Issues in English Grammar

IDENTIFY THE ERROR

The man works in the same university as me.

A. Works
B. In the same
C. As me
D. No error

Grammar Point

When you say, “I appreciate,” you’re quite literally declaring, “I have increased in value.” That’s probably not the heartfelt sentiment you were aiming for—unless, of course, you’ve suddenly become a rare collectible. 🤣

More importantly, “I appreciate” is not a complete sentence.
The verb appreciate requires an object; it's a transitive verb and wants to know what or whom you appreciate.

So rather than abandoning the thought halfway, give it the ending it deserves:

I appreciate you. ✅
I appreciate it. ✅
I appreciate your help. ✅
I appreciate your support. ✅

I trust that clears things up.

Wishing you a truly splendid weekend!

©️Uka Nwafor

It's NOT "The man emphasizeld on the need for hard work '

It's absolutely wrong to use an intervening preposition between 'emphasize" and its object.

Correct version:
The man emphasized the need for hard work.

The Priceless Wealth of Good English: A Response to a Question on the Essence of Good English

Many have asked me, time and again, about the essence of those energy-sapping efforts devoted to learning correct English—especially when those who never so much as touched the walls of a schoolhouse often live more comfortably than those who speak and write the Queen’s English with finesse.

My response has remained unchanged: the true value lies not in material returns, but in the unpurchaseable enlightenment and vulnerability to opportunities that mastery of language bestows. The popular refrain, “Who English epp?” or “It’s a scam,” is merely the lament of those still cloaked in the comforting benightment of ignorance.

In our modern world, the pursuit of wealth has become the supreme ambition. Society often measures value and success by the heaviness of one’s purse rather than the depth of one’s mind. Yet, in this feverish race for material gain, we risk overlooking a treasure far more enduring—the ability to speak and write good English. Language, particularly English—the world’s current linguistic monarch—is an indispensable vessel for the preservation and propagation of culture and intellect across borders.

Good English is not merely a skill; it is an art. Words, when chosen with care and arranged with grace, possess a rare power—to inspire, to heal, and to connect. A well-crafted sentence can traverse oceans of difference, bind strangers with understanding, and preserve the essence of human thought for generations yet unborn. To write or speak English with clarity and elegance is to paint with both sound and ink—to turn ordinary thoughts into something memorable and immortal.

Beyond its aesthetic allure, English is also a global bridge. Its influence in the international arena is immense and irresistible. It connects peoples and cultures, unlocking doors that wealth alone cannot open. The one who commands the language well can converse across continents, shape opinions, and stand with poise on any stage in the world.

In a globalized society, proficiency in English brings innumerable advantages. It enhances access to education, broadens employment prospects, and empowers leadership. Many of the world’s foremost universities, research publications, and international enterprises function primarily in English. Thus, those who express themselves with eloquence are often perceived as more competent, confident, and credible—regardless of their financial standing.

Moreover, good English cultivates critical thought. To write and speak with precision demands structure, logic, and clarity—qualities that mold disciplined minds. Those who can reason clearly and communicate effectively often emerge as leaders, innovators, and visionaries.

Yet, modern society has grown to glorify wealth more than wisdom and knowledge. People chase quick riches, neglecting the quiet disciplines that polish the intellect and nurture the soul. But while money can vanish as swiftly as it comes, mastery of language endures. It commands respect, opens unseen doors, and often becomes the very tool through which fortune is later found.

A rich man may purchase influence, but the writer wields a sharper weapon: the pen. Eloquence in speech and grace in writing can move nations, mend hearts, and stir revolutions—powers no wealth can ever buy.

Good English, both spoken and written, stands not merely as a badge of education but as a testament to intellectual and cultural strength. While money may make life comfortable, mastery of language renders it meaningful. True success lies not only in earning wealth, but also in earning words that uplift, enlighten, and endure.

So, the next time we admire a person for their riches, let us also honour those whose words enrich the world. For they possess a kind of wealth that neither time nor inflation can diminish—the priceless wealth of good English.

©️Uka Nwafor

A great many users of the English language are not aware that even the native speakers learn English and as such, make grammatical mistakes too.

Daily Drilling on English Grammar 1

Some time, Sometime or Sometimes

A lot of arguments over which of the above to be considered grammatically correct.

The fact remains that language, especially English, is full of possibilities. That’s why it’s dangerous to junk at one go any word/string on the ground of grammatical oddity.

And in all honesty, leaners/users of English should put into consideration theses possibilities as they count and matter a lot. I know you'd agree with me that the language has become a measure for intelligence and sensitivity evaluation.

However, it seems the bad use is worse with our big brothers than others, especially some of our lawyer politicians who pleasurably flaunt their grammatical balderdash on social media trying to vituperate some of our people-centred leaders. I laugh each time I come across their drivel swathed in grammatical errors. It's a pity!

Anyway, we have been trying to avoid being provoked into fishing them out and treating their grammatical stup!dity accordingly.

We will continue to maintain our silence until the right time...

The enunciation of the foregoing is simple as it’s important you know that they all are correct depending on the context of use. Their semantic implications slightly vary.

1. Some time (two words) noun phrase.

This phrase means ‘a period of time.’

For instance:

1. Many of these critics should take some time to work on themselves.

2. I wish they could take some time to learn English grammar.

2. We discussed the essential role of education for some time that day.

Note that the phrase may somewhat be replaced with 'a while.'

2. Sometime (one word)

As one word, it's an adverb. It means "at an unspecified point in time, whether in the future or in the past.

Examples:
1. We all agreed to meet sometime next week

2. I saw many of the charlatan politicians sometime in 2023.

3. He invited us sometime last month.

Note that it may be replaced with the phrase 'at some point.'

3. Sometimes

As an adverb (of frequency), it means 'occasionally' or 'now and then'

For instance:

1. We sometimes went jogging that year.

2. The leaders sometimes display suspicious attitude.

3. Sometimes, I sympathise with our grammatically incorrigible politicians.

3. Nwele Sunday Freedom and Freedom Quattala sometimes did 'one-for-the-road' at UNN then.

©️Uka Nwafor

Joshua is more intelligent than her
OR
Joshua is more intelligent than she

Which one is grammatically correct?

To a great many, the above is very much confusing, especially as it's difficult to discern which pronoun to be used after the comparative element 'than.'

Anyway, who English elp? Is it not to just understand wetin person dey talk, finish. Wetin consain us consain grammar.

The above thought about English language has not only ruined a lot of chances, slipped and cost opportunities to this generation but also punctured several potentials. Values, especially those now considered obsolete and old-fashioned, are being jettisoned and replaced but not language and its potential power. Language is an indispensable tool for man to live and explore the world around him. Bia, make una no dey make me dey talk too much o... dabbling deeper than necessary into philosophy of language... (lol)

All I know is that learning, especially as concerns English grammar, has dwindled with zero energy and attention lately because a lot of people, even those whose fields require good use of the language, have chosen to mind, secure and better their lots. After all, ‘money’ has taken the centre stage. All of us are in the struggle to be ‘seen’ by the society. They conclude that all there is to care of English grammar so long as this present -day society is concerned is ‘understanding.’ In as much as communication flows, chikinah! But that's erroneous....

At other time, many people have got stuck or rather closed up with learning, especially when they admire someone who seems more knowledgeable. They believe whatever usage from him/her is unquestionably correct. That's erroneous too...

As regards the foregoing, it might be hard to conclude at one go on which sentence is correct since the comparative element 'than' functions both as conjunction and as preposition. But then a great many good users know what obtains if a pronoun comes after a conjunction in a grammatical structure. This means that anything after conjunction in terms of pronoun should be in subjective case. Chikinah! What else do you want to hear...? it then suffices to say that the second sentence 'Joshua is more intelligent than she' is correct on the ground that since conjunction connects two clauses, "she" in this sentence is an 'implied clause' whose full version is 'she is.' The full version of the sentence will now be: Joshua is more intelligent than she is.

On the other hand, should the first sentence 'Joshua is more intelligent than her' be discarded on the ground of grammatical anomaly? That'll be hard since 'than' is equally a preposition that can precede 'objective pronoun. This means that 'Joshua is more intelligent than her' is also correct.

In conclusion, both are correct. The first is more acceptable in modern usage and in formal context, while the second common in informal speech and less frequent in modern English.

©️Uka Nwafor



Let's know the area(s) you find difficult in English grammar.

Share, comment and keep following..