the verb in sentence must change, etc. there for to make them not confused anymore, they have to master grammar. By mastering it they will understand the
rules and how the sentences are constructed. There are many aspects discussed in English grammar one of them is
“Modal auxiliaries”. Or “modal verb” are: can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, and must. These auxiliaries add to a special semantic component such
as Ability, obligation, possibility. They have special grammatical features; have more than one meaning, and also complex. Some Grammatical modal change
meaning in the negative must be expressed with other auxiliaries. Even though the modals are used only with the simple form of the verb. And here the students still
have difficulties to make the sentences using auxiliaries and to decide the meaning of the modal.
Next, here are examples of wrong sentences that are often made by the students using the form of modal.
We must to study hard for English test He can to speak English
She could spoke English well, and soon
In this case, the writer is interested to search the student‟s errors in learning some
modal auxiliaries entitled An Error Analysis on S tudents’ Using Modal
Auxiliaries
CAN
and
COULD
A Case Study at The Eighth Grade Students of
Integrated Islamic Junior High School Al- Ma’mun Education Center
, the writer tries to identify, observing and analyze them.
B. Limitation of the Study
It is essential to limit the problem in order to avoid misunderstanding in interpreting the problem. The writer limits the problem in this writing only in the
student‟s Error made by students using modal auxiliaries. They are: both can and could and the reasons why the students find difficulties in learning these modal
auxiliaries.
C. Formulation of the Study
Based on the statement in the background of the study described above, it is necessary to analyze the st
udent‟s difficulties using modal auxiliaries at second year of Integrated Islamic Junior High School Al-
Ma’mun -Education Center
,
The general question of this study is
“Do the second year students of integrated Islamic Junior High School Al- Makmun Education Center
find difficulties using modal auxiliaries?”
To specify this problem, the specific research questions are formulated as follows; 1.
What types of error are made by second year students of Integrated Islamic Junior High School Al-Makmun Education Center
using modal auxiliaries Can and Could?
2. Why do the second year students of Integrated Islamic Junior High School
Al-Makmun Education Center make error using modal auxiliaries Can and
Could?
D. The significance of the study
This results of the present research are expected to give some benefits or suggestion not only theoritically but also practically go to:
1. Students The findings of the present study may encourage the students to produce
Modal Auxiliaries correctly and enhance their English proficiency; they are also expected to be able to identify their error and to avoid the error or mistake in the
future. 2. Teacher
It is expected to be useful information for the teacher so that they will know how far the students comprehend the Grammar Modal and the errors
made. It also enables the teacher to do some evaluation to improve their teaching techniques, and to develop teaching materials effectively.
3. Other Researcher It can be used as basic information and suggestion for further studies
Modal Auxililaries in English Grammar especially Modal Can and Could.
E. Organization of the study
In discussing the topic, the writer divides this study into five chapters as follows: chapter one is introduction, involving the background of study, the
limitation of the study, the formulation of the study, the significance of the study and the organization of study. In chapter two, the writer will discuss about
theoretical framework. This chapter will be divided into three sub chapters. The first is talking about modal auxiliaries, kinds of modal, form of modals and
meaning of modals. The second is talking about modal auxiliaries; Can and could, usage of Can and could, and similar expression of Can and could. The
third is talking about students difficulties using Modal auxiliaries of can and could.
