Errors in Simple Present Tense

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1. The Errors Made by the Students

According to Dulay, Burt and Krashen 1982: 138, errors are “the flawed side of learner speech or writing. ” Related to the study, errors refer to the students‟ answers that deviate from the rules of the ten tenses. The writer categorized the errors into three categories. They are context-related errors, form- related errors and other errors. Those three categories are then divided into sub categories based on the errors that the writer found in each tense. The errors related to context include the students‟ answers that deviate from the context or function in a given tense. The errors related to form include the students‟ answers that deviate from the form or pattern in a given tense. The other errors consist of the students‟ answers that do not belong to two previous categories because they deviate from the intended context and form. The errors are presented based on the tense sequence used in the test and on the frequency of the students‟ incorrect answers from the highest to the lowest. Each part of the tenses is presented with some examples. Each example is taken from one of the respondents‟ numbers in which the erroneous answer is found . The respondent‟s number is indicated by R .

a. Errors in Simple Present Tense

The errors the students made in using simple present tense were classified into three main categories. Those three main categories have several sub- categories. Those categories are described in Table 4.4. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 49 Table 4.4: Errors in Simple Present Tense Category Types Frequency Context-related errors a. Wrong Choice of Tenses 28 b. The Use of Passive in Active Tense 1 Form-related errors a. The Use of be with Ordinary Verb 13 b. Omission of –s 13 c. Problem in Using be 9 d. Subject and Verb Disagreement 3 e. Wrong Order of Adverb of Frequency 1 Other Errors a. Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have 2 b. Mixed Tenses 1 1 Context-Related Errors a Wrong Choice of Tenses Item number 20 and 27 in the test were simple present tense. It functioned to express general statements or facts and to show a present period. It refers to events, actions or situations which are true in present period of time and may continue indefinitely Alexander, 1988: 163. The students were asked to change the verb into the appropriate form based on the context or function of each tense. [45] Student‟s answer: His father is not working in a department store. He works in a hospital. Present Progressive Tense, R 17 Sentence [45] is present progressive tense. Present progressive tense has some functions. One of them is to express an activity that is in progress right now. The event began in the past, is in progress now, and will probably continue into the future Azar, 1989: 11. Sentence [45] was incorrect. The intended answer was in simple present that expresses a situation that stands at present that his father works in a hospital, he does not work in a department store or in other places. It is PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 50 true in the present period and may continue. The correct answer is “His father does not work in a department store. He works in a hospital. ” [46] Student‟s answer: His father didn’t work in a department store. He works in a hospital. Simple Past Tense, R 11 Item number 20 in the test functioned to express a situation that stands at present period. The sentence He works in a hospital uses a simple present tense. It is true that his father works in a hospital, not in a department store or in other places. It happens at present period and may continue. The use of simple past in sentence [46] was incorrect. Other examples, which are not appropriate with the context are in present perfect tense, simple future tense, present progressive tense. [47] Student‟s answer: His father has not worked in a department store. He works in a hospital. Present perfect tense, R 46 [48] Student‟s answer: It will always be cold in Antarctic. Simple future tense, R 58 [47] Student‟s answer: She is needing a pen right now. Present Progressive Tense, R 27 Some verbs are non progressive. They are not used in any of the progressive tenses. Need is included in the non progressive verb Azar, 1989: 13. It is included in mental state. The correct answer is in simple present tense “She needs a pen right now .” b The Use of Passive in Active Sentence [50] Student‟s answer: Right now I am looking at Janet. She is looked angry. R 5 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 51 Sentence [50] has passive meaning while it should be in active meaning. In the first sentence, the subject I is in progress of looking at Janet. When the subject I is in progress of looking at Janet, Janet looks angry. Janet is active as a subject not an object. 2 Form-Related Errors a The Use of be with Ordinary Verb [51] Student‟s answer: She is enjoy cooking. She often tries to make a delicious recipe. R 4 Sentence [51] was incorrect. The use of be with the ordinary verb was incorrect. Be is followed by adjectives, adverb of place, nouns, present participle, and past participle for passive sentence Sukur, 2007: 34. The correct answer is “She enjoys cooking. She often tries to make a delicious recipe.” b Omission of –s Final –s or -es is added to a simple present verb in the third person singular subject pronoun such as He, She, It or a singular nounperson Azar, 1989: 98. Sentence [52] is incorrect. The correct answer is sentence “He usually speaks so quickly that I do not understand.” Final –s is added in the word speak. [52] Student‟s answer: He usually speak so quickly that I do not understand. R 10 c Problem in Using be Be for subject It or a third singular person or noun is is. 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 52 [53 ] Student‟s answer: It always be cold in Antarctic. R 15 Referring to sentence [53], subject It requires be ‘is’ because it is followed by an adjective „cold‟ but in sentence [53] there is only be as a full verb. The correct answer is „It always is cold in Antarctic.” It expresses a general truth, therefore the correct answer is in simple present tense. d Subject and Verb Disagreement [54] Student‟s answer: His father don’t work in a department store. He works in a hospital. R 14 Subject His father in sentence [54] does not match with its verb. Subject His father is a third person singular pronoun, which must be followed by auxiliary does. Does follows subjects He, She, It, third person singular pronoun or singular noun. The correct answer is does not for subject his father not do not. e Wrong Order of Adverb of Frequency [55] Student‟s answer: He speaks usually so quickly that I do not understand. R 46 There are three positions for adverbs. They are in the mid-position, end- position, and initial position Swan, 1980:23. Usually is one of the adverbs of frequency. It is used to express a habitual action and put in the mid-position. It goes before the verb, but it goes after am, are, is, was, were Swan, 1980: 24. In sentence [55], usually should be put before the verb speak. 53 3 Other Errors in Simple Present Tense a Wrong Verb Form in Auxiliary have [56] Student‟s answer: He has usually speaks so quickly that I do not understand. R 26 In present perfect tense, auxiliary havehas are followed by past participle. In this case the sentence is in simple present tense not in present perfect context. It expresses an activity that the boy or man usually does. It expresses a habitual action. b Mixed Tenses [57] Student‟s answer: His father didn’t works in a department store. He works in a hospital. R 47 Auxiliary do, does, did are followed by bare infinitive. In sentence [57], did not is followed by simple verb + -s or –es. Besides, it uses two tenses in one phrase, did not + works, did is an auxiliary for the simple past tense while the word works is in simple present. The context of the sentence is in simple present. The correct answer is “His father does not work in a department store. He works in a hospital.”

b. Errors in Present Progressive Tense