AN ANALYSIS ON THE SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT ERRORS IN WRITING PARAGRAPH MADE BY THE SECOND SEMESTER STUDENTS OF ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Abstract

This research aimed at identifying the subject-verb agreement errors in students’ writing, finding out the subject-verb agreement errors mostly made by the students in their writing, and finding out the source of the errors. This research applied a descriptive research. The data of the research were collected through non-test and test instruments. Test instrument covers writing test. Non-test instruments cover questionnaire and interview. Furthermore, the data obtained throughnon-test were analyzed descriptively whilethe data obtained through test instruments were analyzed by employing descriptive statistical analysis. The result of data analysis showed that error on the basic subject-verb agreement was 70.75%. It was followed by the errors on final –s/ -es (14.15%), the using expressionsof quantity (9.43%), the using there + be (5.66%), and none errors (0%) about some irregularities. This research found that there were six sources of errors due to the errors. In conclusion, the highest error made by the secondsemesterstudents of English Department at Tadulako University dealing with subject-verb agreement was on the basic subject-verb agreement (70.75%) and it was influenced by 6 sources of errors. Keywords: Subject-Verb Agreement; Errors; Writing; Paragraph; Sources of Errors