MA certain incorrect English expression has gained wide
currency in Ghana.
The incorrect expression is ‘write an examination’ or
‘write an exam’. But this expression is unacceptable in British and American
English.
Now, carefully study these two sentences from the
print media: The BECE candidates have started writing their
examinations. We were busily preparing to write our exams.
The two sentences are incorrect. Within the context of
the sentences, examination means ‘a formal test of a person’s knowledge or
proficiency in a subject or skill’. Based on this definition, the expression ‘write
an examination’ doesn’t sound reasonable. ‘Examination’ cannot be written, so
to speak.
The correct expression is ‘take an exam’, ‘doan exam’ or ‘sit (for) an exam’. And this is how the Oxford Dictionary
(latest edition) succinctly puts it: Use take/do/sit anexamination not write an examination.
Therefore, the incorrect sentences should be corrected
as follows: The BECE candidates have started taking their examinations OR The
BECE candidates have started doingtheir
examinations OR The BECE candidates have started sitting (for) their
examinations.
We were busily preparing to take our exams OR We were
busily preparing to do our exams OR We were busily preparing to sit(for) our exams.
However, it is noteworthy that the expression ‘write an
examination paper’ is correct. Examples: The BECE candidates have started
writing their examination papers. We
were busily preparing to write our exam papers. In both sentences, ‘examination’
is being used as a modifier and it modifies the plural noun ‘papers’.
Some Transitive Verbs
Next, carefully study the following sentences: Mr
Freddie Blay has contested for the national chairmanship position of the NPP. I
have requested for a loan. President Akufo-Addo has advocated for electoral
reforms. The headmaster stressed on the need for discipline in the school. He emphasised
on his name by repeating it several times. The insurance company guaranteed for
Kwame’s loan yesterday. The Minister of Education has highlighted on the
importance of free education.
The seven sentences are incorrect. Some English words don’t take prepositions
when they function as verbs in sentences. Classic examples are contest,
request, advocate, stress, emphasise, guarantee and highlight. Being
transitive verbs, they usually carry the object.
Therefore, the incorrect sentences should be corrected
as follows: Mr Freddie Blay has contested the national chairmanship position of
the NPP. I have requested a loan. President Akufo-Addo has advocated electoral
reforms. The headmaster stressed the need for discipline in the school. He
emphasised his name by repeating it several times. The insurance company
guaranteed Kwame’s loan yesterday. The Minister of Education has highlighted
the importance of free education.
However, when contest, request, advocate, stress,
emphasise, guarantee and highlight function as nouns in sentences, they take
prepositions as in the following sentences: There is a contest for the national
chairmanship position of the NPP. I have made a request for a loan. President
Akufo-Addo is an advocate of electoral reforms. The headmaster has laid stress
on the need for discipline in the school. He laid emphasis on his name by
repeating it several times. He has given a guarantee of good behaviour always. Last
year was the highlight of his career.
Besides, these three verbs don’t take prepositions –
comprise, behove and seek. Examples: The committee comprises five members (Not:
The committee comprises of five members). However, ‘be comprised of’ is
correct. Therefore, the sentence could be rewritten as: The committee is
comprised of five members. It behoves students to take their studies seriously
(Not: It behoves on students to take their studies seriously). John is seeking
employment (Not: John is seeking for employment).
Imaginary Verbs
Next, carefully study the following sentences: It is
time needy parents take advantage of the Free SHS programme. It is about time I
speak with the journalist. It is high time I leave Kumasi for Accra to attend
an official meeting.
The three sentences are incorrect. The idioms ‘it is
time’, ‘it is about time’ and ‘it is high time’ have the same meaning. They are
used to say that somebody should do something soon.
The grammatical rule is that the verbs that accompany
these idioms are supposed to be in their past tense forms. They are usually
regarded as imaginary verbs.
Therefore, the incorrect sentences should be corrected
as follows: It is time needy parents tookadvantage of the Free SHS programme. It is about time I spoke with the
journalist. It is high time I left Kumasi for Accra to attend an official
meeting.
It is noteworthy that when the nouns or pronouns that
precede the verbs are replaced with the word ‘to’, the verbs take their
infinitive forms as in ‘it is time to take our breakfast’.
Lose Or Loose?
Last but not least, many people are totally confused
with the use of these two words – LOSE and LOOSE. They write ‘loose’ when they
really mean ‘lose’.
Now, let’s consider the following sentences: We can’t
afford to loose our next match. You can loose weight through regular exercises.
She easily looses her temper.
The use of ‘loose’ in each of the three sentences is
grammatically incorrect. The correct verb is ‘lose’ and not ‘loose’. Hence, the
sentences should be corrected as follows: We can’t afford to lose our next
match. You can lose weight through regular exercises. She easily loses her
temper.
‘Loose’ can function as an adjective or a verb in a
sentence. As an adjective, ‘loose’ is the opposite of tight or contained.
Example: My shoes are loose.
As a verb, ‘loose’ means to free from restraints, to
unfasten, to make less tight, to loosen. Example: He looses the contacts
between objects with a lubricant.
The past tense, past participle and progressive tense
of this verb are ‘loosened’, ‘loosened’ and ‘loosening’, respectively.
As a verb, ‘lose’ means to cause (something) to cease
to be in one’s possession or capability due to unfortunate or unknown
circumstances, events or reasons; to fail to win (a game, competition, trial,
etc.), to shed (weight); to reduce, etc.
The past tense, past participle and progressive tense
of this verb are ‘lost’, ‘lost’ and ‘losing’, respectively.
Besides, carefully study the following sentence: Every
football match produces one of these three results – win, lose or draw.
The sentence is wrong and illogical. I’ve noticed that
a lot of football fans always say ‘win, lose or draw’.
The noun form of the verb ‘to lose’ is ‘loss’. Since ‘win’ and ‘draw’ are nouns in the
sentence, it’s illogical for ‘lose’ to remain as a verb. To ensure consistency
and harmony, it must be in its noun form.
The sentence should, therefore, be corrected as: Every
football match produces one of these three results – win, loss or draw.
The writer is a proofreader
Writer’s E-mail: [email protected]
By Anthony Kwadwo Kyei
The post Mind Your English appeared first on DailyGuide Network.
