The Analysis of Students’ Ability in Mastering Simple Past Tense: A Case Study at Eighth Grade of SMP N 19 Purworejo in the Academic Year of 2016/2017

Abstract

This research is categorized as qualitative research. The aims of this thesis are to categorized the students’ ability in mastering simple past tense and to explain the causes of students’ difficulties in mastering simple past tense. This research was focused on analysis of students’ ability in mastering simple past tense at the eighth grade of SMP N 19 Purworejo in the academic year of 2016/2017. The instrument of the research used are test and questionnaire. The technique of collecting data are 1) preparing the instrument. The test consists of 20 multiple choice and 20 questionnaire, 2) giving test to the students, 3) giving questionnaire to the students, 4) collecting the students’ answer and questionnaire. In analyzing the data, the researcher applies descriptive method. The researcher goes through the following steps 1) Coding the data ( change the name of the students become code “S”, 2) Correcting the data, 3) Counting the total questions that answered by the students, 4) Analyzing the data The result of this research shows there are 9 students ( 28.1% ) is categorized excellent, 14 students ( 43.8% ) categorized in good category, 4 students ( 12.5 % ) is categorized in sufficient category, 5 students (15.6%) categorized in fairly sufficient category, and there is no student including in low category. The researcher conclude that the students’ ability in mastering simple past tense is good with the average score 77, the highest score is 100 and the lowest score is 40. The result of questionnaire is 87% students learn tenses in English lesson. It means that the students’ face no difficulties in mastering simple past tense.