AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN USING CONDITIONAL SENTENCES OF THE SIXTH SEMESTER STUDENTS IN ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF TARBIYAH FACULTY IAIN ANTASARI

Abstract

This research describes the ability in using conditional sentences of the sixth semester students in English Department of IAIN Antasari academic year 2011/2012. The problems in this research are: 1) how is students’ ability in using conditional sentences?  2) what is the most students’ common error in using conditional sentences? This study are supposed to know the students’ ability in using conditional sentences and the most students’ common errors in using conditional sentences. The subjects in this research are 69 of 79 students in the English Department of IAIN Antasari in academic year 2011/2012. The objects of this research are the ability in using conditional sentences of the sixth semester students in the English Department of IAIN Antasari Academic Year 2011/2012 and the most students’ common errors in using conditional sentences. The data are collected by using some techniques. They are: written test, observation, interview and documentary. Data processing in this research is divided into four stages, they are checking, scoring, tabulating and interpreting. Then all data are analyzed descriptively and use inductive method to make conclusion.  The result of the research denoted that the level of students’ ability in using conditional sentences is in fair category. It is based on calculation it is mean that is 64, 8. After analyzing each type of test, the writer found that the most students’ common errors is in type III (41,6%). It can be concluded that mistakes happened because the students do not understand well about tenses that is used in conditional sentences. For example, type I we use simple present tense, type II we have to use simple past tense, and for type III we need know well about past perfect tense. The writer also concludes, the mistakes that the students have done because inappropriate in choosing modal. The students have to choose which appropriate modal should be attached to the sentence.