The Students' Problems Encountered in Using Present Perfect Tense

This research was carried out to find out and analyse the types of problem encountered by the first grade students of SMKN 1 Lhoknga in using present perfect tense. Specifically, it is aimed at describing the types of students’ problem in using present perfect tense and the causing problem causes which became the factors of students’ problems in using present perfect tense. Besides, this study also found their frequency. In doing the research, the researcher used descriptive analysis method. Then, the data were collected through test and questionnaire. Furthermore, the subject of this research is the first grade students of SMKN 1 Lhoknga which consisted of 61 students and the writer took 52 students as the sample because there were 9 students who were absent when the research was done. The writer gave the 52 students the test that consisted of 20 items; 10 items multiple choice, 5 items of making sentence, 5 items of filling in the blank.In addition, questionnaire to students that consisted of 6 questions. The writer also gave questionnaire to the English teacher that consisted of 10 questions just as additional information. Finally, the finding showed that there are eight types of problem consisting ofusing incorrect formula or problem in forming: affirmative, negative and interrogative form of present perfect tense, using of auxiliary that is frequently switched, using no instead of not in negative sentence, spelling, selecting of the regular and irregular verb/ change Verb -1 to Verb-3, and the difficulties in distinguishing the usage of past tense and present perfect tense. The data also showed thatthere are many factors of students’ problems in using present perfect tense, such as : a lot of tenses in English, Interference L1, differences between English structure and B. Indonesia, lack of vocabulary mastery, lack of textbook to support learning process, lack of interest in teaching learning process,lack of motivation, family’s background ( economics, education, family’s structure), lack of English learning facilities or the instructional resources such as Grammar books, LCD/projector, English CD/movie, library, lack of practice and repetition, teacher didn’t give more detail example and explanation, time provided in learning is inadequate, student’s confidence “ I fell doubt and afraid of mistake”, lack of interaction between teacher and students, Society, resident and school, lack of support, classroom environment is not suitable (crowded class, class temperature), student’s laziness,lack of concentration in class as the result students don’t pay attention to the teacher.