An Error Analysis of the English Prepositions Usedin the First Year EFL Students’ Writing

This research analyzes the use of English prepositions by EFL students in their writing and their perceptions on the errors of writing. Designed by using mix methods both qualitative and quantitative. This research involved 27 students in the first-year study as participants. To do so, this research analyzed students writing work that they submitted via google form. Meanwhile, their perceptions on the errors, was assessed through questionaires. The results show that there are three common types of errors made by the students, namely omission, insertion and selection. Amounts of errors in students’ writing products were contained 24 errors in omission (28.92%), 6 errors in insertion (7.23%), and 53 in selections (63.86%). From all errors types in students’ writing products it can be found that the biggest common errors in preposition made by the students was in selection errors. Moreover, the analyzed questionnaires show that students encountered several problems when using prepositions, such as the lack of knowledge in preposition context, incompatibility of language transfer process, and the effect of mother tongue, and lack of understanding on preposition types and its different from other components in English. Therefore, to anticipate the students’ errors, in their writings that are the regularly practice on the use of prepositions, careful rechecking of preposition in writing, and using media that can assist the use of prepositions appropriately.