An Error Analysis of The Use Simple Present Tense in EFL Students’ Descriptive Text

This study suggests two research questions. First, what types of simple
present tense errors made by students in their writing text. Second, what are the
errors' causes. This study aimed to describe types of errors and explain the causes of
errors in the use of simple present tense in writing text made by eleventh grade
students of SMK PGRI 5 Jember. Descriptive qualitative research was used in this
study because the data in this study were presented in the form of words rather than
numbers, were obtained in a natural context, and were discussed descriptively. This
study obtain data in the form of students’ writing worksheet, student questionnaires
response and the answer of students’ interview. The participants of the study were 37
eleventh grade students of OTKP 3 in SMK PGRI 5 Jember. The results showed that
the eleventh grade students of OTKP 3 in SMK PGRI 5 Jember made several errors
in the use of simple present tense in their writing text. The types of error in using
simple present tense are errors of omission, errors of addition, and error of
misformation. Based on these types of errors, the causes of student errors are caused
by overgeneralization, ignorance of the rules’ restrictions, and false concept
hypothesized. It can be conclude from the results and the discussion that the most
frequent error that were committed by students is omission error, and the most
frequent causes of students in making error in the use of simple present tense is
overgeneralization.