Analyse des erreurs de temps verbal en français chez les étudiants du troisième semestre de l’Universitas Negeri Medan

Abstract

This research aims to analyze errors in the use of indicative verb tenses among third-semester students in the French language program at Universitas Negeri Medan. The research focuses on four verb tenses: the present, past, imperfect, and simple future. A qualitative descriptive approach was used, employing a written test consisting of 23 verbs, which was completed by 19 students. The data were analyzed into two categories of errors: formation and value. The research showed a total of 219 errors, with the imperfect tense (33.79%) and the simple future tense (31.96%) dominating. Errors in the present perfect tense (30.14%) mainly concerned the use of the auxiliary verbs Être/Avoir and the incorrect formation of the past participle. The present tense is the form with the fewest errors (4.1%). These results show that students have difficulty understanding changes in verb forms, applying tense in context, and recognizing the functional differences between the past and future tenses.