This study is aimed at knowing the students‟ translation competence and
what types of grammatical errors made by the students in translating a text from
Indonesian into English. This study was conducted at English Department,
Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto. The population of this study was the
fifth semester students of English Department, Muhammadiyah University of
Purwokerto in academic year 2013/2014. The sample of 30 respondents was taken
by using random sampling technique. This study used descriptive analysis
method, namely error analysis. The data used was students‟ translation of a text.
The results of the study reveal that the students‟ translation competence was in
fair category. It was proved by 50 % of respondents (14 students) that have scores
in the range of fair category. Moreover, the major types of grammatical errors
made by the students were the absence of plural nouns (17.3 %), noun phrases
(14.2 %), active sentences in the form of simple present and past tenses (35.3 %),
and passive sentences in the form of simple present and past tenses (8.8 %), and
subject-verb agreement (24 %). Simple present and past tenses were picked by the
consideration of their occurrence in the text. The most number of errors was
active sentences in the form of simple present and past tense in translating
followed by the use of subject-verb agreement, absence of plural nouns, noun
phrases, and passive sentences. Those errors categorized into interlingual errors
on grammar in translation.