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INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, education has the main role in someones life. It has the relation for
getting job. Every people in the world compete to get the better job. The better in
education will get the better job. Moreover, better job means better life. As we know in
Indonesia, education is the one factor that always is developed by the government.
Therefore, many parents are conscious to choose the school that has good quality to their
children. They hope their children will get the best life in the future. It leads many schools
develop their quality of education by improving the quality of teachers, materials in
learning process, school rules etc.
As we know, English is the international language that makes people around the
world will be able to communicate each others by using it. Thus, many people in the
world learn English. In Indonesia, English is the one of the subjects that is taught in every
school, which takes part in developing quality of education. English is the one of some
subjects that should be passed by students as the final examination in the last level of
education. Thus, it can be the way of students success.
Lately, many schools have International standard which English as the language
that is used as the medium of instructions in school environment. So, all subjects in the
school are taught by using English language. It is one of the ways to develop quality of
education and the quality of the graduates especially in using English.
As a language, English includes four language skills and language components.
The four language skills are listening, speaking, reading and writing which has integration
of each others. The language skills are divided into two types. They are productive skills
that include speaking and writing and receptive skills include listening and reading.
English has many components also. One of them is grammar. While we use English,
whether it is listening, speaking, reading and writing it means we use grammar too.
Grammar includes conjunction, tenses, preposition etc. All of those parts need to be
learned.
Simple present tense is the one of the sixteen tenses in English. It uses to express
the habitual action and the fact of something or general truth. It also uses to make a
command to other. Simple present tense is tense that often use in conversation or written
text. Therefore, every student should able to understand and able to use it correctly.
In Junior High School, Senior High School even in the University in Indonesian
education system, we will find this type of tenses. If the students of Junior High School
are not able to use this tense, they will be get the difficulty in next level of education. Also
in communication, that uses English. They will get many problems to make a sentence
whether it is affirmative, negative or interrogative; furthermore, they are not easy to state a
statement or command to others.
In this research, a researcher wants to find what the problems in using simple
present tense of students in junior high school are. Researcher thinks that this type of
tense is important to be mastered in Junior High School because it is useful and will be use
in others level of education and in communication.
CHAPTER II
GRAMMAR
When we talk about definition of grammar, we can find many opinions about it.
Base on Whitney, English grammar is a description of the usages of the English language
by good speakers and writers of the present day. A description of account of the nature,
build, constitution, or make of a language is called its grammar (Meiklejohn). Grammar
teaches the laws of language, and the right method of using it in speaking and writing
(Patterson).
The grammar of a language is the description of the ways in which can change
their forms and can be combined into sentences in that language. If grammar rules are too
carelessly violated, communication may suffer (Jeremy Harmer). Based on Brown
(2001:362) grammar is the system of rules governing the conventional arrangement and
relationship of words in a sentences.
Grammar is the science of letter; hence the science of using words correctly
(Abbott). According to Richard Grant White, The English word grammar relates only to
the laws, which govern the significant forms of words, and the construction of the
sentence.
The other said, grammar is the system of a language. People sometimes describe
grammar as the "rules" of a language; but in fact no language has rules. If we use the word
"rules", we suggest that somebody created the rules first and then spoke the language, like
a new game. But languages did not start like that. Languages started by people making
sounds which evolved into words, phrases and sentences. No commonly-spoken language
is fixed. All languages change over time. What we call "grammar" is simply a reflection of
a language at a particular time.
For many years grammars have told us about the written language so that, for
example, we confidently state that a sentence needs at least a subject and a verb, which
can be followed by an object (as in I like biscuits), by a complement (He is British) or by
an adverbial (She lives in Prague). We know that questions are often formed by inverting
the order of subject and verb (Is he British?) or (where there is no auxiliary present)
bringing in an operator for this function (Do you like biscuits?).
English grammar is the science, which treats of the nature of words, their forms,
and their uses and relations in the sentence. All the words in the English language are
divided into nine great classes. These classes are called the Parts of Speech. They are
Article, Noun, Adjective, Pronoun, Verb, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction and
Interjection.
The words a, an, and the are generally called articles and sometimes classed as a
separate part of speech. In function, however they can be grouped with the demonstrative
adjectives that are used to point things out rather than describe them.
There are two types of articles. They are definite article and indefinite article. The
is called the definite article because it points out a particular object or class. For example,
This is the book I was talking about. A or an is called the indefinite article because it
points out an object but not any particular specimen. A is used before words beginning
with a consonant sound or an aspirated h. An is used before words beginning with vowel
sound. For example, a book, a dog, a umbrella, an honorable man.
Noun is a word used to describe a person, place, thing, event, idea, and so on.
Noun represent one the main elements of sentences, along with verbs, adjectives,
preposition and article. Noun usually function as subjects or objects within sentences.
Although they can also act as adjectives and adverbs.
There are seven types of nouns. They are:
1. Proper nouns
Used to describe a unique person or thing, proper nouns always start with a capital
letter. Examples include Mary, India, and Manchester United.
2. Common nouns
Common nouns are used to describe persons or things in general. Examples
include girl, country, and team.
3. Concrete nouns
Nouns that can be perceived through the five senses are called concrete nouns.
Examples include ball, rainbow and melody.
4. Abstract nouns
Nouns that cannot be perceived through the senses are called abstract nouns.
Examples include love, courage, and childhood.
5. Countable nouns
Countable nouns can be counted. They also have both a singular and plural form.
Examples include toys, children and books.
6. Uncountable nouns
These nouns usually cannot be counted, and they do not have a plural form.
Examples include sympathy, laughter and oxygen.
7. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are used to describe groups of things. Example include flock,
committee and murder.
This special class of pronouns is used when the object is the same the subject
on the sentence. They are myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves,
themselves and itself.
5. Interrogative pronouns
As you probably guessed these pronouns are used to ask questions. They are
what, which, who, whom and whose.
6. Demonstrative pronouns
These pronouns are used to indicate a noun and distinguish it from other
entities. Notice that demonstrative pronouns replace the noun (while
demonstrative determiners modify them) they are this, that, these, those.
7. Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns do not refer to a specific thing, place or person. There are
many of them, including anyone, anywhere, everyone, none, someone and so
on.
Verb is a word that serves as the predicate of a sentence or a content word that
denotes an action or a state. English has three kinds of verbs: transitive, intransitive, and
incomplete. Both transitive and intransitive verbs are action verbs
1. Transitive Verbs
A verb is transitive when the action is carried across to a receiver (the direct
object). For example, The farmer grows potatoes.
2. Intransitive Verbs
A verb is transitive when the action stays with the verb. It is not carried across
to a receiver. Adding preposition phase to modify the verb does not change the
fact that the action remains with the subject. For example, Corn grows in the
fields.
3. Incomplete Verbs
There are three types of incomplete verbs:
a. Being verbs also called linking or copulative verbs to be, seem, become,
taste, smell, sound, feel. For example, He feels depressed.
b. Auxiliary verbs also called helping verbs. Be, have, shall, will, do, and
may. For example, He could have gone earlier.
c. Semi-auxiliary verbs. Must, can, ought, dare, need. For example, You must
not go.
English verbs are said to have two voices: active and passive. Active voice when
the subject of the sentence performs the action. It is divided into three types. They are
imperative mood that expresses command, prohibition, entreaty, or advice; subjunctive
mood that expresses doubt or something contrary to fact and can be used to express a
wish; infinitive mood that expresses an action or state without reference to any subject, it
can be the source of sentence fragments when the writer mistakenly thinks the infinitive
form is a fully-functioning verb.
Adverb are used to describe or modify a verb, adjective, clause, or another adverb.
Basically they modify everything except nouns and pronouns (which are modified by
adjectives). For example, he was running fast.
Prepositions are used to link nouns and pronouns to other words within a sentence.
The words linked to are called objects. Usually prepositions show a spatial or temporal
relationship between the noun and the object. Here is a list with the most common
prepositions: about, above, after, among, around, along, at, before, behind, beneath,
beside, between, by, down, from, in, into, like, near, of, off, on, out, over, through, to, up,
upon, under, and with. For example, the cat is under the table.
A conjunction joins a words and groups of words. There are two classes of
conjunction: co-ordinate or coordinating and subordinate or subordinating. Co-ordinate
conjunctions: and, but, eitheror, neithernor. For example, Mother and Father are
driving me to New Orleans. Subordinate conjunctions: that, as, after, before, since, when,
where, unless, if. For example, Since you cant get away, well go without you. The
relative pronouns who, whom, which, and that are used in the same way that subordinate
conjunctions are. The difference is that the relative pronouns serve three purposes at once:
1. They stand for a noun in the main clause
2. They connect the clauses
3. They serve as a subject or object word in the subordinate clause
Interjections come from a Latin word that means throw between it is a word or
phrase that is thrown into a sentence to express an emotion. For example, Goodness, how
youve grown!. All the impolite expressions that we call expletives are interjections.
tata bahasa yang menunjukkan suatu kejadian atau perbuatan yang sesuai dengan waktu
atau kejadiannya (Anton Hermawan). There are sixteen tenses in English.
The functions of simple present tense are to talk about actions we see as long term
or permanent, talk about regular actions or events, talk about facts, talk about future facts,
usually found in a timetable or a chart, talk about our thoughts and feelings at the time of
speaking. Although these feelings can be short-term, we use the present simple and not the
present continuous.
Simple Present
Use
Affirmative/negative/
question
A: He speaks.
N: He does not speak.
Q: Does he speak?
facts
Present Progressive
Simple Past
Past Progressive
A: He is speaking.
N: He is not speaking.
Q: Is he speaking?
A: He spoke.
N: He did not speak.
Q: Did he speak?
A: He was speaking.
N: He was not speaking.
Q: Was he speaking?
Signal
words
always,
every ,
never,
normally,
often, seldom,
sometimes,
usually
if sentences
type I (If I
talk, )
at the moment,
just, just now,
Listen!,
Look!, now,
right now
yesterday, 2
minutes ago,
in 1990, the
other day, last
Friday
if sentence
type II (If I
talked, )
when, while,
as long as
same time
Present Perfect
Progressive
Past Perfect
Progressive
Future I Simple
A: He has spoken.
N: He has not spoken.
Q: Has he spoken?
A: He had spoken.
N: He had not spoken.
Q: Had he spoken?
sometimes interchangeable
with past perfect
progressive
A: He will speak.
N: He will not speak.
Q: Will he speak?
already, ever,
just, never, not
yet, so far, till
now, up to
now
already, just,
never, not yet,
once, until that
day
if sentence
type III (If I
had
talked, )
for, since, the
whole day, all
day
sometimes interchangeable
with past perfect simple
spontaneous decision
in a year,
next ,
tomorrow
If-Satz Typ I
(If you ask
her, she will
help you.)
assumption: I
think,
probably,
Future I Simple
(going to)
Future I Progressive
A: He is going to speak.
N: He is not going to speak.
Q: Is he going to speak?
A: He will be speaking.
N: He will not be speaking.
Q: Will he be speaking?
Future II Simple
Future II Progressive
Conditional I Simple
A: He would speak.
N: He would not speak.
Q: Would he speak?
Conditional I
Progressive
A: He would be speaking.
Conditional II Simple
Conditional II
Progressive
perhaps
in one year,
next week,
tomorrow
in one year,
next week,
tomorrow
by Monday, in
a week
if sentences
type III
(If I had seen
that, I would
have helped.)
general, the simple present tense expresses events or situations that exist always, usually,
habitually; they exist now, have excited in the past and probably will exist in the future.
is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or with the singular form of nouns)
are with the personal pronouns we, you or they (or with the plural form of nouns)
Example: I am hungry.
Affirmative
Negative
Question
I am.
I am not.
Am I?
he/she/it
He is.
He is not.
Is he?
Are you?
have with the personal pronouns I, you, we und they (or with the plural form of
nouns)
has with the personal pronouns he, she, it (or with the singular form of nouns)
Positive
I/you/we/they
he/she/it
Negative
Question
I have got. /
Have I got? /
I have.
I do not have.
Do I have?
He has got. /
Has he got? /
He has.
Does he have?
Negative sentences and questions are formed with the auxiliary verb 'do'. The 3rd
person singular of 'do' is 'does'. This means that in negative sentences and questions the 's'
of the main verb is placed behind 'do'.
CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS
3.1 Result
In this research, after researcher hold the test for the subject in the research,
researcher finds the problems that students have in using simple present tense. Many of
them are not able to answer all of the questions correctly. Many of the problems are the
difficulties and confusion in answering the questions because they do not have ability to
determine the subject that is used in sentence. Therefore, they still confuse to decide the
answer for question about the using of subject and verb in simple present tense.
3.2 The questions and the answers
There are ten questions about simple present tense at part one in multiple-choice
items. They are:
1. Mira a book.
a. read
b. reads
c. is read
d. was read
c. were shining
d. are shining
c. is read
d. was read
c. were shining
d. are shining
However, in the part two (completion word items) on number four which the
objective is same as number seven at part one, two students answers are wrong. The
question is:
4. Do is play a game?
One students answer is totally wrong and another is wrong that is caused by to be that he
added after do. Actually, they should answer this question correctly because they are able
to answer the similar question before.
On number nine at part one, the objective is same with number seven and number
four at part two (completion word items). The objective of the question is to measure
students ability in determining the using of auxiliary verb in simple present tense base on
the subject in interrogative sentence.
The question is:
9. the rabbit eat carrot?
a. are
c. am
b. does
d. do
The answer this question is does because the subject is rabbit. Rabbit is kind of
animal in singular form. Nevertheless, in this case just eleven students who answered
correctly. It shows they have difficulties to identify the subject that is used in a sentence so
they have difficulties to decide the auxiliary verb that should be used to make that
interrogative sentence complete and right.
Number one at part one is answered correctly by almost of all students. Twentytwo of twenty-four students answer is right. The question is:
I am sure this sentence is familiar for them, it is why many of them are able to answer it,
but two of them still have difficulties to answer it. They answer is same. That is:
1. I often do not to school at seven oclock
I assume this wrong answer is cause of the hesitation about the question. Their
minds focus to add do or does on the blank space. They dont think about the structure of a
sentence. This sentence needs a verb to make it right, structurally and acceptable.
Number one, two and eight at part one (multiple-choice items) have the similar
form too. It uses to measure students ability in using the correct verb in the correct form at
appropriate meaning in affirmative sentence base on the subject that is used in simple
present tense. The question are:
1. Mira a book.
a. read
c. is read
b. reads
d. was read
c. is fly
b. flies
d. was fly
c. were shining
b. shine
d. are shining
The answer for number one is reads because the subject is Mira as the third person
in singular form so we need to add suffix s at the verb that is used. Just four students
answered this number correctly. Some of students answered read and another students
answered is read for this number.
The answer for number two is fly because the subject is birds. Suffix s at the
subject shows the subject (bird) in plural form so the verb should be infinitive without
s/es. The students who answered this number correctly are eight students. Some students
answered flies and another students answered is fly.
The answer for number eight is shines because the subject is sun as the thing in
singular form so the verb should be added by suffix s. for this number just five students
answered correctly. Another answered shine.
Many mistakes that the students have done are caused of their interference about
the subject and the verb of the sentences. They think that if the subject in simple present
tense is singular form the verb should be infinitive without suffix s or es but if the
subject in simple present tense is plural form the verb should be infinitive form with suffix
s or es.
Number three and six at part one (multiple-choice items) and number three at part
two (completion word items) have the same objective. It to measure the students ability in
using have and has in simple present tense in affirmative sentence. The questions are:
Part one
3. Ia flower I my garden
a. has
c. have
b. is having
d. are having
6. Everybodytwo eyes
a. has
c.. have
b. are having
d. were having
Part two
3. Humanone nose
The answer for number three at part one is have because the subject is I as the
singular subject. There are fifteen students answered correctly. Nine students answered
has.
The answer for number six is has because pronoun everybody in that sentence
indicates the singular subject of the sentence. Twelve students answered this question
correctly. The rest answered have.
The answer for number three at part two is has because human is person in singular
form. However, seven students answered correctly. It shows seventeen students answers
are false. Ten of them answered have; four students answered is have; two students
answered does and one student answered it is.
All of their mistakes are caused by their generalization in using have. They thought
word have can be used after all subjects in simple present tense. In fact, the rule shows that
have should add after subject I, you, we and they or subject in plural form. Moreover, has
should be add after subject he, she, it or subject in singular form. In this case, some of
students think that everybody and human show plural form so they choose the wrong
answer.
Number four and ten at part one (multiple-choice items) and number two at part
two (completion word items) have the same purpose. These questions are used to measure
the students ability in using auxiliary verb in negative sentence in simple present tense.
The questions are:
Part one
4. The catslike fruits
a. does not
c. do not
b. do
d. does
c. do not
b. do
d. does
Part two
2. A cockeat a mouse
The answer for number four is do not because the subject is the cats, suffix s in
word cats as the subject indicates the subject in plural form. Although, do is suitable for
this question but base on general truth, cats do not like fruits so the answer should be in
negative form. Eleven students answered correctly. Some of them answered does not, but
the others answer are do and does.
The answer for number ten is do not because the subject is they as the plural form
and there is conjunction but that indicates opposite meaning between two clauses. If the
clause after but is affirmative form, the clause before but should be in negative form.
Because the clause after but is they study (affirmative form) so we should make the clause
before but in negative form therefore the right answer is do not so the clause is they do not
sleep. For question number ten, there are twelve students who answered correctly. The
others answered do, does and does not.
The answer for number two at part two (completion word items) is does not because
the subject is a cock. A indicates the singular form of the subject (cock). For this number,
nine students answered correctly. Some of them answered do not, but the others answers
are no, do not like, do, and does.
For this type of questions, we can find the vary answers of the students. It shows
they do not have enough ability in this type of questions because there are three questions
that have similar type but they still have difficulties to answer that.
Number five at part one (multiple-choice items) has the purpose to measure
students ability to put the right verb in right form in negative sentence. The answer is:
5. My brother does notto cook
a. like
c. is like
b. likes
d. was like
The answer for this question is like because after auxiliary verb and not we should
put verb in infinitive form without suffix whatever the subjects. Twelve students answered
this question correctly and the others answer is likes because they see the subject (my
brother) that indicates he as singular form. The other answered is like.
All of their mistakes are caused by their minds that are still interference of the
subject in sentence. When they see the subject in singular form, they think to put the
infinitive verb with suffix s or es.
3.4 Conclusion
In this research, researcher concludes that the mistakes of the test show the
students problems in using simple present tense. It is caused by their disability in using
simple present tense and their lack of knowledge about the simple present tense. In
addition, their interference about the rule in using auxiliary verb and infinite form in
simple present tense
It is also about the rule and their understanding about the meaning of the sentence.
They are still confuse to decide the right verb in right form base on the subject in the
sentence and decide the right auxiliary verb that suitable and acceptable base on the
subject and the rule in simple present tense to make negative and interrogative sentences.
As the result, they have difficulty to make sentences, whether it is affirmative, negative
even interrogative sentences.