31/08/2026
๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐
๐ 1. I want to patronise your business. โ
When you simply mean you want to buy from someone, say:
Iโd like to buy from you. โ
Iโd like to support your business. โ
๐ 2. I will alighting from the bus. โ
In ordinary British English, say:
I will get off the bus. โ
๐ 3. Please, off the light. โ
Say:
Please, turn off the light. โ
๐ 4. On the light. โ
Say:
Turn on the light. โ
๐ 5. I am hearing you. โ
Say:
I can hear you. โ
๐ 6. I am seeing you tomorrow. โ
Actually, this sentence can be perfectly correct when referring to a planned meeting.
I am seeing you tomorrow. โ
The continuous form is not automatically wrong. Context matters.
๐ 7. She gave me an advice. โ
Advice is uncountable. Say:
She gave me some advice. โ
She gave me a piece of advice. โ
๐ 8. He explained me the situation. โ
Say:
He explained the situation to me. โ
๐ 9. I discussed about it with her. โ
Say:
I discussed it with her. โ
๐ 10. I am owing him money. โ
Say:
I owe him some money. โ
๐ 11. I was opportuned to meet him. โ
Opportuned is not standard English in this usage. Say:
I had the opportunity to meet him. โ
I was fortunate enough to meet him. โ
๐ 12. She is doing well in her business. โ
This is understandable, but when referring specifically to the performance of the business, a more natural expression is:
Her business is doing well. โ
๐ 13. I have a lot of works to do. โ
When work means tasks or employment generally, it is uncountable. Say:
I have a lot of work to do. โ
๐ 14. He has many equipments. โ
Equipment is uncountable. Say:
He has a lot of equipment. โ
He has several pieces of equipment. โ
๐ 15. The informations are useful. โ
Information is uncountable. Say:
The information is useful. โ
The pieces of information are useful. โ
๐ 16. I will put you through.
This is not necessarily wrong. In British English, put someone through can mean to connect someone to another person on the telephone.
However, using it to mean teach or explain something to someone is a regional usage and may confuse speakers from elsewhere.
๐ 17. I have forgotten it at home. โ
If you mean you left an item at home, say:
I left it at home. โ
๐ 18. I am coming. โ
When you are leaving a place temporarily and intend to return, say:
Iโll be back. โ
๐ 19. I am having a car. โ
When have means possession, say:
I have a car. โ
๐ 20. He gave me an information. โ
Say:
He gave me some information. โ
He gave me a piece of information. โ
THE INTERESTING PART?
Some of these expressions are not simply bad English. They are features or usages that have developed in Nigerian and other varieties of African English.
The goal is not to mock the way people speak.
It is to understand the difference between regional usage and standard British English, especially when communicating in professional settings, writing examinations, teaching, or addressing an international audience.
Knowing the difference gives you the freedom to choose the appropriate expression for the situation.
Helpful?
Please show it to as many people as possible.
I am Imo Archibong. I simplify complex concepts in English Language, Literature, Diction and Phonics.
