An Error Analysis on the Use of Gerund by the Second Year Students of English Department of Universitas Negeri Padang

This research aimed to find out the types of error and causes of error on usinggerund among the second year students of English Department of UniversitasNegeri Padang. This research is desciptive qualitative research. The sample of thisresearch is 39 students selected using simple random sampling. The instrumentused in this research was test. The test was divided into two part; completion testand translation test. The students were given 15 questions for completion test and20 questions for translation test. The research data were students‟ answer sheet.Based on the data analysis, it was found that the total error is 291 errors. Mosterrors were misformation with the total number (125 errors/ 43%), second placewas omission error (110 errors/ 38%) and the last was addition error (56 errors/19%). Meanwhile, misordering error was not found in this study. Then, it was alsofound the causes of error. The most causes of error was ignorance of rulesrestriction with the total number 125. Based on the results, it can be concludedthat the students still experience great difficulties in using gerund.