RAINBOW

Volume 1 Number 1, January 2012: Page 104 - 117

Indonesian Students’ Errors in the Use of

Tyas Gita Atibrata

ABSTRACT This research attempts to investigate Indonesian students' errors in the use of determiners in their English writing. More specifically, it is an attempt to identify Gadjah Mada University English Department students' errors in the use of English determiners and classify them according to the types of determiners and the structural change of determiners. The results of the research shows that most of the incorrect use of the determiners was in the form of articles with 71 cases (72.44%), followed by 12 (12.24%), 10 (10.20%), and quantifiers 5 cases (5.10%). The results seem to suggest that the students had the greatest difficulty in the use of articles in writing in English. However, did not seem to have difficulty in the use of demonstratives, possessives, and quantifiers. The incorrect use of determiners \caused some structural alteration of the determiners. There are five types of stuructural alteration of determiners: addition, omission, misorder, misformation, and misuse. Most of them were omission with 29 (29.59%). All of them were in the form of articles, followed by misformation with 28 cases (28.57%), addition with 19 cases (19.38%), misuse with 14 cases (14.28%), and misordering with 8 cases (8.16%). The results suggest that most of the students tend to omit the articles in their writing.

Keywords: , Errors, Alteration, Articles, Possessives, Demonstratives, Quantifiers,

INTISARI Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kesalahan pemakaian determiner yang dilakukan oleh mahasiswa Indonesia yang terkandung dalam tulisan bahasa Inggris mereka. Secara lebih khusus, pene- litian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi kesalahan pemakaian determiner oleh mahasiswa jurusan Sas- tra Inggris, Universitas Gadjah Mada dan mengklasifikasikan kesalahan-kesalahan tersebut berdasarkan jenis-jenis determiner dan perubahan struktur pada determiner. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bah- wa kesalahan pemakaian determiner paling banyak pada bentuk dengan 71 kesalahan (72.44%) diikuti oleh possessives 12 (12.24%), demonstratives 10 (10.20%), dan quantifiers 5 cases (5.10%). Hasil ini menunjukkan bahwa para mahasiswa tersebut mempunyai kesulitan paling banyak dalam pemakaian article. Namun begitu, para mahasiswa tersebut sepertinya tidak memiliki kesulitan dalam pemakaian possessives, demonstratives, quantifiers. Kesalahan pemakaian determiner ini menyebabkan beberapa perubahan struktur dari determiner tersebut. Terdapat lima jenis perubahan struktur determiner: addi- tion, omission, misorder, misformation, dan misuse. Perubahan paling banyak ialah omission dengan 29 (29.59%) yang kesemuanya merupakan article, diikuti dengan misformation with 28 (28.57%), addition 19 (19.38%), misuse 14 (14.28%), dan misordering 8 cases (8.16%).

Kata Kunci: Determiner, Kesalahan, Perubahan, Articles, Possessives, Demonstratives, Quantifiers

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Introduction tive that is only used with a singular while When writing or speaking in English, difficulties is plural. The best substitution for need to take into account a number of gram- the determiner that is those. Therefore, the matical aspects. such aspect is the use correct version for the example above is: of determiners. Determiners play an important (4) Upon facing difficulties in life. People role in the construction of noun phrases be- think of the way to avoid or solve those cause they modify the . Somehow difficulties and make things more easier people tend to be confused about what kind of determiners that they have to put in front of On the basis of such errors and consid- their nouns. As they study English, students ering the importance of determiners in the of the English Department are expected to construction of in English, this be able to use determiners correctly when research attempts to investigate Indonesian speaking or writing in English. However, one students' error in the use of determiners in can still find errors in the use of determiners their English writing and classify them accord- in their English as illustrated in the examples ing to the types of determiners and structural below, taken from the pieces of writing of changes of the determiners. This research students of the English Department, Gadjah uses theory to analyze the wrong Mada University (see 1.4 below for more de- use of determiners. However, some cases tail about the data source.) also need pragmatics and theo- (1) I hope my life in 2011 the better from be- ries since choosing the right determiner to be fore years used in a noun phrase are not only because of the syntax pattern of the noun phrase but The definite article the is not used for also from the context of a or a para- showing . However, in this clause graph where the determiners are included. the student tries to exprees a situation that This research only investigates the central might happen in the future. In this case, the determiners. According to Leech and Start- article the is best substituted with the verb vik, there are three types of determiners pre- phrase will be since that verb phrase is used determiners, central determiners, and post to denote something happen in the future. determiners. This research will not going to The correct version for the example above is discuss either the wrong use of pre-determin- (2) I hope my life in 2011 will be better from ers or post-determiners that probably occur in before years the data source. The sources of the data used in this re- Another example of the errors in the use search were taken from the students' writing of determiners by the student is: final exam in General English. The examina- (3) Upon facing difficulties in life. People tion was held in the year 2010. The students think of the way to avoid or solve that dif- were in their first year. Most the data are in ficulties and make things more easier the form of noun phrases; however some are The correct to precede the in the form of and sentences in or- noun difficulties is those since the demonstra-

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der to know the correct determiner to choose cluded that the determiner are function we should know the context meaning of the that occurs before a noun to modify, specify, whole sentences. and identify a noun in various ways, in order to form a noun phrase. Determiners Definition Position Leech and Startvik (1981: 225) state that As a function , a determiner will not determiners are words which specify the range be found to stand on its own in a sentence. of reference of a noun in various ways, e.g. by Since it does not have any semantic mean- making it definite (the boy), indefinite (a boy), ing, it is meant to fulfill a particular function or by indicating quantity (many boys). It is and it is used together with a noun in a noun also supported by Hornby (1982: 117), that a phrase in order to modify the noun. However, determiner may identify a person or thing, or in forming a noun phrase a noun might not be two or more persons or things, as in this book, accompanied only by a determiner as its de- those pens, John's or my brother's car, etc. pendent element. Leech and Startvik (1981: Furthermore, Hornby also states that a deter- 251) states that a noun phrase consists of a miner may also indicate a quantity or amount noun as its head, a determiner (the, his, a, (affirmatively or negatively), as inthree/sever - etc.) and one or more modifiers. Huddleston al/some/a few men; some/no/a little/not much (1989: 227) also says that a noun as the head water. According to Radford (1997: 295), a of a noun phrase takes a different range of determiner is a word like a/the/this/that which dependents from other parts of speech. Most is typically used to modify a noun, but which distinctively, it takes determiners and adjec- has no descriptive content of its own. Deter- tives as pre-head modifiers. Morley (2000: 54) miners can be used either pre-pronominally also says that a nominal phrase with a noun (i.e. in front of a noun that they modify) or pro- headword may typically be preceded and nominally (i.e. used on their own without a fol- modified (pre-head modification or premodifi- lowing noun)-cf. the two uses of that in I don’t cation) or determined by an article, a genitive like that idea/ I don’t like that. It is also added phrase, a , an (adjectival by Morley (2000: 51), regards determin- phrase or another noun (nominal phrase) and ers as a functional, specifer element of struc- it may be followed and qualified (post-head ture in the nominal phrase, which may be ex- modification or post-modification) by a prepo- pressed by a range of word subclasses (and sitional phrase or subordinate clause, or in by some phrases) which occur in abdominal certain cases an adjective or nominal phrase. position. Ba'dulu (2008: 15) also mentions It can be said that the presence of a deter- that determiners are function words covering miner will be found in a noun phrase preced- the articles, numerals, demonstratives, and ing the head co-occuring with noun and other and they commonly oc- modifers that modify the head. cur with nouns to form noun phrases. From The determiners in a noun phrase all of the explanations above, it can be con- always occur preceeding the head. The dia-

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gram below shows the position of determin- Huddleston (1989: 233) argues that an ers and modifiers in a noun phrase (Leech NP may contain up to three determiners: and Startvik, 1981: 251). ideas has none, her ideas one, her many ideas or all her ideas is two, and all her many In this structure we can see that determiners ideas is three. Where there is more than one, are placed in initial position and come before the order is fixed (cf. *many her ideas). Hud- the premodifiers. dleston distinguishes three determiner posi- In other words, it can be said that the de- tion simply labelled I, II, and III which is similar terminers commonly precede a noun and it to predeterminer (I), central determiner (II), comes before a premodifier. Therefore it is post determiner (III). usually placed in initial position. However, there are some strict rules of what predeterminers can occur with what Types of Determiner central determiners and what central deter- Determiners are commonly co-occurring miners can occur with post determiner. Quirk with nouns. However, they have different and Greenbaum (1973: 63) say that the pre- positions relative to one another. Quirk and determiner all, both, half can occur only be- Greenbaum (1973: 62) mention that there fore demonstratives but since they are them- are predeterminers, determiners, and post- selves quantifiers, they do not occur with the determiner. Leech and Startvik (1981: 225) following 'quantitive' determiners: every, (n) say that the determiners always precede the either, each, some, any, no, enough. It is also nouns they determine, but they have different supported by Huddleston (1989: 234) that positions relative to one another. The most All and both can occur only with II the; this, important category is the central determiners, these, that, those, Poss P (i), we, us; you (ii) including articles. The central determiners or alone. may be preceded by predeterminers and/or According to Huddleston such and ex- followed by postdeterminers. clamative what, that it occurs only with a or

Table 1. Types of Determiners According to Leech and Startvik (1981: 225) PREDETERMINERS CENTRAL DETERMINERS POSTDETERMINERS a. all, both, half Articles: the, a (an), Cardinal numerals: one, two, etc b. double, twice, etc. Demonstratives: this, these, that, Ordinal numerals: first, second, etc. those c. one-third, etc. Possessives: my, your, etc. and General ordinals: next, last, other, etc. genitives d. what, such, etc. Quantifiers: some, any, no,- ev Quantifiers: many, few, little, several, ery, each, either, neither, enough, more, less, etc. much e. Wh-determiners: what(ever), which(ever), whoever, whose

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alone. For example what/such a nuisance, and 'uncountables' or 'mass nouns' is useful. what/such fine singing. Furthermore, Hornby adds that uncountable For postdeterminers, Quirk and Green- nouns can be used with or without determin- baum (1973: 65) say that all ordinals (ordinal ers while countable nouns must have deter- numerals and general ordinals) usually pre- miners. cede any cardinal number in the noun phrase, e.g.: The first three planes were American. (A) articles The general ordinals, however, may be used Articles are a subclass of determiners. freely before or after cardinals, according to There are two types of articles in English, the the meaning required, e.g: His last two/ two definite and indefinite (Leech and Startvik, last books were novels. Huddleston adds that 1981: 52). The form of definite article is the, the cardinal numerals like one, two, etc, occur while the indefinite articles area or an. Leech after II (i), (ii), which, any, no, or alone, e.g.: and Startvik explain that when the definite the four sons, those three crooks, John's one article the is used, both the speaker and the mistakes, you two girls, which/any one article, hearer know what is being talked about. It is no one man, five cats. in contrast of using the indefinite article that Huddleston also explains that the postde- the noun which is being talked about is not terminer may occur after II (i) or alone: the clearly defined or not unique. However, ac- many mistakes, those many crimes, her many cording to Morley (2000: 45) articles are used attractive qualities, many people. Huddleston to mark specifity, generalization, or universal- adds that much, in spite of its close semantic ity of reference to the entity denoted by the relationship to many, occurs only alone and following noun. hence is assigned position II. a. The definite article The definite article can be used in all class- Forms and Functions es of noun: singular countable nouns, plural In order to know what determiner can countable nouns, and mass noun. Hornby occur with what noun, first we have to identify (1982: 126) says that the definite article the the noun in terms of its plurality and count- may be used with countable nouns, singular ableness. Leech and Startvik (1981: 261) add and plural, and with uncountable nouns. that there are three classes of common nouns Leech and Startvik (1981: 54) state that relevant to the choice of determiners: they are the definite article is used in some certain singular count nouns (such as bottle), plural conditions. For instance: when the noun is count nouns (such as bottles), and mass noun the only one that ever existed; the noun is fol- (such as music). Proper nouns normally take lowed by postmodifier, to represent a class no determiner. Hornby (1982: 118) also says or a kind of animals or things; the noun is a that for the purpose of setting out the ways certain proper noun. Thompson and Martinett in which determiners are used (or not used) (1983: 4) add that the is used when the noun with nouns, the distinction between what are has been mentioned earlier; the noun is clear- now often called 'countables' or 'count nouns' ly defined or understood by all the members

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in conversation; to denote superlatives; when tant. Quirk and Greenbaum (1973: 107) pro- the noun is the names of ocean, seas, riv- pose the following table: ers, deserts, etc., with the names consisting of noun + of + noun; the noun is a musical Table 2. Types of Demonstratives According to Quirk and Greenbaum instrument. Furthermore, Hornby (1982: 127) singular plural adds that the is also used to represent a class 'near' reference this these or a kind of animals or things. 'distant' reference that those However, according to Thompson and Martinett (1983: 5) the definite article does The forms of demonstratives are this, not appear in certain conditions such as be- that, these, and those. This and that occur fore names of places (continents, countries, with singular nouns while these and those states islands, towns, streets, squares, build- occur with plural nouns. However, this and ing etc.) and names of persons, after a noun these express a near reference while that in the possessive case, or a possessive ad- and those express a distant reference. Fur- jective, before names of meals, before noun thermore, Murphy (1997: 154) says that this home, and before a noun which denotes a and these means here, while that and those building. means there. Below are some examples: b. The Indefinite Article (9) I like these pictures (which are near The form of the indefinite article isa or an. me) better than those pictures (over The form of the indefinite article depends on there on the far side). the initial letter of the noun that comes after (10) I like this idea (that you've mentioned) the article. Thompson and Martinet (1983: 6) better than that silly idea (the one that explain that the form a is used before words you wrote to me about last year). begins with a consonant or a vowel sounding source: Murphy (1997: 154) like a consonant. e.g.: a man, a table, etc. In the contrary, the form an is used before words begin with a vowel (a, i, u, e, o) or begins with (C) Possessives There are two kinds of possessives. a mute h. According to Hornby (1982: 125) the Quirk and Greenbaum (1973: 105) mention indefinite article a or an is used when to say that the possessives belong to two series: the something at the first time; to take an example attributives (my, your, etc.) and the nominals of a class; with a expression; following (mine, yours, etc.). It is also supported by exclamatory what; to make a meaning of each Hornby (1982: 121), who says that the pos- and every. Thompson and Martinett (1983: 1) sessive are my, your, his, her, its, say that the indefinite article is used with few etc. while the possessive pronouns are mine, and little and with a noun . ours, yours, his, hers, its, etc. However, the kind of possessive that belongs to the class (B) Demonstratives of determiners is the attributive or possessive Demonstratives are a kind of determiners adjective one. that mark nouns in terms of plurality and dis-

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Thompson and Martinett (1983: 37) state or group singly rather than look at them all that possessive adjectives in English refer to together. The 'distributive' meaning of every the possessor and not to the thing possessed. shows in the use of singular noun (teacher), Everything that a man or boy possess is his singular verb (studies), and also singular pos- thing; everything that a woman or a girl pos- sessive (his). It is also supported by Murphy sesses is her thing. The forms of adjectives (1997: 166) that says every is used with sin- are: gular noun and singular verb. However, Ev-

Table 3. Types of Possessive According to Hornby (1982: 118) First Person Second Person Third Person Singular Plural Singular Singular Plural and Plural Possessive my our your his, her, its their

(D) Quantifiers ery is a determiner that seems to identify the Quantifiers are determiners which denote noun as a sample that represents a class but the quantity of the nouns they modify. Leech somehow the use of every is similar like all. A and Startvik (1981: 48) regard quantifiers as part from this difference, every has the same amount words which tell the amount of the meaning as all. nouns they modify. In central determiners, the d. each forms of quantifiers are some; any; no; every; Each is a determiner that the used is each; either; neither; enough; much. almost the same with every as Leech and a. Some and Any Startvik (1981: 50) say that each is like every Usually some is parallel with any. Thomp- that it can be used when the set has only two son and Martinett (1983: 24) say that some members. It is also supported by Quirk and and any mean 'a certain number or amount'. Greenbaum that each entails reference to They are used before plural or uncountable two or more, and has single reference. Thus: nouns. Some is usually used in affirmative (11) There were two boys who called and sentence; with questions when the answer I gave an apple to each 'yes' is expected; in offers and requests while (12) *There were two boys who called and any is usually used in negative sentence. I gave an apple to every(body) b. No The determiner no is used with singular, Furthermore, Quirk and Greenbaum explain plural, and mass noun. No is a determiner that that a meaning difference between each and used to express negative. every. Each refers to a single reference al- c. every ready specified whereas every does not. Leech and Startvik call every as distribu- However, like every, each also occurs with tives, because it picks out member of a set singular noun and uses singular verb.

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e. either and Neither Hornby says that which is selective and used Either and neither are determiner that when there is a limited choice, as in: usually used in negative sentence as Leech (13) What's the capital of Turkey? and Startvik (1981: 254) say that either is (14) Which city is larger, Ankara or Istan- used in negative sentences and interroga- bul? tives. Furthermore, Murphy (1997: 170) says The additional ever in the end of what means that we use either / neither to talk about two no matter what, while the additional in which things or people. means any one or any number of one group f. enough as in; Hornby (1982: 123) states that this de- (15) She loves whatever her boyfriend terminer is used with plural countable nouns does and with uncountable nouns. Furthermore, (16) Take a card; whichever you want! Murphy (1992: 170) adds that enough is used However, the determiner whose reflects that when the amount of the noun is matched with the noun that is preceded belongs to other the portion of you needed. It is neither less thing, as in: (17) Whose money did you bor- nor too much. row? g. Much Much is the only determiner that can Types of Determiner Errors only occur with uncountable noun. Quirk and According to the results of the research, Greenbaum (1973: 103) mention that that there are 98 determiner errors were found. much co-occurs with non-count nouns. It is Most of them were articles with 71 cases usually used in negative and interrogative (72.44%), followed by possessives with 12 sentence. It is a determiner that identify the cases (12.24%), demonstratives with 10 noun in terms of its quantity. Hornby (2006: cases (10.20%), and quantifiers with 5 cases 961) says that much means a large amount (5.10%). However, in this research no wh-de- of something. terminers were found. Therefore, wh-deter- miners has 0 case with 0 percentage. (E) Wh-determiners Table 5. above presents a summary of Wh-determiners are determiners that be- the research results. In addition to the clas- gin with wh as their two initial letters. There sification of the errors according to the types are whose, which (ever), what (ever). These of determiners, the errors are also classified determiners are sometimes also known as according to the structural alteration of the question words. According to Leech and determiners: addition, omission, misordering, Startvik (1981: 226) wh- determiners co-oc- misformation, and misuse. cur with all three classes of nouns (singular, The results seem to suggest that the stu- plural, and mass noun). dents had the greatest difficulty in the use According to Hornby (1982: 122) what is of articles in writing in English. They did not used in anything of non-personal. What refers seem to have difficulty in the use of demon- to noun that is more general than which does. stratives, possessives, and quantifiers. In the

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Table 4. Distribution of Determiner Errors Determiners Addition Omission Misordering Misformation Misuse Total Articles 17 (17.89%) 29 (29.59%) 4 (4.08%) 15 (15.30%) 6 (6.12%) 71 (72.44%) Demonstratives 0 0 3 (3.06%) 7 (7.14%) 10 (10.20%) Possessives 1 (1.02%) 0 1 (1.02%) 3 (3.06%) 7 (7.14%) 12 (12.24%) Quantifiers 1 (1.02%) 0 0 3 (3.06%) 1 (1.02%) 5 (5.10%) Total 19 (19.38%) 29 (29.59%) 8 (8.16%) 28 (28.57%) 14(14.28%) 98 (100%)

following sections, both classifications will be use of the indefinite article. Below are some presented and discussed more detail. The ex- of the examples of errors in the use of the in- amples of the errors that are delivered may definite article. contain of another errors of another gram- (18) Indonesian people give support, spir- matical aspect. However, the researcher is it, and motivation to Indonesian football not going to discuss nor to correct them. player to be a champion although they hadn't been a champion (ART08-1) 1. errors according to the Types of De- terminers The word champion is mentioned twice 1.1. Articles in this sentence. Therefore, the champion in More than half of the errors in the use the second mention should be preceded by of determiners are in the form of articles. the definite articlethe instead of the indefinite 71 (72.44%) errors were found in the use of article a. The correct version for the example articles. 42 (59.15%) of the errors were re- above is lated with the use of the definite article and (19) Indonesian people give support, spir- 29 (40.84%) errors were related with the use it, and motivation to Indonesian football of the indefinite article. From the result it can player to be a champion although they be assumed that the students of English De- hadn't been the champion partment students have difficulty in the use of article in general and the definite article in 1.1.2 The Definite Article particular. The definite article use is to indicate that what is expressed by the noun has been men- 1.1.1 The Indefinite Article tioned already and to refer back to it. (Hornby,) The indefinite articles a/an are the de- the may be used with countable nouns, singu- terminers that are used with singular count- lar and plural, and with uncountable nouns. able nouns (Hornby, 1982: 125). According Below are some examples of errors in the use to Huddleston (1989: 50) the indefinite article of the definite articles indicates that the description is not presented (20) He become most wanted by fans es- as defining. There are 29 errors found in the pecially women (ART19-1)

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The definite articlethe is used in superla- In this clause, the student uses the objec- tive form. Therefore, the respondent should tive pronoun him to state the possessiveness add the in the phrase most wanted. The cor- of the noun parents. The objective pronoun rect version is is not used to denote a noun as someone's (21) He become the most wanted by fans belonging. The correct form to denote the especially women (ART19-1) noun as one belonging is possessive. Since From these various examples above, it the noun parent belongs to the subject he, can be seen that the students do not seem to the possessive form that should replaced the understand fully the different functions of the objective him is his. Hence, the correction for definite and the indefinite article. They used this noun phrase is his parents. the definite article when in fact the indefinite (29) He live in indonesia because his article was needed and vice versa. parents is a from appliances Indonesian- Netherlands 1.2 Demonstratives Demonstratives are a kind of deter- 1.4 Quantifiers miners that mark nouns in terms of plurality Quantifiers are a kind of determiner which and distance. Below are some examples of denotes the quantity of the noun. Leech errors in the use of demonstratives. and Startvik (1981:48) regard quantifiers as (26) I beliefe that all people certainly can amount words which tell the amount of the to face life this (DEM06-3) noun. Below are some examples of errors in Determiners always precede nouns. the use quantifiers. Leech and Startvik (1981:225) say that deter- (30) Washing machine helps us to miners always precede the noun they deter- wash our clothes. It isn't waste our en- mine. However, in this example, the determin- ergy and it is very helpful in each home er this is used after the noun reality. Therefore (QUAN21-5) the noun phrase is erroneous and should be in the order this reality. The use of determiner each in this (27) I beliefe that all people certainly can clause is incorrect. The correct determiner to face this life is every. According to Quirk and Greenbaum (1973:110) each refers to individuals that are 1.3 Possessives already specified. However, the noun home Thompson and Martinett (1983:37) state that follows the determiner each does not that possessives in English refer to the pos- have reference to any specific home. There- sessor and not to the thing possessed. Be- fore, the determiner every should be used to low are some examples of errors in the use of replace it. possessives. (31) Washing machine helps us to (28) He live in indonesia because him wash our clothes. It isn't waste our en- parents is a from appliances Indonesian- ergy and it is very helpful in every home Netherlands (POSS22-1) (QUAN21-5)

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2. Errors according to the Structural Al- sentence or utterance. Here are some exam- teration of the Determiners ples of error caused by the omission of deter- The wrong use of determiners that were made miners and. by the students of English Department causes (34) For many purposes in their life such some structural alteration of the determiners. as dishwasher, a vacum cleaner, etc to There are five stuructural alterations of deter- help people to do households (ART12-1) miners. There are addition, omission, misor- der, misformation, and misuse. In this clause there is an omission of the indefinite article a . The article a should be 2.1 Addition used here since the noun dishwasher is an Addition errors are a kind of errors that indefinite singular countable noun. Therefore, results from the addition of unnecessary ele- the correction for the clause above is ments. In this case, the according to Dulay (35) For many purposes in their life such et al. (1982: 150) an addition error is charac- as a dishwasher, a vacum cleaner, etc to terized by the presence of an item that must help people to do house holds not appear in a correct sentence or utterance. Below are some of the examples of errors There are 29 of errors caused by omis- caused by the addition of determiners. son. All the omission error are articles both (32) These performance in competition the definite and the indefinite one. It can be football at AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 is a concluded that the English Literature Students greats and excited (ART22-4) year 2011 do not understand fully the function of the articles since many student omit the ar- In (32) there is the indefinite article a that ticle when the article should be appear. precedes the adjective great. A determiner is a function word that modify a noun. Leech and 2.3 Misordering Startvik (1981:225) mention that determiners A misordering error is an error that is are words which specify the range of refer- caused by the wrong order of the words in ence of a noun in various ways. The indefinite sentence or utterance. According to Dulay et article here must not be used since there is al. (1982: 150) misordering happens when no noun to modify. Therefore, the indefinite there is a wrong order of a morpheme in a article a in (40) should be removed. sentence or utterance. Below are some ex- (33) These performance in competition amples of errors caused by the misordering football at AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 is great of determiners and excited (36) I am is the one of fans Irfan Bachdim (ART05-2) 2.2 Omission An omission error, according to Dulay et The order of the definite article the which al. (1982: 150) occurs when there is an omis- the respondent put before one indicates that sion of an item that must appear in a correct the respondent is the only one that adore Ir-

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fan Bachdim, while the sentence tends to say supports the evidence that the noun facili- that the respondent is one of Irfan Bachdim ties is plural. Hence, the demonstrative this fans along with others admirer. Therefore, the should be also changed into plural form. The noun phrase should be one of the Irfan Bach- plural form of this is these. The correction for dim fans. this clause is (37) I am one of the Irfan Bachdim fans (56)In these facilities, they gives our lives (ART05-2) more easy to make connection with other people in the world 2.4 Misformation A misformation error, according to Dulay 2.5 Misuse is caused by the usage of wrong forms of the Misuse is the terms of an error caused structures. Here are some examples of errors by the misuse of the determiner. The deter- in the misformation of determiners. miner should be modifying a noun. However, (38) I feel optimistic to get a best score in this error consists of the determiner that is all exams (ART03-2) used within another that is not a noun and the use of the determiners that In (38) there is an error caused by the mis- is not agree with the character of the deter- formation the articles a. The indefinite article miners. Below are the examples of the errors a in the noun phrase a best score is wrongly caused by misuse of the determiner and the used. It is erronous since the article that is explanation. used in the superlatives is the definite article (61) This disease makes the people can't the. Hence, the indefinite article a should be feel the sad, afraid, and sympathy so they changed into the definite article the. the noun kill the people without feeling (ART18-3) phrases should be read the best score. The correct version is A determiner is a function word that ac- (39) I feel optimistic to get the best score company noun. However, the determiner the in all exams that is used by the respondents is preceding the adjective sad and afraid. Therefore, the Below is a misformation of the demon- adjective should be changed into noun sad- stratives. ness. The correct version is (40) In this facilities, they gives our lives (62) This disease makes the people can't more easy to make connection with other feel the sadness, afraidness, and sympa- people in the world (DEM01-1) thy so they kill the people without feeling

In (40) there is a misformation of demon- stratives in the noun phrase this facilities. Ev- Conclusion enthough, the verb gives in (40) indicates a Several conclusions can be drawn from verb for singular subject, the pronoun they, the analysis on the incorrect uses of deter- which is plural, refers to the noun facilities, miners that were made by first year stu-

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dents of the English Department, Faculty of search on the same topic is suggested, since Cultural Sciences Gadjah Mada University. this research has a very limited data and a Most of the errors were articles with 71 cas- very limited scope of study. The researcher es (72.44%), followed by possessives with hopes that this research will be an initial re- 12 cases (12.24%), demonstratives with 10 search for this topic. There are many other cases (10.20%), and quantifiers with 5 cases point of views or aspects that can be studied, (5.10%). The results suggest that the stu- for instance, the cause of the Indonesian stu- dents had a major difficulty in the use of ar- dents' errors in the use of determiners, and ticles in writing in English. They did not seem etc. to have difficulty in the use of demonstratives, Hopefully this research can be used as a possessives, and quantifiers. However, 42 reference for the teacher to know the ability of (59.15%) of the errors were related with the the students in the use of determiner and for use of the definite article and 29 (40.84%) er- the teacher to emphasize and to pay attention rors were related with the use of the indefinite more on the determiner use in the students' article. It can be assumed that the students of writing and speaking. the English Department have difficulty in the use of articles in general and the definite ar- BIBLIOGRAPHY ticle in particular. Atkinson, Radford, and friends. 2002. Linguistics: An In- The incorrect use of determiners that troduction. Cambridge: University Press. were made by the students of the English De- Ba’dulu, Abdul Muis. 2008. English Syntax. Makassar: partment led to some structural alterations of badan penerbit Universitas Makassar Brown, H. Douglas. 2000. Principles of Language Learn- the determiners. There are five sturctural al- ing and Teaching. New York: Pearson Education terations in determiner, i.e. omission with 29 Company cases (29.59%), , followed by misformation Dulay, et al. 1982. Language Two. Oxford:Oxford Uni- with 28 cases (28.57%), addition with 19 cas- versity Press es (19.38%), misuse with 14 cases (14.28%), Grace, Eudia and Th. M. Sudartwati. 2006. Look Ahead and misordering with 8 cases (8.16%). It can 3. Jakarta: Erlangga. Haryanto, Toni. 2008. Grammatical Error Analysis in be seen that most of the structural alteration Students' Recount Text. Semarang: Universitas the students made is the omission. However, Negeri Semarang. Unpublished Undergraduate all of the determiner that the students omitted Graduating Paper. are in the form of article. Therefore it can be Hornby, A.S. 1982. A Guide to Patterns and Usage in suggested that most of the students tend to English. Oxford: Oxford University Press. omit the articles in their writing. Huddleston, Rodney. 1989. Introduction to the Gram- mar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge Univer- The results of this research somehow re- sity Press. flect the ability of most Indonesian students in Ingketria, Enny. 2007. Error Analysis on Subject Verb the use of determiners. The data were taken and Wrong Repetition: A Case Study on TOEFL from the English Department Students, Gad- Test of 2006. Yogyakarta: UGM. Unpublished jah Mada Univeristy, one of the top universi- Undergraduating Paper. Kardimin, Akhmad. 2009. Fundamental English Gram- ties in Indonesia. However, a continuation re- mar. Yogyakarta; Pustaka Pelajar.

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Kristiningsih, Veri. 2007. Verbal Error Analysis on the Ningtyas, Liza. 2007. A Study in Adjective and Noun Clause: TOEFL Test: A Case Study of the New Students An Error Analysis on the TOEFL-Test of Students of Gadjah Mada University. Yogyakarta: UGM. of 2006 of Gadjah mada University. Yogyakarta: Unpublished Undergraduating Paper. UGM. Unpublished Undergraduating Paper. Leech, Geoffrey and Startvik. 1981. A Communicative Quirk, Randolph and Sidney Greenbaum. 1973. A Uni- Grammar of English. Essex: Longman versity Grammar of English. Essex: Longman Miller, Jim. 2002. Introduction to English Syntax. Edin- Radford, Andrew. 1997. Syntax-A Minimalist Introduc- burgh: Edinburgh University Press. tion. Harlow, Essex: Department of Language Morley, G. David. 2000. Syntax in Functional Grammar. and Linguistic London: Continuum. Savitri, Dewi Indrayati. 2008. An Error Analysis of the Muhtadi, Maftuh. 2008. Error Analysis on The Use of Use of Parts of Speech in English Job Vacancy Pronouns: Case Study on the TOEFL-Like Test Advertisements. Yogyakarta: UGM. Unpublished of the New Students of Gadjah Mada University. Undergraduating Paper. Yogyakarta: UGM. Unpublished Undergraduat- Suryati, Chatarina. 2010. An Analysis Errors in Compo- ing Paper. sitions Made by First Year Students of the Facul- Murphy, Raymond. 1992. Essential Grammar in Use. ty of Cultural Science Universitas Gadjah Mada Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2009/2010. Yogyakarta: UGM. Unpublished Un- Murphy, Raymond. 1997. Essential Grammar in Use. dergraduating Paper. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Thompson, A.J and V.H Martinett. 1983. A Practical Eng- lish Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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