Abstrak
Rifda Aulia Sufi, Reg No. 2030104055, entitled: “An Analysis Students’ Ability In Using The Simple Past Tense” (A Study of the Eight Grade Students of SMPN 4 Payakumbuh Registered in 2023/2024 Academic Year). English Teaching Department Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training Islamic State University of Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar. The problem investigated in this research is the students' ability in using simple past tense. This study aims to determine the ability and level of ability of students in grade VIII of SMPN 4 Payakumbuh in using simple past tense. This research is a quantitative descriptive research. The population of this study were students of SMPN 4 Payakumbuh in the 2023/2024 school year, totaling 302 students. The research sample was selected using simple random sampling technique, so that 75 students were selected as samples in this study. The instrument used in this study were multiple choice tests and fill in the blank consisting of 13 multiple choice items and 5 fill in the blank items. To determine students' ability in using simple past tense. In analyzing the data, the researcher used descriptive analysis suggested by Ridwan in Fatiha (2022). Then, to measure the validation and reliability of the instrument, SPSS V.20 software was used. The results of this research show that the ability of SMPN 4 Payakumbuh students in using Simple past tense is low. The average score of students in using simple past tense is 43.8. This indicates that the level of students' ability in using Simple past tense is low. Then the average score of students in using verbal form is 51.3. This indicates that the level of students' ability in using Simple past tense is less good. Then the average score of students in using the nominal form is 43.3. This indicates that the level of students' ability in using Simple past tense is very low. Overall, this data reflects that most of the students studied still have difficulties in mastering the Simple Past Tense, both in verbal and nominal forms.