AN ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN USING NOMINAL AND VERBAL SENTENCES IN SIMPLE PAST TENSE: A STUDY ON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 AT PUTRI HIJAU BENGKULU UTARA

Abstrak

This research was aimed at describing the second year students’ ability in using nominal and verbal sentences in the simple past tense at SMPN 2 Putri Hijau Bengkulu Utara. The design of this research was descriptive in nature. The population of this research was the second year students at SMPN 2 Putri Hijau Bengkulu Utara. The sample was the students in VIII Aclass and the number of sample was 30 students.To take the data, the writer used grammar test in the form multiple choices. The coefficient correlation was .85. Generally, the writer got mean 16.96 and standard deviation 2.64. The result of data analysis showed that the students had moderate ability in using nominal (positive, negative, interrogative) and verbal (positive, negative, interrogative) sentences in simple past tense. In fact 3 students (10%) had high ability, 22 students (73.3%) had moderate ability and 5 students (16.7%) had low ability.Based on the result of this research, the writer wants to give suggestion to the teachers, students, readers, and next writers. Teachers are expected to give more explanation to review the material about nominal and verbal sentences in simple past tense. The teachers also should consider their strategies or method in teaching. The students are suggested to study more about nominal and verbal sentences and do more exercises to differentiate between nominal and verbal sentences. Finally, the readers and next writers are suggested to do other researchers related to students’ problem or other aspects of English instruction.

Key words: Analysis, Nominal Sentences, Verbal Sentences, Students’ Ability