What do you think of it?
59 usually gave me some money, but now he does not give me some money any
more. The pattern used to + an infinitive is the appropriate answer. The correct answer is
“When I was young, my father used to give me some money on
Saturday, but now he does not.” [74]
Student‟s answer: A: Have you read his last book? B: Yes, I have.
A: What do you think of it?
B: I liked it very much. Simple present tense, R47 Dialogue in [74] has a meaning that speaker A asked speaker B if he read a
book. S peaker B answered „yes‟. Then, speaker A asked about what he thought, it
was in the past . It is also clear from speaker B‟s answer I liked it very much. It
means that the context is in the past. The correct answer is
“...did you think...”
Sentence [75] – [78] should be in simple past tense. These are the other examples
which are not appropriate with the context: [75]
Student‟s answer: Cindy is afraid of dogs, but now she likes dogs.
Simple present tense, R 17 [76
] Student‟s answer: Cindy had been afraid of dogs, but now she likes
dogs. Past perfect tense, R 26 [77]
Student‟s answer: When I was young, my father has given me some
money on Saturday, but now he does not. Present perfect tense, R 46 [78
] Student‟s answer: When I was young, my father was giving me some
money on Saturday, but now he does not. Past progressive tense, R 20
60
2 Form-Related Errors
a Problem in Using used to
[79]
Student‟s answer: Cindy is used to be afraid of dogs, but now she likes
dogs. R 2 To express a habitual action in the past which no longer exists in present,
used to + an infinitive is used Azar, 1989:101. The pattern used to + an
infinitive is the appropriate answer. Sentence [84] is incorrect. Pattern be used to
followed by an –ing verb form means be accustomed to, meanwhile sentence [79]
should express a past habitual action which no longer exists in present. Cindy in the past was afraid of dogs. In present, she likes dogs. She is not afraid of dogs
anymore. b Wrong Use of Verb
[80]
Student‟s answer: I called Roger at nine last night, but he did not at
home. R 43 After the blank in sentence [80], there is an adverb at home. Therefore, it
needs a be. The appropriate be for subject He is was because the context is in the past. Sentence [80] was incorrect because it used an auxiliary did while the adverb
required be.
c Subject and Verb Disagreement
[81]
Student‟s answer: I called Roger at nine last night, but he were not at
home. R 23 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
61 Sentence [81] is incorrect because subject He does not match with be verb.
Subject He is a third singular pronoun. Past form of be for Subject He is was not were.
The correct answer is
“…was not…” d Mixed Tenses
[82]
Student‟s answer: I called Roger at nine last night, but he is did not at
home. R 47 There are two verbs in sentence [83]. They are
be ‘is’ and auxiliary verb did. The first verb is in present tense, while the second verb is in past tense. It is
incorrect answer when these two verbs occur in one phrase.
3 Other Errors in Simple Past Tense
a Omission of Verb Verbless
[83] Student‟s answer: A: Have you read his last book?
B: Yes, I have.
A: What do you of it?