There are many errors Nigerians make in speaking English language. The following expressions are some of them:

1. The man has come since (wrong)
The man has come a long time ago, or He has come since morning (there is need to mention a particular time).

2. We are gisting about the issue (wrong).
We are having a gist about the issue ( the word 'gist' should be used as a noun, not as a verb).

3. The car was reversing back when it crashed (wrong).
The car was reversing when it crashed or was moving back when it crashed (the words 'reverse back' should not be used together as they are tautological).

4. I can be able to do it (wrong).
I can do it or I am able to do it ( do not combine the two verbs one after the other)

5. My inlaws have come on a visit (wrong).
My brother-in-law ( or whatever -in-law) has come on a visit. (There is need to be specific).

6. The youths are restless, most especially the male (wrong).
The youths are restless, especially the male (do not use 'most' and 'especially' together.

7. Tony is more clever than James (wrong).
Tony is cleverer than James ( the appropriate comparative word for clever is cleverer).

8. We discussed about the matter (wrong).
We discussed the matter or We talked about the matter, is correct. Discuss means talk about.

9. I dropped from the bus at Ojota (wrong).
I alighted from the bus at Ojota is the correct way of saying it.

10. The police is coming (wrong).
The police are coming. This is because police is a collective noun that takes plural tense, just like people. You can however have a sentence like A policeman is coming.

11. Me and my brother live there (wrong).
My brother and I live there (right).

12. You can enter 'okada' at the bus stop (wrong).
You can go by a bike/ motorcycle at the bus stop (correct).

13. My case is more special than your own (wrong).
My case is special or My case is more significant than your own (correct).

14. Andy carried first in the examinations (wrong).
Andy came first in the examinations (right).

15. You are late, so therefore, you cannot write the examinations (Wrong)
You are late, so you cannot write the examinations
or
You are late, therefore you cannot write the examinations (Right).

16. You can go on your own, should in case I am not around (Wrong).

You can go on your own, in case I am not around (Right).

17. She is old, still yet, she bleaches her skin (Wrong)

She is old, still (or, yet) she bleaches her skin (Right)

18. I told him I can do it (Wrong)

I told him I could do it (Right. This is because there is no concord of tenses in the use of 'told' and 'can'.)

18. The wrong insertion of apostrophe mark ( ' ) e.g
It is your's, if you want (Wrong).

It is yours, if you want (Correct).


19. The people has decided (Wrong).
The people have decided (Riught. 'people' is a collective noun in the plural sense and must have a plural tense).


20. The boy has rang the bell (Wrong).
The boy has rung the bell (Right. The use of 'has' as an auxiliary verb means the verb that immediately follows it must be a participle, not a simple past tense).

21. On Friday, we wil have a night vigil (wrong).

On Friday, we will have a vigil
or On Friday, we will have an all-night service (Right. This is because using night and vigil together is tautological)

22. The idea was conceieved from the onset (Wrong)
The idea was conceived from the outset (Right)

23. What he said was insultive (Wrong)

What he said was insulting (Right. The correct adjective for insult is insulting, not insultive).

24. She had sang during the ocassion (Wrong)

She had sung [or She sang] during the ocassion (Right).

25. Each of the boys are expected to come (Wrong).

Each of the boys is expected to come (Right. This is because each is a singular pronoun that takes a singular verb such as 'is' or 'was'.)

26. As it is, neither the students nor the teacher know the answer (Wrong)

As it is, neither the students nor the teacher knows the answer (Right. In concord of proximity of subject, the subject close(r) to the tense is 'the teacher', which is a singular subject. The singular verb must be used for a singular object.)

27. As it is, neither the teacher nor the students knows the answer (Wrong).

As it is, neither the teacher nor the students know the answer (Right. This time around, the closer subject to the verb is 'the students', which is in the plural. The plural verb is needed here.)

28. His English, both written and oral, are good (Wrong).

His English, both written and oral, is good (Right. The word English is the subject and when used as a noun - like in this context - it must be followed by a singular verb.)

Dear readers, comments or questions are welcome.

Good effort.

Good write up