AN ERROR ANALYSIS OF PAST TENSES IN WRITING NARRATIVE TEXT (A Case Study at Third Grade of Junior High School of AlMubarok Islamic Boarding School at Sumur Pecung Serang)

This research investigates the analysis of students’ error of using past tenses in writing narrative text. Specifically this research paper entitled “An Error Analysis of Past Tenses in Writing Narrative Text A Case Study at Third Grade of Junior High School of Al-Mubarok Islamic Boarding School at Sumur Pecung Serang”. This research is conducted based on the statement of problems; 1) How is the third grade students’ ability of AlMubarok in writing narrative text? 2) What are their errors in using past tenses in writing narrative text?, and 3) What are the causes of error? Based on the statement of problem above, this research is aimed at; 1) Knowing the third grade students’ ability of Al-Mubarok in writing narrative text, 2) Knowing the students’ errors in using past tenses in writing narrative text, and 3) Knowing the causes of their errors. To answer the questions, the writer collects data from 20 students’ writing of 5 students of every third grade of MTs Al-Mubarok Islamic Boarding School year 2016-2017. This research uses case study formed qualitative descriptive. The data gathered through test and interview. For the time, the research is carried out on August for two weeks. The step of analyzing data, the writer had conducted sample collecting, indentifying errors, classifying errors, calculating errors, and analyzing errors and the source. On the research finding and analysis, the writer finds several errors types that are made by students in their writing narrative text. They are simple past tense (V2, pronoun, noun, subject verb agreement, past’s passive voice, V3, and past nominal verb) is 91,30%, past continuous tense (past nominal verb, V1+ing) is 5,43%, past perfect tense (V2, V3) is 2,72%. It can be concluded that the students’ comprehension on using past tenses in narrative text is less. It can be seen the total students’ error is 184 errors from 20 respondents. Based on the interview done, it is caused by two factors. They are less comprehension and forgetfulness. However, it is normally for them as beginner in writing activity. Therefore, it can be concluded that they still need guidance, and when they write narrative text, they should not comprehend about past tenses.