SBE Academy- Standard British English

CONFUSING “FOND” (ADJECTIVE) WITH “FOUND” (PAST TENSE OF FIND)

❌ Incorrect: “My boss is “found” of pointing out the mistakes of her subordinates.”
✔️ Correct: “My boss is “fond” of pointing out the mistakes of her subordinates.”

Explanation 12
The word “fond” is an adjective meaning to have a strong liking, affection or admiration for someone or something.

On the other hand, “found” is the past tense of the verb “find”, meaning to discover, locate or come across something.

Because the two words differ in meaning and word class, they cannot be used interchangeably.

The Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE) provides the following examples of “fond”:

i) She was very “fond” of horses.
ii) I’m very “fond” of you, you know.
iii) He gave her a “fond” smile.
iv) Many of us have “fond” memories or recollections of our childhood days.
v) We said a “fond” farewell to each other.

Examples of “found” in use:
a) They easily “found” my office.
b) We “found” the wounded man alive.
c) The students “found” the test difficult.
d) We “found” the missing boy in the crowd.
e) She found it necessary to get up early every morning.

Mini Test
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence:
1. My grandmother is very ___ of storytelling.
a) found
b) fond
2. The police ___ the stolen items in the suspect’s room.
a) fond
b) found
3. I have always been ___ of classical music.
a) fond
b) found
4. They finally ___ the lost document yesterday.
a) fond
b) found
5. She is ___ of her childhood memories.
a) fond
b) found

Takeaway
• “Fond” is an adjective that expresses liking or affection.
• “Found” is the past tense of “find”, meaning to discover or locate.
• They sound similar but have completely different meanings and should not be confused.

LESSON 4

HOW TO USE COMPOUND ADJECTIVES CORRECTLY

Wrong (W) vs Correct (C)
(W): I am a three times awardee.
(C): I am a three-time awardee.

EXPLANATION 1: Compound adjectives before a noun
In the incorrect sentence, “three times” expresses a single idea describing the noun awardee, so it must be hyphenated.

Rule
The general rule is that when two or more words come before the noun that they qualify and act as a single idea, they should be hyphenated. Such hyphenated words are called compound adjectives. Examples are shown in the following sentences.

Examples
• The student lives in an off-campus hostel.
• It is a state-of-the-art hospital.
• The theatre will be opened by a well-known actor.
• He is a self-employed builder.

More Examples
No. Wrong Correct
1 He is a twenty years old man. He is a twenty-year-old man.
2 She is a good for nothing girl. She is a good-for-nothing girl.
3 He is an able body soldier. He is an able-bodied soldier.
4 This is a result oriented strategy. This is a result-oriented strategy.
5 The insect infested rice was rejected. The insect-infested rice was rejected.
6 The error free report was applauded. The error-free report was applauded.

Additional illustrations
• A head-on collision occurred.
• She supports anti-drug laws.
• This system uses state-of-the-art technology.

EXPLANATION 2: When the adjective comes after the noun
When the compound adjective comes after the noun, hyphenation is usually not required.
Examples
• The hostel is off campus.
• The landlord is good for nothing.

EXPLANATION 3: Compound numbers
All numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine must be hyphenated.

Examples
• Thirty-three pupils were present.
• He spent one thousand two hundred and twenty-one cedis.
EXPLANATION 4: Fractions
All spelt-out fractions should be hyphenated.

Examples
• Two-thirds of the candidates passed.
• One-fifth of voters opposed the policy.
EXPLANATION 5: Fractions with “a” or “an”
When fractions are preceded by a or an, hyphens are not used.

Example
• Less than a fifth of voters opposed the policy.

TAKEAWAY
• Use hyphens when two or more words qualify and come before a noun and act as one idea.
• Do not usually use hyphens when the phrase comes after the noun.
• Hyphenate:
o Compound numbers (twenty-one)
o Spelt-out fractions (two-thirds)
• Do not hyphenate fractions after a/an (a half, a third).
• Always ask: Do these words function as one idea before a noun? If yes, use a hyphen.

MINI EXERCISE
A. Correct the following sentences
1. He is a ten years old boy.
2. This is a high quality product.
3. She bought a duty free item.
4. It was a life changing experience.
5. The accident was head on.

B. Choose the correct option
6. She is a (well known / well-known) singer.
7. They live in an (off campus / off-campus) apartment.
8. This is a (state of the art / state-of-the-art) machine.
9. He is (twenty five / twenty-five) years old.
10. About (a third / a-third) of the students were absent.

C. Rewrite correctly
11. The report is error free.
12. He is a self employed driver.
13. This is a long term plan.

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LESSON 3
“Me, I am not in favour of the new policy” vs “I am not in favour of the new policy”

Many users begin sentences with “Me” to emphasise their opinion. In Standard British English, this is incorrect. Users should never start a sentence with “Me.” Let’s see the correct way to express emphasis, including the use of “I’m.”

Why “Me, I am…” is wrong
The pronoun “Me” is an object pronoun, not a subject pronoun. Standard English sentences require a subject pronoun such as I, you, he, she, we or they.
For example, sentences like:
• “Me, I am not in favour of the new policy”
• “Me, I prefer tea over coffee”
are incorrect. Even if this usage is common in casual speech in some regions, it is never correct in formal or standard English.

Correct ways to express emphasis
Instead of starting with “Me,” users should use standard structures.
1. “I am…” – direct, standard and correct in all contexts.
o Example: “I am not in favour of the new policy.”
2. “I’m…” – the contraction of “I am.” Acceptable in informal writing or speech, but in formal writing, it is preferable to use the full form “I am.”
o Example (informal): “I’m not in favour of the new policy.”
o Example (formal): “I am not in favour of the new policy.”
3. “As for me,” – adds emphasis in both formal and neutral speech.
o Example: “As for me, I am not in favour of the new policy.”
4. “For me,” – slightly casual but still standard.
o Example: “For me, I prefer tea to coffee.”
5. “Personally,” – common in both formal and informal contexts.
o Example: “Personally, I don’t agree with that idea.”

Always use “I am” or “I’m” carefully.
• “I am” is the safest and most standard option in all contexts.
• “I’m” is fine in casual speech or informal writing but should be avoided in formal writing.

Key differences between non-standard and standard usage
• Non-standard “Me, I am…” uses an object pronoun as the subject, is informal and may confuse readers.
• Standard forms (“I am,” “I’m,” “As for me,” “For me,” “Personally”) use the subject pronoun correctly, are suitable in all contexts (with “I’m” reserved for informal contexts) and are clear in both written and spoken English.

Rule of Thumb
1. Never start a sentence with “Me.”
2. Always use “I am” when you are the subject of a sentence.
3. “I’m” is acceptable only in informal speech or writing.
4. To emphasise your opinion, use phrases like “As for me,” “For me,” or “Personally.”

Takeaway
Starting a sentence with “Me” is incorrect in Standard British English. Always use “I am,” or phrases like “As for me,” “For me,” or “Personally” for emphasis. “I’m” is acceptable in informal contexts, but “I am” remains the safest and most professional option.

Mini Exercise
Choose the correct, standard sentence suitable for formal writing and provide your answers in the comments section:
1. Me, I believe the proposal needs revision.
2. As for me, I believe the proposal needs revision.
3. Me, I’m not attending the meeting.
4. I am not attending the meeting.
5. Me, I prefer tea to coffee.
6. For me, I prefer tea to coffee.

Quick Tip
• Never use “Me” at the beginning of a sentence.
• Always start with “I am,” or for emphasis, use “As for me,” “For me,” or “Personally.”
• “I’m” is fine in informal writing, but in formal writing, always use “I am.”
• This keeps your English grammatically correct, clear and professional.

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Welcome to the SBE Academy – the Standard British English platform.

British English is a priceless colonial legacy bequeathed to Africa and other parts of the world. It enabled non-native Africans such as Kofi Annan, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Prof. K. A. Busia and many others to communicate effectively in this important international language, even on the global stage. In contemporary times, countless people use English effectively as a foreign language. Indeed, English has become one key that many rely on today to access the world. However, many people still use it incorrectly in speech and writing. Some expressions that appear normal are often, in fact, grammatically incorrect or poorly constructed.

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On this platform, you will find:
• Simple lessons on correct English usage
• Clear explanations of common mistakes
• Practical examples of correct and incorrect expressions
• Short exercises to help you practise and improve your communication skills

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LESSON 2

Using Plenty (Adverb/Noun) and Plentiful (Adjective) Correctly

The Challenge
Many English speakers and writers, including even some native speakers, often struggle with using plenty and plentiful correctly. It is common to hear sentences like, “Plenty people attended the meeting” or “The salt is plenty”, which may sound natural in casual speech but are incorrect in Standard British English. Misusing these words can subtly distort meaning and make writing or speaking appear less precise. Understanding the difference between plenty, which functions as an adverb or noun, and plentiful, an adjective, is essential for clear, accurate and confident communication.

Wrong Usage (W):
• “Plenty people attended the first meeting.”
• “The salt is plenty.”
Correct Usage (C):
• “Plenty of people attended the first meeting.”
• “The salt is plentiful.”

Explanation 103 – Informal vs. Standard Usage
The first two sentences are below the standard because they use plenty informally. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (OALD), informal examples include:
• “There is plenty room for all of you!”
In American English, plenty can be used informally to mean a lot of, but the more formal standard is plenty of when referring to countable or uncountable nouns.

Explanation 104 – Uses of Plenty
Plenty can function as a pronoun, noun or adverb.
• As a pronoun/noun: “To have plenty of something” means to have a large amount, as much as or as many as you want.

Explanation 105 – Meaning of Plentiful
Plentiful (or plenteous) is an adjective meaning existing in large amounts or numbers.
OALD examples:
• “In those days jobs were plentiful.”
• “She kept them plentifully supplied with gossip.”

Explanation 106 – Plenty as an Adverb
It is acceptable to say:
• “We had plenty to eat.”
• “We had plenty to talk about.”
Here, plenty modifies the verb, meaning a lot.

Explanation 107 – Plenty as a Noun
Examples:
• “We had food and drink in plenty.”
• “Everyone is happier in times of plenty.”

Explanation 108 – Plenty as an Adverb Meaning ‘A Lot’
Examples from OALD:
• “We have plenty more of them in the warehouse.”
• “You can be married and still be plenty lonely.”

Explanation 109 – Biblical Examples of Plenty
The King James Version (KJV) provides excellent examples of correct usage:
• “God give thee plenty of corn and wine” (Genesis 27:28)
• “…wherein there is plenty of water…” (Leviticus 11:36)
• “…and thou shalt have plenty of silver” (Job 22:25)
• “Touching the Almighty, He is excellent in power ….and in plenty of justice” (Job 37:23)
• “He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread” (Proverbs 28:19)

Explanation 110 – Biblical Examples of Plentiful
Examples of correct usage of plentiful from KJV:
• “Thou, O God didst send a plentiful rain …” (Psalm 68:9)
• “O love the Lord, all ye saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.” (Psalm 31:23)

Key Takeaway: Plenty vs Plentiful
1. Plenty
o Can be a noun, pronoun, or adverb.
o Use “plenty of” before nouns in formal English:
 ✔ “Plenty of students attended the meeting.”
 ✔ “We had plenty to talk about.”
o Informal usage without “of” is acceptable in spoken English:
 ✖ “Plenty students came.” → ✔ “Plenty of students came.”
2. Plentiful
o Always an adjective.
o Describes something that exists in large amounts or numbers:
 ✔ “Jobs were plentiful.”
 ✔ “The forest is plentiful with wildlife.”
3. Memory Tip / Rhyme
o “Plenty of people, plenty to do,
Plentiful things are many, not few.”
4. Quick Rule of Thumb
o Before a noun → use “plenty of”
o Describing quantity → use “plentiful”
5. Biblical Examples (for reference/literary English)
o “God give thee plenty of corn and wine.” (Genesis 27:28)
o “Thou, O God didst send a plentiful rain …” (Psalm 68:9)

Mini Exercise: Plenty or Plentiful?
Provide your answer in the comment section.
Instructions: Fill in the blank spaces with plenty or plentiful (use plenty of where needed).
1. There were …….. of students in the classroom.
2. The farm had …….. crops this year.
3. We had ……… to eat at the party.
4. Jobs are not always ……….. in small towns.
5. She brought ………books for the children.
6. There is ………more time to finish the project.
7. The forest is ……... with wildlife.
8. We had ……… fun during the school trip.

Answer Key
1. plenty of
2. plentiful
3. plenty
4. plentiful
5. plenty of
6. plenty
7. plentiful
8. plenty
9.

LESSON 1
Avoid Using “Although” and “But” Together

The Challenge
Many people nowadays make statements like:
“Although it was raining, but we went for a walk.”
Sentences of this kind are heard frequently in everyday conversation, in classrooms and sometimes even in formal speeches. Occasionally, they may also appear in writing.

Because such sentences are repeated often, they may sound natural to some listeners. However, in Standard British English, this construction is incorrect and grammatically redundant. The error occurs when “although” and “but” are used together in the same sentence to express contrast.

Why This Is Incorrect
Both “although” and “but” serve the same basic purpose: they express contrast between two ideas.
• “Although” introduces a clause that contrasts with the main statement.
• “But” connects two contrasting clauses.
When both are used together in the same sentence, the contrast is expressed twice, which makes the sentence grammatically unnecessary and incorrect. In simple terms, it is like repeating the same signal twice.

For example in:
“Although it was raining, but we went for a walk”, the signal is repeated twice. This is incorrect.
Here, “although” already signals contrast, so “but” is unnecessary.

A Note on Common Mistakes
Sometimes incorrect expressions become widespread in speech and writing. When people hear the same construction repeatedly, they may begin to assume that it is correct. This is a common phenomenon in language learning. However, it is important to remember this important principle that:
Frequency does not determine correctness.
A grammatical error does not become correct simply because many people repeat it.
Standard British English is guided by established grammatical rules, not by popularity.

Writers and speakers who wish to communicate clearly and professionally should therefore avoid constructions that violate these rules.
Correct Usage
There are two correct ways to express the intended meaning. The key is to use either “although” or “but”, but not both.

Option 1
Use “although” to introduce the contrasting idea.
Example:
• Although she was tired, she continued working.
• Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
• Although the journey was long, they did not stop on the way.
In this structure, the contrast is already clear, so no additional connector is required.

Option 2
Use “but” to join two contrasting clauses.
Example:
• She was tired, but she continued working.
• It was raining, but we went for a walk.
• The journey was long, but they did not stop on the way.
Here, “but” provides the contrast between the two statements.

Mini Exercise
Correct the following sentences:
1. Although he was hungry, but he waited for dinner.
2. Although it was late, but they kept playing football.
Answer
1. Although he was hungry, he waited for dinner.
2. Although it was late, they kept playing football.
(Alternatively, the sentences could be rewritten using “but” instead of “although”.)

Key Takeaway
Remember the following principles:
• “Although” introduces contrast.
• “But” connects contrasting clauses.
• Using both together creates redundancy.
• Common mistakes remain mistakes even when widely used.
Good English depends on clarity, precision and adherence to correct grammatical structure.

Call to Action
To reinforce this lesson, try the following exercise:
1. Write three sentences using “although” correctly.
2. Write three sentences using “but” correctly.
Share your sentences for feedback and correction.
Practice is one of the most effective ways to develop confidence and accuracy in the use of Standard English.

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