Fostering Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy: Students’ Use of the Verb “Be” in English Sentences

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61672/eji.v10i1.3389

Keywords:

EFL students, verb be, critical thinking, digital literacy, positive-negative-interrogative sentences

Abstract

This study aims to analyze students’ mastery of the verb be in various sentence forms and to evaluate the role of digital-based exercises in enhancing students’ critical thinking and digital literacy skills. The study employed a quantitative descriptive approach, with data collected through Google Forms from 12 EFL students. The research instrument consisted of multiple-choice questions, with 10 items each for positive sentences, negative sentences, and interrogative sentences. The results indicate that students are more proficient in forming positive sentences, while negative and interrogative sentences show higher error rates, particularly regarding subject-verb inversion and the use of not. Activities requiring students to explain their answer choices fostered the development of critical thinking skills, while the use of an online platform strengthened their digital literacy. The limitations of this study include a relatively small sample size and a focus on simple sentences. Future research is suggested to expand the sample, use more complex sentences, and explore the relationship between grammar mastery, critical thinking, and digital literacy in more authentic learning contexts.

References

Brown, H. D. (2004). Language Assessment: Principles and Classroom Practices. White Plains, NY: Pearson Education.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Fifth Edition. Sage: Los Angeles, SAGE Publication.

Fadilah, F. (2022). Textual Error Analysis on the Use of Simple Present Tense in Writing Descriptive Text. IJEAL (International Journal of English and Applied Linguistics), 2(2), 287–294. https://doi.org/10.53769/deiktis.v2i2.243

Iswari, F., Rahman, F., & Kurniasih, P. (2019). Analisis Kesalahan Penggunaan Simple Past Tense Pada Kegiatan Menulis Recount Text Mahasiswa Dkv Unindra. El Banar: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran, 2(1), 8–16. https://doi.org/10.54125/elbanar.v2i1.23

Mills, G. E., & Gay, L. R. (2019). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications. Twelfth edition. New York: Pearson.

Mubasyira, M. (2017). Analisa Kesalahan Penggunaan Simple Past Tense pada English Narrative Composition SMPN 1 Bojong Gede. Jurnal Dimensi Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 5(2), 69–77. https://doi.org/10.24269/dpp.v5i2.463

Napratilora, M., & Siagian, S. Y. (2019). Tenses Understanding in Using the English Language. English Journal of Indragiri (EJI), 3(1), 20–29. https://doi.org/10.32520/eji.v3i1.466

Normawati, A., & Nugrahaeni, D. A. (2024). Grammar Teaching and Learning in English Language Class: Students’ View. English Education:Journal of English Teaching and Research, 9(1), 41–48. https://doi.org/10.29407/jetar.v9i1.21536

Novitasari, E. (2019). An Error Analysis in Writing the Sentence of Simple Past Tense on. English Education: Journal of English Teaching and Research, 4(1), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.29407/jetar.v4i1.12725

Octasary, M., & Anwar, I. W. (2025). Grammatical Competence in EFL Learners : A Quantitative Study on the Misuse of ’ To Be ’ at University Level. Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 8(3), 826–831. https://doi.org/10.34050/elsjish.v8i3.44320 Homepage:

Rosadi, A. (2023). An Analysis of Students’ Difficulties in Constructing English Sentences a Case Study At Second Grade Students of Sman 2 Wera in the Academic Year 2014/2015. Jurnal Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, 9(1), 111–116. https://doi.org/10.59050/jkk.v9i1.98

Salsabila, Z., & Mubasyira, M. (2021). Analysis Grammatical Errors in Using Simple Present Tense in Writing Descriptive Text. JEdu: Journal of English Education, 1(1), 34–38. https://doi.org/10.30998/jedu.v1i1.4414

Sanday, J., & Nurdiawati, D. (2021). A Study Correlation Between Students’Grammar Mastery, Their Writing and Listening Comprehension Achievement. Indonesian EFL Journal, 7(1), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.25134/ieflj.v7i1.4020

Shafira, D. A., Mawaddah, R., Aritonang, L. B., Nainggolan, E., & Tarigan, N. W. P. (2020). An Analysis of Students’ Error in Constructing the Negative and Interrogative Sentence by Using Simple Present Tense. Linguistic, English Education and Art (LEEA) Journal, 3(2), 296–307. https://doi.org/10.31539/leea.v3i2.1004

Sudar, S. (2024). Subject-Verb Agreement in EFL Student’S Essay: A Detailed Morpho-Syntactic Examination. English Review: Journal of English Education, 12(2), 651–658. https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v12i2.9512

Sugiyono. (2016). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan Kombinasi (Mixed Method). Bandung: Alfabeta.

Yang, Y. (2022). Structured Written Analysis-Materials. Learning & Education, 10(7), 181. https://doi.org/10.18282/l-e.v10i7.3001

Yusuf, F., & Ali, A. (2025). Unveiling the Role of Grammar Mastery: How Sentence Structure, Verb Usage, and Subject-Verb Agreement Shape Tenses Proficiency in English Learning. PANYONARA: Journal of English Education, 7(1), 103–123. https://doi.org/10.19105/panyonara.v7i1.16735

Downloads

Published

2026-01-10

How to Cite

Fostering Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy: Students’ Use of the Verb “Be” in English Sentences. (2026). EJI (English Journal of Indragiri): Studies in Education, Literature, and Linguistics, 10(1), 428-444. https://doi.org/10.61672/eji.v10i1.3389

Most read articles by the same author(s)