The calculation of mistake shows that question number 1 and question number 2 have the biggest number of misformation errors. Meanwhile question
number 4 has misordering as the other type of error. For the record, misformation is the most common mistakes which is found in Part A.
a. Misformation
Part A lets the students choose the incorrect words or group of words in each question see appendix 7. Here, questions 1, 2, 4, and 5 contain the items to
test whether the students can differentiate the function and meaning of
make, have, get
causatives. Questions 2, 3, 4, and 5 contain the options that are used to measure the comprehension of active causative form that the students had learned.
One common error that most of students did is to misunderstand different meaning and function of
make, have, get
causatives. Misformation error happening in question 2 can be observed from the data of 64 students answered option B fix as
the incorrect word in the sentence. Question 2 : We got our landlord fix the broken windows.
A B C
Here, question 2 includes
get
and
have
causatives as the item for the test. By this question, it is hoped that students can decide the right causative verb to complete
the sentence. By answering option B fix, the students had resulted misformation error that was choosing the wrong word in the sentence.
The right answer should be ‘
We had our landlord fix the broken window
’.
Had
as the causative verb in this sentence shows a process of a service frame between
the causer
we
and the causee
landlord
. The sentence describes a situation where
we
engage the service of the owner of the land to bring about the effect Stefanowitsch, 2001: 131.
There are some indications why the students answered option B fix.
Get
causative has the form of to-infinitive following the verb. As a result, the students agreed that
fix
in the sentence should be changed with
to fix
and decided that option B fix as the incorrect word to be put in the sentence. It implies that the students
acknowledge the active-causative form of
get
due to the form of to-infinitive that comes after
get
. If it is so, the students had succeeded to understand the active form of
get,
but failed to differentiate the meaning of
get
causative with the other causative verbs in a sentence.
The other indication is the way students tried to maintain
get
as the causative verb due to the meaning of
get
: to be connected with somebody. If it is combined with the meaning of
get
in students’ first language, the sentence can be translated as: ‘
Kami menghubungi pemilik t
anah untuk memperbaiki jendela yang rusak’. However, if
get
is translated into
menghubungi
or
contact
, it will not produce a causative sentence which has the causer
we
to influence the causee
landlord
to do the intended action. It will be different if
get
is replaced by
contact
because it will produce a new meaning: the one who fixes the broken window is not the
landlord
but the subject
we
.
There are also some mistakes done by the students about the false structure in a sentence. An example is taken from question 1 where 36 students answer option B
seeing while the incorrect word in the sentence should be B made. Question 1: Debbie’s husband hated the opera. But after days of nagging,
A she finally made him to go seeing the new production of La
B C
Boheme. The right answer is
get
as the causative verb to replace option B made.
Get
causative has the appropriate meaning to connect the causer and the causee which is
to persuade
. The meaning of causer persuading causee is also supported by the phrase ‘
but after days of nagging
’.
Seeing
in the sentence is the gerund form that comes after
go
to express recreational activity Azar, 1999: 303. Therefore, option C seeing is not the
incorrect word in the sentence. Linguistically, there are two indications behind the choice C seeing that the
students chose. First, students might think
seeing
is not appropriate verb for connecting the phrase because La Boheme is an opera. The students probably think
that the verb
watching
is more suitable verb for the sentence instead of
seeing
. Second, the phrase
to go seeing the new production of La Boheme
can result an indication that it is a non-finite clause. Non-finite clause as the object has the form of
to
-
infinitive or –ing participle Quirk, 1972: 361. If it is seen from the non-finite
clause point of view, the phrase ‘to go seeing the new production of La Boheme’ as an object can be said as an error because to
-
infinitive and –ing participle cannot be
used at the same time. The error that the students choose option C seeing as the answer is categorized as misformation error; the use of wrong word.
Next, question 4 is aimed to test whether the students can differentiate the function of
make
and
have
causatives. Question 4 : Romantic movies always have her cry.
A B C The result shows that about 42 students answer question 4 correctly. The
students answered option B have as the incorrect word in the sentence. This portrays that students have acknowledged the difference between
have
and
make
causatives in its function and meaning. The students also have understood well the active form of causative. It can be
observed by the high number of correct answer in question 3 and 5. There are 34 students who correctly answer question 3 and 69 students have correct answers in
question 5. Question 3: My boss makes me work overtime every day last week.
A B C Question 5: Mr. Levine had his secretary call to Ms. Jackson and reconfirm
A B
their meeting on Thursday. C
In question 3, the students recognized the adverb of time
last week
and decided that option A makes should be changed with past tense form
made
. It implies that students have acknowledged the form of past tense sentence as well as
the active-form of
make
causative. Next, students seemed to understand the rule of to-
