There is a close relationship between an error analysis on the use of gerund and second language acquisition, that is gerund is one of English
structure features and English is the first foreign language second language in Indonesia that must be learned by Indonesian students. In the process of
learning gerund, many learners make errors and it is a normal case because it is the process for the learners to acquire the second language.
To find out why the learners could make errors, a research about the error must be done. There are several types of errors that were dictated by
experts. According to Ellis 1997:15, there are four kinds of errors: 1 Omission is the error of leaving item that is required for an utterance to be
considered grammatical, 2 misinformation is the error of using one grammatical form in place of another grammatical form, 3 misordering is
the error of putting the words in an utterance in the wrong order, and 4 overgeneralization is the error of using over grammatical form in an
utterance.
1.2. Problem of the Study
Learners may make errors when they use English language, especially on the use of gerund, which is one of the English structure forms. Dealing with the
matters and based on the background above, the writer has formulated the problems of the study as follows:
1. What kinds of error on the use of gerund are made by the 20122013 fourth semester students of English Literature of Faculty of Cultural Studies of
USU.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
2. What are the causes and the sources of the errors on the use of gerund made by the 20122013 fourth semester students of English Literature of
Faculty of Cultural Studies of USU. 3. What kind of error on the use of gerund is the most dominant made by the
20122013 fourth semester students of English Literature of Faculty of Cultural Studies of USU.
1.3. Objective of the Study
Mastering a language properly and correctly takes a lot of time as learner of language needs to know the system of the language. One is dealing with the
grammatical system of grammar and usage. Based on the explanation above, the writer can describe the objectives of the
study are as follows: 1.
To find out kinds of error on the use of gerund are made by the 20122013 fourth semester students of English Literature of Faculty of
Cultural Studies of USU. 2.
To find out the causes and the sources of errors on the use of gerunds made by the 20122013 fourth semester students of English Literature of
Faculty of Cultural Studies of USU. 3.
To find out the kinds of error on the use of gerund is the most dominant made by the 20122013 fourth semester students of English Literature of
Faculty of Cultural Studies of USU.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
1.4. Scope of the Study
In each form of English grammar has its own formula, such as the use of gerund. Gerund is divided into several types and each type has certain
requirements in its use that the learners might make errors in using it. According to the explanation above, the writer limits the research related to
the use of gerund such as gerund as subject, gerund as direct object, gerund as subjective complement, gerund as object of preposition, gerund a fter
possessive adjective, and Gerund used in the Negative Adjective in the 20122013 forth semester students of English Literature of Faculty of Cultural
Studies of USU.
1.5. The Significance of the Study
