CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1. 1.

The Background of the Study

Human is a social creation who need helps each other. They ask
and offer help by using communication. The communication can be
divided in two ways, they are verbal and written communication. Using
communication means that we use language. Language has many relation
with humans life, thats why we can learn language from many different
view (Gleason:1961).
Language is one of communication tools that make people interact
with one another. By using language, people convey what is in their mind
through words and sentences. To communicate with all people in the
world, we need to use same language so that we can understand each
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other. Because there are so many languages in the world, it is important to

decide international language. International language is the language
which is used by all people around the world to make communication. For
this case, PBB had decided that English become international language,
which means that all country must know about English and how to use it.
Robert (2010:06) said the language does not have status of an
official language. Thats why status of English as a global language with
many potential varieties that might pose as models for Indonesia also
poses the question of which one would be right for the country. It means
that in Indonesia, English is the language that taught as a compulsory
subject that must be learnt at school and universities. Language also can
be functioned as a means for students to develop their skills in science,
technology, culture, and art. As the English curriculum states:
Belajar bahasa yang bukan bahasa pertama atau bahasa asing sering
mengalami kesukaran, baik bahasa yang digunakan secara umum dalam
masyarakat luas (bukan bahasa rumah tangga), maupun bahasa yang
hanya dipakai oleh orang asing (di luar lingkungan masyarakat dalam
kelompok atau bangsa). Maka dari itu dalam proses pembelajaran bahasa
tersebut perlu dikembangkan tata cara memudahkan atau yang biasa
disebut dengan metodologi (Subyakto, 2012:04).
Nowadays, that it is acknowledge that English is one of the well
known language in the world. It has become the most widely studied
foreign language on the earth. English language is an international
language that is mostly utilized by the world society to get interracial
interaction and communication. One of the important thing for preparing
in that communication is mastering the international language.

To be able to communicate in English, students have to master the

basic language skills. They are listening, speaking, reading and writing.
The students study English in the school or in the course, they expect to
learn some abilities, such as ability to listen English sound, ability to read
and understand English text, the ability to speak English, and ability to
write English words. Those are abilities of Language skills (listening,
speaking, reading and writing). Beside the four skills, the students have to
master language components. One of the language component is grammar
and its components are such as morphology, syntax and so on. Grammar
is also needed even in communication because it can avoid
misunderstanding. By mastering grammar, it is hoped that he/she can
share the information and be more confident to express the idea when
he/she is good in saying the words he/she will understand about the things
he/she wants to share. The effective communication would be seriously
impaired without the ability to use grammar in a variety situation. The
more someone can master the grammar, the more she/he is capable in
English.
Grammar has a great role on ones acquisition in English.
Grammar is needed even in communication. Talking about grammar,
there are many valuable parts that should be learnt by the students. The
study of grammar can greatly enhance understanding and fluency.
There are many aspects discussed in English grammar. Grammar
is one of the language aspects which is taught to every language learner. It

is a basic knowledge and as important role in understanding the English

language. Grammar is partly the study of what forms (or structures) are
possible in a language. Traditionally, grammar is a description of the rules
that govern how languages sentences are formed. According to Paul
Robert: Grammar is a body of generalization about how people say
things.
Grammar is an important element to be learned in learning a
language because it is used to understand the language. Language without
grammar can cause confusion in comprehending the ideas, opinions,
feelings of the person who expressed oral or written. English man who is
good at grammar can communicate with language better than person who
is low at grammar.
Look into the words (Arts & Arts:1982) divided words into two
classes, mayor classes (opened words) and minor classes (closed words).
There is no limitation in mayor classes. It can be added new words in it.
In other part, minor classes is limited because we do not allow to add new
words. Mayor classes is included verb, noun, adjective, and adverb. While
minor classes is included preposition, conjunction, article, numeral,
pronomina, quantifier and interjection.
According to Quirk (1985), verb can be divided into
classifications based on its function, they are: full verb, primer verb and
auxiliary verb. Full verb only take action as main verb. Primer verb can
take action as main verb and also as helping verb. They are have (has,

had), do (does, did) and be (am, is, are). While auxiliary verb is a helping
verb which help main verb because auxiliary verb can add meaning to the
main verb itself.
Auxiliaries include some words, they are can, could, will, would,
shall, should, may, might, and must. These auxiliaries add to a special
semantic component such as ability, obligation, possiblity. They have
special grammatical features, have more than one meaning, and also
complex. Some modal change meaning in the negative must be expressed
with other auxiliaries. Eventhough the modals are used only with the
simple form of the verb. And here the students still have difficulties to
make the sentence using auxiliaries and decide the meaning of the modal.
Each modal has more than one meaning or use.
Modal do not take final -s, even the subject is, he, she, or it
Correct

: He can do it

Incorrect

: He cans do it

Modals are followed immediately by the simple form of verb.

Correct

: He can do it

Incorrect

: He can to do it / He can does it / He can did it

The only exception is ought, which is followed by an infinitive (to + the

simple form of a verb)
Correct

: She ought to go to the meaning

Students who learn a foreign language encounter a number of

problems, especially with the grammar of the language which are

complicated and which make them confused. When the students learn
English, they tend to avoid the grammar because it is confusing and
difficult to understand. For some students who have a lack of knowledge
in grammar, of course they will get confused about how to different
meaning the verb in spoken and written, why the verb in sentence must
change, etc.
Error are not always harmful, sometimes error is needed for some
purposes, error can be used as a tool of evaluation for measuring the
mastering of language being learnt, in addition, error can also help the
teacher even the curriculum designer to improve the material given or
designed.
According to Crystal, error analysis in language teaching and
learning is the study of the unacceptable forms produced by someone in
learning language, especially foreign language.
Guntur Tarigan said: Error analysis is a procedure which is
usually used by the language researchers and teachers, consisting of the
identification sample collection, the explanation of the errors, the
classification of the errors, the classification of the errors based on its
cause and evaluation of seriousness phrase of error.
Based on that explanation, the writer wants to make a research
about The Error of Modal Auxiliaries at the Seventh Grade Students of
SMP N. 4 Peureulak. Here, the writer wants to find out the error of
modal which are made by the students.

1. 2.

The Problem of the Study

To identify the problem of the study, the writer has some questions

which are:
1. What are the errors of modal auxiliary which are made by the students at
seventh grade at SMP N. 4 Peureulak?
2. What are factors that caused students make the errors about the using of
modal auxiliary in the sentence?

1. 3.

The Purpose of the Study

In this case, the writer has some purposes in doing this research, they

are:
1. To know the errors of modal auxiliary which are made by the students at
seventh grade at SMP N. 4 Peureulak.
2. To know the factors that caused students make the errors about the using
of modal auxiliary in the sentence.

1. 4.

The Scope of the Study

There are so many kinds modal auxiliary in English. They are divided

into two classification based on the tenses, present and past. To limited the
explanation in this research, the writer only focus on present auxiliary.
1. 5.

The Significances of the Study

Absolutely this research has certain purpose that can be useful, either
from theoretically side or practically.
1. Theoretically
The writer hopes that this research can help English learner in learning
English well. This research shows them how modal auxiliary are used in English.
By reading this research, the reader can get information about modal auxiliary and
its using so that can add their knowledge about English.

2. Practically
By knowing about modal auxiliary and its using, it will help us to make
our English become more beautiful and literature. This research paper will help us
in making good writing and speaking because language or how somebody speaks
will give impression for the listeners.