iii. Verb and Verb Construction
The third category is verb and verb construction. The discussion focuses on the way how two verbs are combined into one sentence. The example is Rina hopes
go to USA. In this case, there is an omission of preposition to before the main verb hopes and the second verb go. Contextually, the meaning of preposition to is to
express her willingness to be able to go to USA 1982: 149.
iv. Word Order
The fourth category is word order. The error occurs when the sentence is not constructed properly by considering principles in American English. The example is
who they are? Based on the example, there error lies on the position of auxiliary. In the form of interrogative sentence, the auxiliary should be placed before the subject
1982: 149.
v. Transformation
The last category is transformations. Transformation is a changing of certain element in a grammar. Politzer and Ramirez classify four sorts of errors in
transformation 1982: 150. They are negative transformation, question transformation, there transformation, and subordinate clause transformation. The
errors are presented as follows: PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
a. Negative Transformation Negative transformation is an altering process of an affirmative sentence into
a negative sentence. The example is I don‟t have nothing. In this case, the
error is caused by a use of double negations. The sentence tends to show the positive meaning instead of the negative meaning. The meaning implies that
the agent has something. In American English, the grammar structure is incorrect. The negative sentence usually does not enclose the negative object
because the negative statement has been denoted by do not. If the sentence aims to show the negative meaning, the structure should omit nothing 1982:
150.
b. Question Transformation Question transformation is an altering process of a sentence into an
interrogative sentence. The example is how you go yesterday? In this case, the error is caused by a misconstruction of the structure. There is an omission of
the auxiliary. In American English, the structure of interrogative form must have the auxiliary do. The auxiliary follows the sentence tense. Based on the
example, the sentence has marked the past time which is yesterday. Thus, the auxiliary follows the form of the sentence tense which is did 1982:150.
c. There Transformation The form of there is intended as demonstrative pronoun. However, it can be
placed as subject pronoun or object pronoun. The example is there is birds. In this case, there is placed as subject pronoun. It functions as a reference of the
existence of something. It means that birds are somewhere. There is an incorrect form of structure. The auxiliary follows the type of noun. Birds are
categorized as plural nouns. Thus, the auxiliary is should be replaced into are 1982: 150.
d. Subordinate Clause Transformation Subordinate clause transformation is two combined clauses marked by a
subordinating conjunction. It functions to connect two ideas of a sentence. The example is I will leave you, so you are poor. There is an error of naming a
conjunction. It can produce an ambiguity on the meaning of a sentence. The conjunction so in the example should be replaced into for. The subordinate
clause refers to the cause of the condition of the main clause 1982: 150.
The categorizations are made as a guidance to represent the errors. The categorization of errors based on Politzer and Ramirez are shown on tables. The data
are presented as follows Dulay et al, 1982: 150: PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Table 1. The Distribution of Errors in Morphology Linguistic Categories
Error Types
Indefinite article incorrect -
Possesive case incorrect -
Third person singular verb incorrect -
Simple past tense incorrect Regular past tense incorrect
Irregular past tense incorrect Past Participle incorrect
- Comparative adjectiveadverb incorrect
- Table 2. The Distribution of Errors in Syntax
Linguistic Categories Error Types
Noun Phrase Determiners
Nominalization Number
Use of pronouns Use of prepositions
Verb Phrase Omission of verb
Use of progressive tense Agreement of subject and verb
Verb and verb construction -
Word Order -
Transformation Negative transformation
Question transformation There transformation
Subordinate clause transformation PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
2. Surface Strategy Taxonomy
