Eva Falasifa. 182090168 “An Error Analysis of Past Tense in Recount Text
Produced by the Eighth Graders of SMP Islam Comal in the
Academic Year 2013-2014”. A Final Project, English Language
Education Study Program, College of Languages Sultan Agung
Islamic University. The advisor: Kurniawan Yudhi Nugroho, S.Pd,
M.Pd.

Key words: Grammar, Simple Past Tense, recount text and Junior High
School.

This a descriptive method attempted to find out the ability of students of
SMP Islam Comal in using simple past tense in recount text. The population was
the eighth grade students of SMP Islam Comal Pemalang in the academic year
2013/2014 consisting of two class. Total population was 79 students, 39 students
in VIII A selected as a try out class, and 40 students VIII B selected as sample.
Based on the data analysis result, it was found that the students‟
achievement of using reguler and irreguler verb in simple past tense was
satisfactory. The mean of students‟ score was 83.8. It indicated that the
percentage of correct answers was 84%. It means that level of students‟
achievement got into grade C which is average. In the case of reguler and
irreguler verb, it showed that 47% of students produced error of the adding -ing
form of verb 31% of students produced error by adding “-ed” and 22% of
students produced error by adding to. It means that the dominant errors mostly
students produced were adding “to-“, “-ing”, and “-ed”. It can be concluded that
some of students were still confused in identifying reguler and irreguler verbs.
Based on the results, it is suggested that teachers should find better ways to
explain to students about the simple past tense, including patterns and how to
use them in recount text.