Grammatical Hurdles in Passive Voice Construction
A Qualitative Study of Indonesian EFL Learners
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the challenges faced by sixth-semester students in the English Language Education Program at Muhammadiyah University of Palu in using the passive voice. The researcher employed a qualitative descriptive design, utilizing a 20-item multiple-choice test and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) interviews as research instruments. The research subjects consisted of 14 students selected using the total sampling technique. The findings revealed that the average student score was 53.2, with the following major errors: misunderstanding of the passive voice concept (50%), errors in the use of auxiliary verbs (30%), and errors in verb forms (20%). The interview results revealed that these challenges were exacerbated by limited vocabulary and a lack of deep understanding of tense formulas. These findings underscore the need for instructional strategies that focus more on the conceptual differences between active and passive sentences in the English language education curriculum.
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