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3. Tape or staple the additions.
4. On the computer, use cut-and-paste or insert commands to move things
around. 5.
Print out a double spaces copy for revisions: Slow down and revise in pencil.
f. Produce the final copy
This is the final step of writing process. In this step the student needs to pay attention to details that have been ignored while getting ideas on paper and
shaping them to fit the purpose that is called editing process. Editing as part of the writing process in producing the final copy should be checked using the
appropriate editing marks by the author and then by a peer or adult.
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In this process, the components that should be noticed are such as grammar, punctuation,
usage, and spelling. The student may use the dictionary or any other reference materials that needed. The student also can use the spell checker in the computer.
After doing these processes of writing, the studentss are expected to make a good writing. The students are expected to avoid some mistakes in the context of
grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and in selecting the tenses and words that will be used in the text.
B. Past Tense
1. Definitions of Past Tense
The past tense is a tense that indicate an event happened in the past. There are many definitions of past tense according to some experts. According to Frank,
―the past tense indicates definite time terminating in the past, whether a time word is given or not.
‖
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While Willis said that, ―past tenses are used to refer to past time, and also to refer to imaginary situations, and to express politeness.‖
16
14
Garth Sundem, Improving Student Writing Skill, USA: Shell Education, 2007 p. 61.
15
Marcella Frank, Modern English: A practical reference guide, New Jersey: Prantice- Hall, Inc, 1972, p. 73.
16
Dave Willis, Students’ Grammar, London: HarperCollins, 1991, p. 84.
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Another experts Roberts Martins said that the past tense is ―a tense that is
most used for narrative purpose i.e. when related about something that has already happened.‖
17
From the definitions from some experts above, it can be concluded that past tense is a tense that indicated a situation or an activity began, happened, and
ended in the past whether the time signal words are mentioned or not. There are four forms of past tense; simple past tense, past continuous tense, past perfect
tense, and past perfect continuous tense.
2. The Form of Past Tense
As mentioned above, there are four forms of past tense; the first of the tense is simple past tense. Azar, in her understanding and using English grammar said
that simple past tense is a tense that shows some situation or activity began and ended at a particular time in the past.
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The simple past tense is used for an action whose time is not given but which 1 occupied a period of time now terminated,
or 2 occurred in period of time now terminated. These may be expressed diagrammatically thus:
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a.
b. x
The form of past tense can be affirmative, negative, interrogative, and negative interrogative.
Affirmative : You worked
Negative : You did not work
Interrogative : Did you work?
17
E.W. Roberts Martins, English Grammar and Composition for High Schools, Malaysia: Golden Books Centre SDN. BHD., 2003, p. 138.
18
Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding and Using English Grammar, New York: Pearson Education, 1999, p. 27.
19
A.J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet: A Practical English Grammar, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980, p. 173.
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The simple past tense is formed by using the simple past of the verb. The simple past tense in regular verbs are formed by adding
–ed or –d worked,
played, loved,..etc. The figure below is the form of simple past tense for regular verbs.
Figure 2.1 The Form of Simple Past Tense for Regular Verbs
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The simple past tenses in irregular verbs are not formed by adding
–ed or –d.
Thomson said that, ―the simple past form of each irregular verb must therefore be
20
Judy DeFilippo, Grammar Plus, USA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc, 1987, p. 132.
VERB ENDING ED FORM
1. CONSONANT + e
Shave Change
Increase ADD
–d Shaved
Changed Increased
2. CONSONANT + y
Study Cry
Apply DROP y, ADD
–ied Studied
Cried Applied
3. VOWEL + y
Stay Play
ADD –ed only
Stayed Played
4. ONE VOWEL + ONE CONSONANT
Stop Rob
Rip DOUBLE THE CONSONANT
AND ADD –ed
Stopped Robbed
Ripped
5. TWO
VOWELS +
ONE CONSONANT
Clean Cook
Rain TWO CONSONANT
Return Work
Call ADD
–ed only Cleaned
Cooked Rained
Returned Worked
Called
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learnt, but once this is done there is no other difficulty.‖
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The figure below is the three main categories of irregular verbs:
Figure 2.2 Three Main Categories of Irregular Verbs
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Category Examples
Verbs which dont change cut - cut
hit - hit fit - fit
Verbs which change their vowel get - got
sit - sat drink - drank
Verbs which change completely catch - caught
bring - brought teach - taught
The second form of past tense is past continuous tense or past progressive tense. Past continuous tense is a tense that indicate some activity which were
going on had not finished yet at a particular time in the past. Past continuous tense is used for past actions which continued for some time but the exact limits
are not known and are not important. It might be expressed diagrammatically thus:
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The structure of past continuous tense is S + WasWere + V
1
+ Ing form + O
21
Thomson, op. cit., p. 148.
22
Cited from
http:web2.uvcs.uvic.caelcstudyzone330grammarirpast.htm on
November 2013.
23
Thomson, op. cit., p. 149.
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Figure 2.3 Form of Past Continuous Tense for TO BE
Subject TO BE
I You
They We
She He
It Was
Were Were
Were Was
Was Was
Affirmative : I was working
Negative : I was not working
Interrogative : Was I working?
Next form of past tense is past perfect tense. Robert and Martin said, ―past perfect tense is used to explain some activity ended in the past or to show about
two past actions that one past action happened or was completed before the other began.‖
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The structure of past perfect tense is S + Had + V
3
Affirmative : I had worked
Negative : I had not worked
Interrogative : Had I worked?
The last form of past tense is past perfect continuous tense. Past perfect continuous tense is a tense that explain about some activity ended or still
continuing in the past. The structure of past perfect continuous tense is
S + Had + Been + Ing form
24
Roberts Martins, op. cit., p. 141.
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Affirmative : I had been working
Negative : I had not been working
Interrogative : Had I been working?
3. The Function of Past Tense
