The Second Year Students’ Ability to Complete Sentences Using Question Tags at English Department of Bung Hatta University.

Abstrak

A question tag is a mini question that is put at the end of a sentence both in writing and spoken English (Murphy, 2004:104). Alexander (1990:192) adds that a question tag is a short question that follows a statement. Question tag is often used in daily life, whether in spoken or written form and it is also studied in Grammar subject at a university. Therefore, the students need to have the ability to use question tags.

This research aimed to find out the second year students’ ability to complete sentences using question tags at English Department of Bung Hatta University. The method that was applied in this research was the descriptive research. The population of this research was the second year students at English Department of Bung Hatta University. The number of sample was 23 students taken by total sampling technique. The data were collected by using a completion test in the form of completing sentences using question tags. The test consisted of six parts. They were nominal sentences of simple present tense, verbal sentences of simple present tense, nominal sentences of simple past tense, verbal sentences of simple past tense, nominal sentences of simple future tense, and verbal sentences of simple future tense.

The results of this research in general showed that the second year students’ ability to complete sentences using question tags was categorized as very good. Specifically, the second year students’ ability to complete nominal sentences of simple present tense using question tags was categorized as very good; the second year students’ ability to complete verbal sentences of simple present tense using question tags was categorized as very good; the second year students’ ability to complete nominal sentences of simple past tense using question tags was categorized as very good; the second year students’ability to complete verbal sentences of simple past tense using question tags was categorized as very good; the second year students’ ability to complete nominal sentences of simple future tense using question tags was categorized as very good; and the second year students’ ability to complete verbal sentences of simple future tense using question tags was categorized as very good.

Based on the findings of this research, a simple conclusion could be drawn that the second year students’ ability to complete sentences in both nominal and verbal sentences of simple present tense, simple past tense, and simple future tense using question tags was very good. However, the lecturer should give enrichment to the students, so the students can maintain their capability in completing sentences using question tags. The next researchers are suggested to do further research on other tenses.

Key words: Question tags, nominal sentences, verbal sentences, simple present tense, simple past tense, simple future tense, ability