
The errors the students committed in using present perfect tense were classified into two main categories. Those two main categories have several sub-
categories. Those categories can be seen in Table 4.8. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
66
Table 4.8: Errors in Present Perfect Tense
Category Types
Frequency Context-related errors
a. Wrong Choice of Tenses 138
b. The Use Passive in Active Sentence 3
Form-related error a. Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have
29
1 Context-Related Errors
a Wrong Choice of Tenses
[97]
Student‟s answer: It has been raining three times so far this week.
Present perfect progressive tense, R6 One of the functions of present perfect tense is to express a repetition of an
activity before now. Sentence [97] is incorrect. The correct answer should be in present perfect tense because the sentence indicates a repeated action. To express
a repeated action, present perfect tense is used. Other examples of context-related errors are:
[98]
Student‟s answer: We were in class since ten o‟clock this morning.
Simple past tense, R 7 [99]
Student‟s answer: It rains three times so far this week. Simple
present tense, R 9 [100]
Student‟s answer: My wife and I came here two months ago. We had been
in this city for two months. Past perfect tense, R 8 [101]
Student‟s answer: We are having four tests so far this semester.
Present progressive tense, R 10 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
67 [102]
Student‟s answer: It was raining three times so far this week. Past
progressive tense, R 5 [103]
Student‟s answer: We will have four tests so far this semester. Simple
future tense, R 23 [104]
Student‟s answer: We have been having four tests so far this semester.
Present perfect progressive tense, R 58
b The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
[105
] Student‟s answer: It has been rained three times so far this week. R
62 Sentence [105] should be in active sentence. It is as subject not an object. It
has a function as doer. Sentence [105] is incorrect because it indicates a passive action.
2 Form-Related Error
a Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have
[106]
Student‟s answer: Have you ever ate at that new restaurant? R 47
Auxiliary have in the present perfect tense must be followed by past participle verb. Sentence [106] is incorrect because it is followed by simple past
verb ate after auxiliary have. The past participle verb for the word eat is eaten.
f. Errors in Present Perfect Progressive Tense
The errors the students committed in using present perfect progressive tense were classified into three main categories. Those three main categories have
several sub-categories. Those categories can be seen in Table 4.9. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
68
Table 4.9: Errors in Present Perfect Progressive Tense
Category Types
Frequency Context-related errors
a. Wrong Choice of Tenses 197
c.
The Use of Passive in Active Sentence 4
Form-related errors a. Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have
5 b. Wrong Spelling
3 c. Subject and Verb Disagreement
1
Other Errors a. Subject and Verb Disagreement
11 b. The Use of be with Ordinary Verb
5 c. The Use of Passive and Subject and Verb
Disagreement 2
1 Context-Related Errors
a Wrong Choice of Tenses
Present perfect progressive tense has some functions. First, to indicate the duration of an activity that began in the past and continues to the present. Second,
when it is used without any specific mention of time, it expresses a general activity in progress recently, lately. It can also be used with certain verbs such as
live, work, teach. If it is used with these verbs, there is little or no difference in meaning between the two tenses either present perfect or present perfect
progressive when since or for is used. These are the examples of context-related
errors which were found on the students‟ answer:
[107]
Student‟s answer: My back hurts, so I sleep on the floor lately. The bed
is too soft. Simple present tense, R 46 [108]
Student‟s answer: My eyes are getting tired. I have read for two hours.
I think I‟ll take a break. Present perfect tense, R 52 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
69 [109]
Student‟s answer: All of the students are studying hard. Final exams
start next week. Present progressive tense, R 48 [110]
Student‟s answer: I lived in Yogyakarta since 1999. Simple past, R
63 The words live, work, teach are the example of verbs with little or no
difference in meaning between present perfect and present perfect progressive tense if used with adverbs since and for. The use of simple past in sentence [110]
is incorrect. Sentence [110] uses verb live so that it can use either present perfect or present perfect progressive.
[111]
Student‟s answer: My back hurts, so I will sleep on the floor lately. The
bed is too soft. Simple future tense, R 57 [112]
Student‟s answer: I am sitting in class right now. I was sitting since ten
minutes after one. Past progressive tense, R 34 [113]
Student‟s answer: My eyes are getting tired. I had been reading for
two hours. I think I‟ll take a break. Past perfect progressive tense, R
8 Sentence [113] should indicate duration of an activity that began in the past
and continues to the present. It has a time signal word for. Subject I has been reading a book for two hours. The duration is two hours. I started to read a book
in the past and still in progress. The consequence is that his eyes are getting tired because of reading a book for two hours. The correct answer is in present perfect
progressive tense. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
70 [114]
Student‟s answer: I am sitting in class right now. I had sat since ten
minutes after one. Past perfect tense, R 8
b The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
[115]
Student‟s answer: I am sitting in class right now. I have been sat since
ten minutes after one. R 23 Sentence [115
] has an active meaning while the student‟s answer is in passive meaning. It is incorrect because I has a function as a subject. Subject I as a doer.
Subject I does the action.
2 Form-Related Errors
a Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have
[116]
Student‟s answer: I have been live in Yogyakarta since 1999. R 14
Auxiliary have in present perfect progressive tense is followed be ‘been’ +
-ing verb form. Sentence [116] is incorrect. The word live must be added by
–ing to be living after been or been can be omitted but the word live must be in past
participle because this sentence can be both in present perfect and present perfect progressive tense. The words live, work, teach are the example of verbs with little
or no difference in meaning between present perfect and present perfect progressive tense if they are used with time words since and for.
b Wrong Spelling
[117]
Student‟s answer: I am sitting in class right now. I have been siting
since ten minutes after one. R 38
Sentence [117] is incorrect because it has wrong spelling. The word sit is an
example of words that have one syllable having one vowel and ending in a single PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
71 consonant Thomson and Martinet, 1986: 311. If it is so, the consonant before a
suffix beginning with a vowel is doubled. The word sit + -ing must be sitting. c Subject and Verb Disagreement
[118]
Student‟s answer: He have been working at the same office for two
years. R 11 Subject He, She, It in present perfect or present perfect progressive tense are
followed by auxiliary has. Sentence [118] is incorrect because subject He is followed by auxiliary have while auxiliary have must be followed by I, They, We,
You .
3 Other Errors in Present Perfect Progressive Tense a Subject and Verb Disagreement
[119]
Student‟s answer: All of the students is studying hard. Final exams
start next week. R 49 Sentence [119] is incorrect. It is wrong both in context and in form.
Contextually, it is wrong because it used present progressive tense. Subject all of the students
is plural. The appropriate be for the subject all of the students is are.
b The Use of be with Ordinary Verb
[120]
Student‟s answer: All of the students are study hard. Final exams start
next week. R 47 Sentence [120] is also incorrect both in context and in form. The verb study
does not need be because it is an ordinary verb. Be is followed by adjectives, adverb of place, nouns, present participle, and past participle for passive sentence
Sukur, 2007: 34. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
72
c The Use of Passive and Subject and Verb Disagreement
[121]
Student‟s answer: I has been lived in Yogyakarta since 1999. R 5
Sentence [121] is incorrect both context and form. Contextually, it is incorrect because it is an active sentence. I is as subject not an object. Based on its
form, Subject I in present perfect and present perfect progressive tense is followed by auxiliary have. Subject he, she, it are followed by auxiliary has while for
subject they, we, I, you are followed by auxiliary have.
g. Errors in Past Perfect Tense
The errors the students committed in using past perfect tense were classified into three main categories. Those three main categories have several sub-
categories. Those categories can be seen in Table 4.10.
Table 4.10: Errors in Past Perfect Tense
Category Types
Frequency Context-related errors
a. Wrong Choice of Tenses 24
b. The Use of Passive in Active Sentence 1
Form-related errors a. Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary had
2
Other Errors a. Subject and Verb Disagreement
4 b. Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have
2 c. The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
2
73
1 Context-Related Errors
a Wrong Choice of Tenses
[122] Student‟s answer: Last night I started to study at 7:30. I finished
studying at 9:00. Dick came at 9:30. By the time Dick came, I have finished
my homework. Present perfect, R 3 [123]
Student‟s answer: Last night I started to study at 7:30. I finished
studying at 9:00. Dick came at 9:30. By the time Dick came, I finished
my homework. Simple past, R 8 Sentence [122] and [123] are incorrect. To express an activity that was
completed before another activity or time in the past, past perfect tense is used. Sentence [122] shows an activity that was completed before another activity or
time in the past. The study was started at 7:30 and finished at 9:00. Dick came at 9:30 so that the homework had been finished before Dick came. The correct
answer is in past perfect tense “…had finished…” b
The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
[124] Student‟s answer: Carol missed her plane yesterday because of a traffic
jam on her way to the airport. By the time she got to the airport, her
plane had been left already. R 58 2 Form-Related Errors
a Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary had
[125] Student‟s answer: Carol missed her plane yesterday because of a traffic
jam on her way to the airport. By the time she got to the airport, her
plane had already leaved. R 49
74 Sentence [125] is incorrect. Auxiliary verb had must be followed by past
participle. The past participle for the verb leave is left, and not leaved. Leave is included in irregular verbs.
3 Other Errors in Past Perfect Tense
a Subject and Verb Disagreement
[126] Student‟s answer: Carol missed her plane yesterday because of a traffic
jam on her way to the airport. By the time she got to the airport, her
plane have already left. R 5
Sentence [126] is incorrect both in context and in form. The intended answer must be in past perfect tense not in present perfect tense. Based on its
form, in sentence [126], subject her plane is a singular noun. Auxiliary have is for plural noun, such as they, we, I, you. Subject her plane is followed by auxiliary
has .
b Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have
[127] Student‟s answer: Carol missed her plane yesterday because of a traffic
jam on her way to the airport. By the time she got to the airport, her
plane have already leaved. R 20
Sentence [127] is incorrect both in context and in form. When the answer uses auxiliary have, it must be followed by past participle. The past participle for
the verb leave is left not leaved. Leave is included in irregular verbs. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
75
c The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
[128] Student‟s answer: Last night I started to study at 7:30. I finished
studying at 9:00. Dick came at 9:30. By the time Dick came, I was finished
my homework. R 4 Sentence [128] is incorrect. Sentence [128] is an active sentence. The
subject is I, and the object is homework. Subject I as the doer does the action of finishing his homework.
h. Errors in Past Perfect Progressive Tense
The errors the students made in using past perfect progressive tense were classified into two main categories. Those two main categories have several sub-
categories. Those categories can be seen in Table 4.11.
Table 4.11: Errors in Past Perfect Progressive Tense
Category Types
Frequency Context-related error
a. Wrong Choice of Tenses 130
Other Errors a. Subject and Verb Disagreement
26 b. Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary had
13 c. The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
7 d. The Use of be with Ordinary Verb
1
1 Context-Related Error
a Wrong Choice of Tenses
[129]
Student‟s answer: The police have been looking for the criminal for
two years before they caught him. Present perfect progressive tense, R 13
76 [130]
Student‟s answer: The police had looked for the criminal for two years
before they caught him. Past perfect tense, R 7 [131]
Student‟s answer: The police have looked for the criminal for two
years before they caught him. Present perfect tense, R 6 [132]
Student‟s answer: The police was looking for the criminal for two
years before they caught him. Past progressive tense, R 4 [133]
Student‟s answer: The police looked for the criminal for two years
before they caught him. Simple past tense, R 5 Those sentences should be in past perfect progressive tense which
emphasize the duration of an activity that was in progress before another activity or time in the past. If a sentence has this meaning, it uses past perfect progressive
tense. Sentence [129], [130], [131], [132], [133] are incorrect. The correct answer is in past perfect progressive tense because those sentences show activities that
were in progress before another activity or time in the past.
2 Other Errors in Past Perfect Progressive Tense
a Subject and Verb Disagreement
[134]
Student‟s answer: The patient have been waiting in the emergency
room for almost an hour before a doctor finally treated her. R 11 Sentence [134] is incorrect both in context and in form. Past perfect
progressive tense emphasizes the duration of an activity that was in progress before another activity or time in the past. If a sentence has this meaning, it uses
past perfect progressive tense. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
77
b Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary had
[135] Student‟s answer: When Judy got home, her hair was still wet because
she had swam. R 49
Sentence [135] is incorrect. Auxiliary verb had must be followed by past participle. The past participle for the verb swim is swum, and not swam. Swim is
included in irregular verbs. Swam is simple past form.
c The Use of Passive in Active Sentence
[136] Student‟s answer: When Judy got home, her hair was still wet because
she had been swum. R 51
Sentence [136] is also incorrect both in context and in form. Sentence [136] should be in past perfect progressive tense which expresses an activity in
progress recent to another time or activity in the past. In this context, past perfect progressive tense is used. From its form, sentence [136] is in passive while the
context is an active sentence. In the main clause, subject she is a doer. She does the action of swimming.
d The Use of be with Ordinary Verb
[137] Student‟s answer: When Judy got home, her hair was still wet because
she was swam. R 15
Sentence [137] is incorrect. The use of be „was’ with ordinary verb is
incorrect. In sentence [138] there are past form of be „was‟ and simple past verb
form ‘swam’. Be is followed by adjectives, adverb of place, nouns, present
participle, and past participle for passive sentence Sukur, 2007: 34. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
78
i. Errors in Simple Future Tense
The errors the students committed in using simple future tense were classified into two main categories. Those two main categories have several sub-
categories. Those categories can be seen in Table 4.12.
Table 4.12: Errors in Simple Future Tense
Category Types
Frequency Context-related errors
a. In Simple Present to Express Future Time 21
b. The Use of will in Prior Plan Activity 32
c. Simple Present in Prior Plan Activity 31
d. The Use of Passive in Active Sentence 17
Form-related errors a. Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary will
13 b. The Use of be with Ordinary Verb
4 c. Subject and Verb Disagreement
3
1 Context-Related Errors
a In Simple Present to Express Future Time
[138]
Student‟s answer: The museum will open at ten tomorrow morning.
R 1 According to Azar 1989: 50, simple present can be used to express future
time in a definite schedule or timetable activity. Only a few words are used in this way, for example open, close, begin, end, start, finish, arrive, leave, come, and
return. Sentence [138] is not appropriate. The correct answer is
“…opens...” The
word open is one of the words that can be used to express a definite schedule.
b The Use of will in Prior Plan Activity
[139] Student‟s answer: A: What do you want to be when you grow up?
B: I will be an astronaut.