AN ERROR ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF PREPOSITION OF TIME (IN, ON, AT)

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the analysis of error of the use of
preposition of time: in, on, at, at the second grade students of SMA
PASUNDAN MAJALAYA. The writer took one class which consist
of 20 students as the sample. The data were collected through test
and questionnaire. The students were asked to translate 15 sentences
into English and choose one of three statements from the
questionnaire. The data were collected and were analyzed by using
statistical analysis to find out the students’ outcome percentage and
applied descriptive research as a method. It was to analyze and
present the fact systematically. The results of this research showed
that 45.22% students made some errors in using preposition of time
“on”, and the dominant type of error made by the students was
“wrong selection error” with percentage about 82.6%. While the
dominant source of error in using preposition of time: in, on, at, was
because an incomplete knowledge of the target language about 65%,
so the students should increase their interest on it.Based on findings
above, it can be concluded that the teacher should give motivation
and pay more attention on teaching English grammar especially in
preposition of time: in, on, at. Because it has correlation with
students’ ability in writing recount text, so the writer hope the
students could increase their motivation in learning preposition of
time: in, on, at, in order that they could make a recount text well.