English Students’ Ability in Constructing Sentences in Simple Past Tense and Simple Present Tense Using Verb Be and Main Verbs. Thesis. English Department, Bung Hatta University

Abstrak

In the process of language learning, there are four basic skills that must be mastered. They are listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Beside the major skills, there are three elements of English, they are phonology, vocabulary, and grammar. Grammar is rules for forming words and making sentences. It means that grammar covers all of language skills.

The purpose of this research was to find out the ability of the second year students in constructing sentences using verb be and main verbs at English Department of Bung Hatta University, especially affirmative sentences using verb be, transitive verbs, and intransitive verbs in simple past tense and simple present tense. The design of this research was descriptive research. The population of this study was the second year students at English Department of Bung Hatta University, who were registered in academic year 2017/2018. The number of population members of this research were 24 students, but the students who attended the test administration were 20. The data were collected by giving a writing test. To know the reliability of the test, the researcher used inter-rater technique. The reliability index of this test was .98 and it is categorized into very high.

The result of data analysis revealed that the second year students at English Department of Bung Hatta University had very good ability in constructing sentences using verb be and main verbs. It was indicated by the fact that 13 students (65%) had very good ability. Specifically, the students’ ability in constructing simple affirmative sentences using verb be in simple past tense was very good. It was indicated by the fact that13 students (65%) had very good ability. Second, the students’ ability in constructing simple affirmative sentences using transitive verbs in simple past tense was very good. It was indicated by the fact that 17 students (85%) had very good ability. Third, the students’ ability in constructing simple affirmative sentences using intransitive verbs in simple past tense were very good, good, and satisfactory. It was indicated by the fact that 6 students (30%) had very good ability, 6 students (30%) had good ability, and 6 students (30%) who had good ability. Fourth, the students’ ability in constructing simple affirmative sentences using verb be in simple present tense was very good. It was indicated by the fact that 17 students (85%) had very good ability. Fifth, the students’ ability in constructing simple affirmative sentences using transitive verbs in simple present tense was very good. It was indicated by the fact that 13 students (65%) had very good ability. And the last, the students’ ability in constructing simple affirmative sentences using intransitive verbs in simple present tense was good. It was indicated by the fact that 11 students (55%) had good ability.

By having known that the English students’ ability in constructing sentences using verb be and main verbs was very good, the researcher suggests the teachers to keep giving exercises by asking the students to write sentences and do more practices in writing. The students are expected to maintain their ability and keep doing exercises to write sentences. The future researchers are expected to find differences of the students’ ability in different years.

Keyword: writing, grammar, simple past tense, simple present tense, verb be, main verbs