₦airaland Forum

Most of the calls I have received from readers have been on grammatical names and grammatical functions and it seems readers are not even aware that I have written on all the grammatical names and functions. You will find below a catalog of all my articles on grammatical names and functions. If there are questions or some grey areas, I can be contacted on WhatsApp or voice call on 08037699294.

The Adjectival clause
http://olabanjititles..com/2017/10/grammar-point.html?m=1

The Adjectival phrase
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-adjectival-phrase-english-titles.html?m=1

The Adverbial phrase/clause
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/adverbial-phrases-and-clauses-english.html?m=1

The noun clause/noun phrase as subject http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/english-titles-functions-of-noun.html?m=1

The noun clause/noun phrase as object 1
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/english-titles-two-noun-phrasenoun.html?m=1

The noun clause/noun phrase as indirect object 2
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phrasenoun-clause-as-indirect.html?m=1

The noun clause/noun phrase as apposition
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phraseclause-as-apposition.html?m=1

The noun clause/noun phrase as complement
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phraseclause-as-complement.html?m=1

banjiscrolls@gmail.com

I read a quote online that seems, in part, very useful for this post. The quote is: That you're the loudest does not mean you're correct! I love the quote and will have it modified thus:

That it (something) is commonly said does not make it right. I said that in light of an extract below from a featured news report in the weekend titles of a newspaper.

"It was gathered that Sefiu, 18, filled a teller at the banking hall and was about to proceed to the bulk room to make a deposit when an elderly man asked him for assistance in filling his own teller."

What's wrong in the extract above?

One, a teller is not something, but someone! The Oxford dictionary defines a teller as someone whose job is to receive and pay out money in a bank. So the use of teller in the extract above is out of place. Where the writer of this piece used teller, the appropriate phrase should be deposit slip.


I suggest you read from the link below. ��

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/02/english-lessons-lesson-1.html?m=1


Two, the verb, fill, used in two variants, the past tense and past participle, is not correctly used in the extract. Rather than use fill, the writer should have used fill in, which means "to complete a form, etc. by writing information on it." In other words, fill in means to provide information. Rather than say, fill in, Americans do say, fill out.

So, the extract should now read:

"It was gathered that Sefiu, 18, filled in a deposit slip [in] at the banking hall and was about to proceed to the bulk room to make a deposit when an elderly man asked him for assistance in filling in his own deposit slip."

Let's consider another extract from a national newspaper. The major error in the extract had earlier been discussed in the post below. Why not open the link to find out how the error in the extract below can be corrected. Where the error is has been highlighted in bold typeface.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/how-to-use-requestrequest-for.html


"Although it was difficult to know who got what. Sentry learnt that the errant party henchmen actually demanded for N6 billion to facility the victory of the party's candidate but got N3 billion...."

Thank you for reading.


Books authored by the blogger

English Simplified!

A Text of English Sounds (the revised edition will be out soon)

Eku: A corpus of Yoruba greetings, with tales and essays.

Short cuts to identifying grammatical names and functions is also due for release soon.


The blogger, Olabanji O. Odurombi, can be contacted via SMS, voice call, or WhatsApp on 08037699294.


Source: http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/teller-someone-not-something.html?m=1

This supposedly simple question has pitched me against those who always think that whatever is common and popular is always correct.

To answer the question, the rule is:

First name (first name does not mean surname)
Middle name, and
Surname (last name)

Barack Hussein Obama
not
Obama Hussein Barack

But someone may wish to ask: but that's not the order on forms, especially common entrance forms and forms issued in banks. Yes. The order above is what is correct. Because that's the correct order or the norm, the banks, for instance, state how they want the forms they issue to be filled in. Hence, you see the instruction underneath, surname first. There will probably be a reason for this peculiarity! Haven't you wondered that you never hear Obama Barack or Bush George! That's because it's incorrect to do so.

However, if you intend to write your surname first, you can write it thus:

OBAMA Barack Hussein
or
Obama, Barack Hussein

In addition, always use a title Mr, Miss, Dr, etc, with the surname, not first name. Dr Carson, not Dr Ben; or Mr Maurice Bruce, not Mr Bruce Maurice. However, if you wish to introduce yourself by your first name together with a title, it is necessary to add the surname thus:

Dr Ben Carson
not
Dr Carson Ben

Similarly, if you want to write your initials, it is should be written thus:

Initials before the name. For example:

D.H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
It is not so common to see D H Lawrence

Or

Initials after name (separated by a comma). For example:

Obasanjo, O. O.

Aga Khan, S.

That brings me to another contentious point on how to write names. For those who bear English names, including names after Bible characters, the English name should come before the other name (indigenous name). You may not like it. Some folks have also argued that it shouldn't be so. They wonder why the supposedly English name should precede the indigenous name. Arguments and ill-feelings notwithstanding, that's just the norm. Hence, it's correct to say:

Peter Ayodele Fayose
not
Ayodele Peter Fayose

But does it matter? When I am asked this question, I usually tell the story of a man who planned to go on vacation with his wife but the wife couldn't make the vacation eventually. So the man went alone. In those days there were no phones. He wanted to tell his wife he was having fun and proceeded to the receptionist to send a telegram. He dictated the following words, "Having a nice time, wish you were here." However, the receptionist typed, "Having a nice time, wish you were her." Omitting letter 'e'! The question is: did it matter that letter 'e' was omitted or not? Good morning!

You will have a nice day!




Source:
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/12/how-should-name-be-written-you-probably.html?m=1


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Death be not proud!

This affable Ag. Head of Department of Dramatis Arts taught me in my first and second year at OAU. Never a boring moment in her classes.

reportminds:
Lionel Messi celebrates his 700th Barcelona game with one goal and two assists.


Messi's senior Barcelona career by numbers:

• 700 games

• 613 goals

• 237 assists

• 46 hat-tricks (40 trebles, 5 four-goal hauls, 1 five-goal haul)

• 34 trophies


https://www.reportminds.com/2019/11/check-messi-stats-in-700-barcelona-games.html?m=1

I have never liked to be drawn into the constant argument comparing CR7 and Messi. I strongly feel that the duo are the greatest ambassadors of football. I however feel Messi has done wonders with his left foot. Given the benefit of the two feet, he probably would have done more.

If there is something I know (that) I know how to do, it is to teach English, especially topics on English grammar, sounds (I have written a book on English sounds that have sold more than 1800 copies), comprehension, summary and lexis and structure. Gifted with the rare ability to simplify these topics, find below a number of my posts on some topics in English.


Order of adjectives
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/order-of-adjectives-naswasconming.html?m=1

How to use request/request for
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/how-to-use-requestrequest-for.html

How to use contractions and possessive pronouns
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/still-on-english-sentence-use-of.html

How to tackle questions on English vowel sounds:
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/how-tackle-questions-on-vowel-u-and.html?m=1

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/how-to-tackle-waec-test-of-orals-vowel_9.html?m=1

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/how-to-tackle-questions-on-waec-test-of.html?m=1

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/how-to-tackle-waec-test-of-orals-vowel.html?m=1

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/how-to-tackle-questions-on-waec-test-of.html?m=1

Explanations on some tricky English verbs 1
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/explanations-on-some-tricky-english.html?m=1

WASSCE Comprehension: How to tackle question h
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/wassce-comprehension-how-to-tackle.html?m=1

The English sentence
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/11/the-english-sentence-structural-and.html?m=1

Adjectival phrase
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-adjectival-phrase-english-titles.html?m=1

Identifying adjectival clause: http://olabanjititles..com/2017/10/grammar-point.html?m=1

Word formation processes http://olabanjititles..com/2019/03/word-formation-processes-affixation-how.html?m=1

Take a test http://olabanjititles..com/2019/04/take-test.html?m=1

Summary http://olabanjititles..com/2019/04/students-are-usually-bitter-when-they.html

Spoken English http://olabanjititles..com/2017/10/spoken-english-class-many-candidate-has.html?m=1

Homophones
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/02/toluwalade-learns-to-pronounce-flour.html?m=1

Polysemous words
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/03/poor-chike-struggles-with-words-with.html?m=1

Formation of plural nouns
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/03/nouns-formation-of-plural-nouns.html?m=1

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/02/english-lessons-lesson-1.html?m=1

The noun phrase as subject http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/english-titles-functions-of-noun.html?m=1

The noun phrase as object 1
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/english-titles-two-noun-phrasenoun.html?m=1

The noun phrase as indirect object 2
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phrasenoun-clause-as-indirect.html?m=1

The noun phrase as apposition
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phraseclause-as-apposition.html?m=1

The noun phrase as complement
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phraseclause-as-complement.html?m=1

Find in the links below thorough and painstaking explanations on the functions of the noun phrase and noun clause.

The noun phrase/clause as subject http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/english-titles-functions-of-noun.html?m=1

The noun phrase/clause as object 1
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/english-titles-two-noun-phrasenoun.html?m=1

The noun phrase/clause as indirect object 2
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phrasenoun-clause-as-indirect.html?m=1

The noun phrase/clause as apposition
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phraseclause-as-apposition.html?m=1

The noun phrase/clause as complement
http://olabanjititles..com/2019/10/the-noun-phraseclause-as-complement.html?m=1

myfan:
I watched in the video the other day when a young manout of economic frustration climbed a telecommunication mast and jumped down straight to his death. How he bounced on landing on the ground was an unforgettable sight.

YOU SAID YOU CAN PROMOTE STUFFS ONLINE. I THINK I AM INTERESTED. 08037699294 IS MY CONTACT.

Hey! Nice jobs you did. Can we chat up 08037699294? Have an urgent job for you.

Read up a number of your posts and found them interesting, particularly the ones on the establishment of a private school. Quite frankly, I have been contemplating one. However, I seem to have a challenge: I AM CONVINCED I HAVE WRITTEN THE SIMPLEST TEXTBOOK ON ENGLISH SOUNDS; ONE THAT IS SUITABLE FOR ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL). ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO MARKET THIS TEXT?

Would you like to have a private chat with me via WhatsApp 08037699294.

BANJI TITLES
Home
Banji Titles 5:48:00 am




Students are usually bitter when they obtain low marks in summary. One student complained that he failed woefully in summary and that affected his overall performance in English. "And it is 30 marks," he complained. I believe many students have the same story to tell about their performance in summary. After being carefully tutored, his performance has however improved, and he confided in me that he now teaches his classmates how to go about answering questions on summary.

The first thing to know about summary is that: it is something we all have the natural ability to do. What do I mean? You watch a movie, especially Indian movies which sometimes last more than two hours and you narrate the same movie to a friend in less than 30 minutes, sometimes lesser! That's summary! How did you narrate a movie of more than two hours in less than 30 minutes? I am sure that all you did was to mention the most important scenes. You probably wouldn't mention the dances, which are usually a major feature of Indian movies. You also did not use the exact words of the characters (actors/actresses). The focus of your narrative was on the important scenes. Wasn't it? The same skill can be used in attempting to answer questions on summary.

A quick breakdown of some helpful tips on summary.

#Rule One: Read the question(s) on the summary passage before reading the passage. Why did I say so. The question gives you a clue or some clues on what the passage is all about. One question reads thus: In six sentences, summarise the benefits of the dog to man. From the question, we can conclude that the passage is on the importance of the dog to man. So, I suggest you read the question first.

#Rule Two: Answers should not be provided in words, phrases or incomplete sentences. For instance, when you are asked: Where do you live, you most likely will use just a word in response to the inquiry.

A: Where do you live?
B: Lagos.

If that were to be an answer to a question on summary, that would be wrong. Why? Because the answer is provided in a word. If it were to be an (appropriate) answer to a question on summary, it would be:

A: Where do you live?
B: I live in Lagos.

'I live in Lagos' is a sentence, not a word.

If the same question were to asked:
A: Where do you live?
B: In Lagos.

If it were to be an answer to a question on summary, that would also be wrong. You want to know why? Because the answer is provided in a phrase, not a sentence.

A: Where do you live?
B: Somewhere in Lagos.

If it were to be an answer to a question on summary, the answer above would still be wrong. The reason is because that is still not a sentence! Perhaps I should define what a sentence is.

A sentence must start with a capital letter and end with a small letter, together with an appropriate punctuation mark which can be a full stop, question mark or exclamatory mark.

i. He has been sick. (Sentence ending with a full stop)

ii. He has been sick? (Sentence ending with a question mark)

iii. He has been sick! (Sentence ending with an exclamatory mark)

A sentence must have a finite verb. Which leads to another question: What is a finite verb. That's simple. Any verb that you can use with any of the pronouns below is a finite verb.

I am/have/will/shouted
We have/like/went/played/did
You are/hate/live
She/He/It has/was/likes/goes/reads/dances
They were/will/wrote/played

Now, check out four answers to the same question below.

What do want to become in the future?
A: Doctor
B: A doctor
C: To become a doctor
D. I want to become a doctor.

If it were to be an answer to a question on summary, A above is wrong because it is a word; B is also wrong because it is a phrase; C is wrong as well because it is an incomplete sentence. The most appropriate answer therefore is D. I guess you know why by now, because it is a sentence!

#Rule Three: Avoid (unnecessary) elaboration. In other words, avoid the use of 'for example', 'including', 'especially', 'for instance', 'e.g', 'i.e' and such words that are used to elaborate or clarify points.

Let's read the following passage together.

Mrs Jones is at the market with her son of twelve who is resuming school the following week to shop for the forthcoming Home economics examination in her school. She is the teacher in charge and has to ensure that all that is needed is provided in abundance. She bought some onions, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, spinach, Irish potatoes, etc. She needed a set of new pots, whisk, ceramic plates, forks and knives, and more importantly, a medium-sized chopping board. She made a quick payment for these and drove down to the nearest bookshop, where a soft-spoken, charming attendant helped her with all that she needed. In less than an hour, the different textbooks, pens, ruler, notebooks, were purchased. She thanked the attendant, who refused to be tipped, profusely and returned home happy and relaxed.

In three sentences, one for each, mention the three things that Mrs Jones bought.

I. Mrs Jones bought vegetables.
II. Mrs Jones bought kitchen utensils.
III. She also bought stationery (for her son).

That information in brackets isn't necessary because the passage already stated that.

An example of a wrong answer to that question would have been:

i. Vegetables
ii. Kitchen utensils
iii. Stationery

Remember, your answers are not to be provided in words.

Another typical example of a wrong answer would have been:

Mrs Jones bought vegetables, kitchen utensils and stationery.
(Remember that you are to provide the answers in three sentences, one for each).
Endeavour to follow the example shown above.

Another instance would have been:

i. Mrs Jones bought vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers, etc.

ii. Mrs Jones bought kitchen utensils i.e. forks, knives and plates.

iii. Mrs Jones bought some stationery like pencils and textbooks.

Let's also consider the examples below:

i. Students should maintain good hygiene by washing their hands because of germs and infections.

ii. People should participate in politics i.e voting during elections.

If the examples above were to be answers to a question on summary, the underlined expressions are instances of elaboration that will cost the student his or her marks.

#Rule Four: As much as possible, avoid lifting from the passage. We have earlier said that it is important to use your own words.

Let's now try and use the principle learnt so far to answer the question on the summary passage below.


People are usually unwilling to make changes in their lives after being accustomed to a certain style of life. However, this can cause a lot of problems, as changing circumstances often make a change in lifestyle inevitable. Take for example, people who have to leave their country and go abroad for various reasons. Such people will inevitably face many challenges. First, they have to adapt to a new culture and habits that are completely different from what they were used to in their own country. They will also have to adapt to the weather and may need to learn a new language, or now, communicate regularly in a language other than their mother tongue, which they used more frequently before their relocation.

Again, at some point in their lives, some people may have cause to change their career. The reasons for this may be varied and need not concern us here. But career change inevitably necessitate the acquisition of a different set of skills and experience in the new job, a new routine and adaptation to new friends and colleagues at work. In the face of economic recession and related circumstances, people may lose their jobs as the organizations they work for try to adjust to the adverse situation by retrenching many of their workers. (Terms such as "downsizing", "rightsizing" and "restructuring" are the modern-day euphemisms for this phenomenon!) A worker who suddenly loses his or her job obviously has to adjust to a new lifestyle--at least until a new job comes along.

Closely related to job loss is retirement. Many people carry on at their jobs as if they will remain at such jobs forever. But retirement is inevitable not only for the paid worker but ask the self-employed. Retirement in most cases means a change from an active working life to a more sedentary lifestyle. It often requires giving up official property such as accommodation and vehicles and the replacement of a regular salary with a modest pension, which may not be right. Because of these, the prospect of retirement is often viewed with apprehension by many, as they retired not prepared for it.

Outside the work domain, other changes inevitably continue to take place. For example, at some point in their lives, young men and women come together and get married and start their own families. The transition from bachelorhood or spinsterhood of course means adaptation to a spouse, raising children, and discarding many of the habits, often reckless and impulsive, of unmarried life.

Finally, as painful and undesirable as it is, death is inevitable. The untimely loss of a loved one--a wife, a husband, a parent--often turns people's lives upside down, and necessitates a drastic change in lifestyle. Many people never anticipate such a loss, and if unfortunately it does occur, it can be quite devastating. In conclusion, people have to be ready for any changes that may occur in their lives, as change is inevitable and there is no guarantee for anyone that life will be stable forever.

In six sentences, one for each, summarise the six factors that can cause a change in lifestyle as discussed in the passage.

MAY/JUNE WASSCE 2011

Answers

We will need to apply the principles we have discussed to answer the summary passage above. The first principle is to read the question so as to have an idea of what the passage is all about. Judging from the question, the passage is about factors, six of them, that can cause a change in lifestyle.

i. Migration can cause a change in lifestyle.

ii. Changing jobs can also cause a change in lifestyle.

iii. Loss of jobs can cause change in lifestyle.

iv. Retirement can cause a change in lifestyle.

v. Marriage can cause a change in lifestyle.

vi. Death can cause a change in lifestyle.

OR

i. Migration is one of the factors that can cause a change in lifestyle.

ii. A change of job is another factor.

iii. Loss of jobs can also cause a change in lifestyle.

iv. Retirement can cause a change in lifestyle.

v. Marriage is another factor that can cause a change in lifestyle.

vi. Death can also cause a change in lifestyle.

Providing your answers in the following way will be marked wrong.

i. Migration
ii. Loss of jobs
iii. Change of job
iv. Retirement
v. Marriage
vi. Death

By now, you should know the reason why the answers provided above will be marked wrong. It is because the answers are provided in words and phrases, not sentences.


Did you find this lesson helpful? Let's hear from you. You can leave a comment or contact us via SMS or WhatsApp on 08037699294.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/04/students-are-usually-bitter-when-they.html?m=1

You may find the following interesting to read also:

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/04/the-arch-enemy-of-productivity-is.html?m=1

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/04/take-test.html?m=1

Imagine the moment a very brilliant student found out that he failed because he lacked table etiquette. The student didn't fail what can be regarded as the 'main exam' but failed a critical, decisive, examination at a dinner party. What he didn't learn or ignored to learn ruined his chances of travelling abroad. That describes Pastor E. A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) many years ago. Read his account.

"Two incidents of note happened in my life when I was much younger. The first incident was in 1964 when I was at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. At the time, the university had an exchange programme with Michigan State University, USA to send brilliant students from Nigeria to the USA during the summer to know more about America. We all looked forward to qualifying. But then, we had to do some tests before we would be selected. I qualified as an A-student. We did all kinds of examinations and we passed. Unknown to us, there was a final examination, which was a dinner party. The table was set and they gave us a bowl of soup and a roll of bread each. I grabbed the bread and dipped it in the bowl of soup and started eating. There was a man who was taking note, unknown to us. He waited until my mouth was filled before he asked me what I would do when I get to America. Because my mouth was full, I could not answer properly, and he took note. After the meal, it was tea time. Because the tea was served hot, I began to take it with the spoon provided. At the end of the party, I failed, but I couldn't understand why I failed. Later I got to know more about table etiquette. I failed because I didn't know how to pass."

The lesson learnt is very vital. The little things one ignore can be a stumbling block between one and the success ahead. Of course, some would scorn the narrative. Suffice to say that, the revered Pastor E. A. Adeboye did not get another opportunity to travel to the US until another 40 years, according to him.

When I heard this account of his, I decided to surf the internet for a guide on eating/dining etiquette. And for the first time, I found out the following:

One, the way utensils are positioned sends a signal to the waiter/waitress.


In the same vein, there are different glasses for different purposes. There is one for red wine; another for champagne, etc.


Outlined below are some basic table etiquette.

Before the Meal

1. Place your napkin on your lap.

2. Keep personal items (including smart phones) off the table.

During the Meal

3. Wait until all guests are served and the host begins eating before you begin eating.

4. Understand the table setting -- use the 'outside-in' rule.

5. Hold your utensils in the Continental style.

6. Chew with your mouth closed.

7. Always pass the salt and the pepper together.

8. If an item is not being passed to a specific person, pass food from left to right.

After the Meal

9. After the meal, position your silverware to signal the server that you are done.

10. Fold your used napkin and place it to the left of your plate.

Source: www.etiquettescholar.com


I also found a beautiful piece, outlining the required etiquette at the table. You can head over to�

http://projectbritain.com/behaviourfood.html

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/04/i-failed-critical-examination-pastor-e.html?m=1

The plural forms of nouns can be formed in any of the following ways:

1. Addition of -s:
Singular Plural
boy boys
girl girls
book books
pen pens
cup cups
chief chiefs

2. Addition of -es:
Singular Plural
box boxes
fox foxes
knife knives
thief thieves

3. Addition of -ies
Singular Plural
baby babies
lady ladies
lorry lorries
fly flies
city cities

4. Addition of -en
Singular Plural
ox oxen
child children

5. Some nouns change their vowels in the middle of the singular forms.
Singular Plural
foot feet
goose geese
tooth teeth
mouse mice
man men
woman women

6. There is the need to pay close attention to a small class of nouns and master them.
Singular Plural
medium media
auditorium auditoria
stadium stadia/stadiums
criterion criteria
datum data

7. However, some nouns do not change their forms, whether in the singular or plural forms.

Singular Plural
cattle cattle
deer deer
sheep sheep
news news

8. Never add s to any of the following nouns:

furniture
information
advice
equipment
stationery

8(ii).You may wish to know why. The reason is because they are collective nouns. If you want to use them in the plural forms, it is as follows:

items of furniture
pieces of information
pieces of advice
items of equipment

It is also correct to say:
some furniture/information
not
some furnitures/informations

some advice/equipment/stationery
not
some advices/equipments/stationeries

9. That said, you will also need to pay attention to words that ends in s but are not to be considered as plural nouns.

news
debris
politics
measles
economics
mathematics

For example:

Economics is my best subject.
Fake news spreads like wild fire.
Measles is a communicable disease.

10. However, there are nouns that are only in the plural forms. They can be referred to as plural only nouns. Examples include the following:

shorts
species
scissors
trousers
knickers
premises
belongings
surroundings

For example:

His shorts are dirty.
Your belongings have to be checked in.

You can check out nouns that are always in the plural forms below.

https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/05/18/12-nouns-that-are-always-plurals/

Exercise

1. Secondary schools must be equipped with.......
A. laboratory equipments
B. some laboratory equipments
C. laboratory equipment
D. many equipments

2. The........have been crying all day.
A. baby
B. babies
C. babys
D. babies'

3. Politics........meant for all the citizens, not for a few.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. were

4. The criteria for admission into the university........made available on its website.
A. has been
B. is been
C. was
D. have been

5. While the plural form of boy is boys, the plural form of cattle is.......?



Did you enjoy this lesson? Let's hear from you.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/03/nouns-formation-of-plural-nouns.html?m=1

To my mind, Paul didn't command what the white man practised, separating wives from their husbands and commanding them only to be married to the first wife. The major proposition, I learnt, in defence of this practice is that, in the event that a man separates from his wives and cleaves to just one, such a man is under obligation to take care of the wives and the children. This defence, being narrow, excludes in its consideration the woman. The picture can be clearer with this illustration. If one of the wives is her twenties and she is asked to be taken care of by the man, excuse me, are physical needs all that she has? He only has to cater for just her physical needs at the expense of her emotional, social and more importantly, her sexual needs? How is this gap to be filled? Did I hear someone say, "What if the husband dies?" Death you said, not imposed separation by misinterpreters of the Holy Writ. Come to think of it, death secures a wife's release from the obligations she should have had to her deceased husband.

The major question, however, is: "How did these women, victims of a suspicious tenet of Christianity, view the religion? The religion will be perceived as one with some strange doctrine that sent them packing from their matrimonial home. What an unfortunate situation. Misconstrued truths will always come with damaging consequences.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/03/one-man-one-wife.html?m=1

If you don't know how to be anxious, you may not be in the good books of many people, especially friends and close relatives. Emotional friends and relatives want to see anxiety on your face. If it is not seen on your face, for all they care, you are not caring. You have been in a similar situation? Share your story on the blog or via WhatsApp 08037699294.

A two year old article published on The Guardian UK website enunciates the above observation.

A trouble shared is a trouble multiplied. Take a calm approach to other people's stress and you'll help them, and yourself.

Like ebola, and people clearing their throats at the theatre, emotions are contagious. One example: if you're unhappy, and then for some reason you become happy – a new relationship, say – according to one 2014 study, a close friend living within a mile of you has a 25% greater chance of becoming happy themselves. (On the flipside, researchers have found that college students obliged to share rooms with depressed classmates are at heightened risk of "catching" their thinking styles.) And it's been shown that merely seeing someone acting stressed, even a stranger, can elevate your own levels of cortisol. From an evolutionary point of view, this isn't surprising. After all, if a person in your visual field is making faces as if a marauding tribe is about to attack you from behind, that's probably because they are – in which case, being suddenly on edge could save your life. These days, when marauding tribes usually aren't an imminent risk, anxiety isn't much use. Sadly, it remains contagious.

"Anxiety is conductive," argues the designer Mike Monteiro, in an old essay that got a new surge of online attention a few weeks ago. "It wants to travel from one person to another person." At his design studio, they have a rule: Stop Adopting Other People's Anxiety. "Once a client becomes anxious," Monteiro writes, "their primary goal becomes to make you anxious, because that justifies their own anxiety."

The other major hazard when it comes to worry and anxiety is that, unlike other negative emotions, they seem productive; chewing over a problem feels like doing something about it. And so we'd like others to share our worry: that way, several people will be "working" on the problem. The hitch, of course, is that worry isn't really productive: usually, it's a distraction, and leads to lower-quality work. Alan Watts made a version of this point back in 1951: ironically, what causes our feelings of insecurity is the desperate quest to feel secure. Worrying is the practice of trying to reach a state of serenity by engaging in precisely the activity that guarantees you'll never get there. So you're hardly helping an anxious person by joining them in this self-defeating spiral.

"Imagine slicing your finger open cutting a bagel," Monteiro writes. "You freak out. You wrap it all up. You go to the emergency room. Do you want your doctor to scream when she sees it, or to look at it and very calmly say, 'Let's take care of that'?" This echoes the argument made by Paul Bloom, a Yale psychologist, in his book Against Empathy, out in the UK next month. Feeling others' pain sounds like the compassionate thing to do, but it's frequently counterproductive. (It can also lead to bad decision-making, Bloom argues: for instance, it's easier to empathise with people who look like us, so we end up empathising in racist ways.) The truly compassionate thing, Monteiro says, is to "be the calm doctor", which helps to keep your own worry levels in check, too.

There's enough in the world to freak out about. No need to go sniffing around for more.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/03/calm-down-anxiety-is-contagious.html?m=1

I have noticed a 'craze' in the world, manifesting chiefly in fashion, entertainment, and sexual orientation.

In fashion, they say it's now the trend to have canvass or sneakers on traditional attire. The first time I saw 2baba (a foremost Nigerian artist) on it, I was full of resentment and abuse for his PR. I was later to be corrected that I was the one not keeping up with fashion trends. I adjusted quickly and felt satisfied with my progress until I saw a colleague at work clad in traditional attire, with a fez cap to match. What?! Mr Fashion Trend Police swung into action. I was quick to ask him to remove the fez cap. It was there on the spot Mr Fashion Trend Police was told that is what is trending. Oh my Goodness! Mr Fashion Trend will need to go for some refresher course.

I always wonder at the price for which crazy jeans are sold. And I still wonder at the innovation, too. What fashion trend is this! A top or blouse on a almost tattered jeans, and it comes at a cost too. Something akin to akisa, Yoruba word for rags. If the mentally derailed parading the streets sight most of today's celebs, they won't be convinced they aren't like them, dress-wise at least. It is difficult to believe that men will buy rags for fashion accessories. True to its name, it takes a crazy fellow to buy and clad in one. End of discussion!


On sex, the orientation is becoming more fluid and the definition is largely relative now. It isn't the norm to talk about heterosexualism. Homosexualism, lesbianism, gay, transgender, autosexualism, pansexualism are just a few of the emerging orientations on sexualism. The West that boasts of technological advancements, economic prosperity, advanced political ideologies, formidable educational policies and programmes wants Africa to jettison her mono-sexual orientation that favours only heterosexuals. The West has grown accustomed to being at the forefront while Africa trails from behind. Now, they want to school us on sexualism. In fact, they are succeeding already. You may wish to know how: in the foreign movies and novels that many of our teenagers watch and read. You may also wish to know that some of the cartoons kids see on popular foreign channels are subtly introducing them to witchcraft and LGBT*, with excitement. A predator will not prepare a good meal, add poison, and put a warning label on it. That describes the the content of most of the foreign books, and movies on TV. I suggest reading and viewing with suspicion! A quick challenge to parents: how will you define marriage to your child? And if, to your shock, s/he confides in you to be sexually attracted to fe/males, what will be your reaction? School him or her in the way of the so-called enlightened West?


In music there is too much noise. Satirizing this negative trend, a singer sang, 'ariwo kọ ni music o, empty barrel lo n pariwo'**. Noise-making-songs is not a recent trend. It only gained prominence recently. Way back in the 80s, a fuji legend was alleged to have posited thus: 'igba orin ti fọ, awo orin ti ya'***. That many of today's songs encapsulates the postulation of the late fuji veteran is stating the obvious. Wishy-washy, uninspiring lyrics, with nonsensical similar beats now rent the air. You call to mind the lyrics of Beautiful Nubia, Asa, Timi Dakolo, Dare ArtAlade, etc., and you appreciate lyrical aestheticism. Not to talk of that of the like of Ebenezer Obey, KSA, IK Dairo, Yusuf Olatunji, Orlando Owo, Orlando Julius, Dayo Kujore, Fela Anikulapo, etc. I have been told the 'noise' sells and is popular with the youths. You probably aren't in vogue if those songs are insulting to your intellect.


Fake now substitutes originality. Can one really decipher the actual size of a lady's breasts. What of the butts and the hips? Spoon, apple, rectangle, banana body shapes are everywhere. What of the face? On the face of ladies are a very heavy heap of cosmetics that usually transform them into masquerades we just have to accommodate at work, church, or social events. You can imagine taking a snapshot with masquerades. Haba, can't it be moderate? A story was told of a father of a bride who was surprised at the look of his about-to-wed daughter and kept asking her whereabouts. It took a while before he was convinced the make-up face was that of his lovely daughter. It was said he warned her sternly not to repeat it for the church wedding.




(https://www.nairaland.com/3192859/before-after-make-up-photos-shock)

One can go on and on. Before accusing fingers will come pointing, I go for the cover.


*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender

**music is not noise, it is characteristic of an empty barrel to be noisy

***music muse has leaked out


http://olabanjititles..com/2019/03/worth-piece-of-my-observation.html?m=1

OvaSabi1:
They mentioned it. Title, author and location of original research.

Where in the report, sir/ma is the title of the original work?

dre11:
........Professor Stephen Ocheni, Minister Of State For Labour, Plagiarises Research Work From Australian University


Although Ocheni's biography describes him as "a man with a voracious appetite for knowledge, thoroughness and professionalism", "a thorough professional and technocrat with unblemished records" and as "a teacher and researcher of no mean repute", SaharaReporters can report that he plagiarised one of the papers with which he rose to the pinnacle of his job as a lecturer before he was given his current post.

The original work was done by Duc Hong Phan in collaboration with Bruno Mascitelli and Meropy Barut, all of the RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.


http://saharareporters.com/2019/03/08/exclusive-professor-stephen-ocheni-minister-state-labour-plagiarises-research-work

He plagiarised the original work of Duc Hong Phan, et al... The work has got no title and no particular journal in which it was published? I would think fact checking and news reporting should be painstaking and thorough.

Banji Titles

I remember vividly the day I was asked the question: 1 + 1. Well, I wasn't referring to when I began to be exposed to elementary or rudimentary arithmetics. I was asked the question in the most unpredictable circumstance and I was obviously shocked at such a ridiculous question. I had been invited to a job interview, involving mostly graduates. Of course, you can image the level of readiness that must have been put into it. I was then shocked to the marrows when the question: 1+ 1was thrown at me. Is this a joke or what? I seem to ask myself. But the seriousness dawned on me when everyone who had stepped out of the 'hot room' discussed the ridiculousness of the question asked them. The result was that they laughed hysterically as they discussed this uttermost shock of theirs.

Then it was my turn. I walked in and was asked in simple elementary school teacher's tone the same question: 1 + 1 = ? I almost said the obvious answer but decided to reason it out. Before my mouth would run faster than my brain. I reasoned they couldn't have been asking me such a question without more to it. My response came almost immediately! "1 + 1?" "Yes," responded the panel unanimously, as though I was wasting their time and mine. Growing impatient, I was asked the same question and I responded promptly, "You said 1 + 1?" Still at a loss, a thought struck me and I suddenly asked again "1 + 1?" In a rather apparent impatient tone, the only woman on the panel answered, "Yes!" and I quickly added, "In what base?" The reaction on the face of the lead panelist said it all. That was the response they wanted all along. Like someone given a new lease of life, I went on to say in base two, 1+1=10 but in other bases greater than base two, 1+1=2. Yours sincerely, I left the interview that day pleased with myself.

Inspired by an experience shared by a friend.


http://olabanjititles..com/2019/01/one-plus-one.html?m=1

Chike didn't have the privilege that many urban dweller children had. He never got to the four walls of a classroom until he was ten. He is now thirteen, in primary three. Fortune smiled on him when a distant uncle of his was at the village to receive a chieftaincy title. The energetic, young, traditional dancer was the cynosure of all eyes during the conferment of the chieftaincy title. Chike danced his way into to the hearts of all at the ceremony. He instantly became popular. His dancing skills made his distant uncle vow to pay for his education. It meant the last time most of the villagers would set their eyes on this budding acrobatic dancer. Days later, Chike was on his way to a place where he knew all his life as city. That was the name everybody called it, except for the relatives and siblings of some successful business men who occasionally visited the village with very nice big cars. They called it big city. Whichever, they must either be the same or not too far from each other, Chike thought. He got to the city and was shocked at what he saw. He already had enough painful experience travelling more than five hours. The cars were travelling in full speed, indistinct loud music was blaring from the radio. The air conditioner was on and he almost froze to death in the convoy of cars he traveled in, and nobody cared. Now, he can see buildings as tall as the palm trees on which his father tapped palm wine. Some were even taller. One in particular left an impression on him. As he walked passed it, having spent two weeks in the city, he saw his look alike inside the building. He walked towards the building and he could see himself. He ran towards the building, and a body double like him was running too. He stopped when he stopped too. Fear gripped him and he took to his heels and told no one. He was enrolled in school and he was happy about it. But he had one problem. The teachers, especially the female teachers, spoke too fast. As though that wasn't enough, they spoke with their nose. He made friends with Akin, a caring and understanding classmate of his. He enjoyed school, particularly with the help of Akin.

He was introduced to computer studies and was given an assignment to do. Unfortunately, his confidant was not in school to help. He has been indisposed for a while. He did the assignment to the best of his knowledge and submitted the following day. It wasn't until the end of the week that he knew how much he had missed his sick friend.

"Chike, what is this?" yelled the newly employed Computer Studies teacher.

"What you said we should do, ma?"

"What did I ask you to do?"

"You said to draw," he said in a low tone.

"I can't hear you," barked the visibly angry teacher.

"You said to draw a mouse mah," he struggled to mutter, not louder than he said before.

"And what is this?"

"Mouse, mah," he said, kneeling simultaneously.

"And you think this is what I asked you to draw?"

The innocent, poor boy was about to give a response when the teacher cuts in.

"Shut up!"

"I said to draw a mouse, a computer mouse," she said, showing him one, "not house rat!"

By now the entire class had burst into profuse laughter. He was downcast, though he remembered he had seen what the Computer Studies teacher showed him was a mouse with the secretary of his uncle. He often played with it and pressed it in front of another thing the size of a box.


DISCUSSION

Poor Chike, you will say. It isn't his fault. He is new in a good school like we have in most of our cities today and probably has never been taught English, let alone taught that certain words in English can have more than one meaning. Examples of such words abound in English. They are referred to as polysemous words. 'Poly' means many, while 'semous' means meaning. Therefore, ploysemous words are words with more than one meaning. Examples include:

bank
meaning--- 1. a financial institution 2. the side of a river

1. I have never been to a bank.

2. Trading in fish and other sea creatures is done at the bank of a river.

chest
meaning--- 1. a part of the body 2. a wooden box where things are kept

1. He was hit with an iron rod on his chest.

2. Seen a treasure chest before?

theatre
meaning--- 1. a surgical ward in a hospital 2. a place where entertainment such as plays, dance, etc. is performed. 3. a place where lectures are received, for instance at the university

1. Doctors operate on patients in the theatre.

2. We were at the National Theatre to see a movie during the weekend.

3. The lecture theatres at the University of Lagos are very large.

Mine
meaning--- 1. a place under the ground where mineral resources such as gold, charcoal, diamond, etc. are explored. 2. a possessive pronoun to describe what belongs to you.

1. Enugu State is famous for its coal mine.

2. That book is mine.

key
meaning--- 1. a mental object used for locking and unlocking a car, a door, a gate, etc. 2. the secret of anything 3. any of the buttons you press on a piano or computer operating buttons.

1. Do you have the keys to the car?

2. What is the key to success?

3. One of the keys on the keyboard is faulty.

You can check out other examples at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nIxO-_FjOs

Thanks for reading. You will have a nice week ahead.

Next week Monday will be another exciting time.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/03/poor-chike-struggles-with-words-with.html?m=1

He loved his profession. He was a medical doctor of repute, known and acknowledged as one of the best in his time. His quest for excellence in medical practice made him spend hours in his laboratory, thinking through procedures and novel methods to combat some of life's most threatening ailments at the time. For days, and often times, weeks, he was absent at home. His wife understood him and supported his innovation in medicine. However, he didn't have the support of his last daughter. His feats in the field of medicine has deprived her of her father. She has learnt that her dad cared for his patients more than he cared for the family. He was rarely at home. The daughter didn't forget the weekend that she prayed he should be available at home. Mother and children had taken time out to prepare some nice delicacies and had gone the extra mile to make it special for their guest: the usually absent dad. They sat at meal, said the prayer and serving began. Whizz, the dad's phone buzzed before serving ended. His attention was needed at the hospital. He was gone in the twinkling of an eye.

On one of the few nights that he called at home again, he was full of apologies for his absence at home, for days he has lost count. As the family retired to bed, the daughter, wrapped in the embrace of her dad, whispered into his ears: "When I grow up, dad, I have the ambition to become a patient" and said good night.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/02/innocent-ambition.html?m=1

Toluwalade loves to snack on pastries. Mention it, she is always at home with any, especially when served with a glass of chilled orange juice. Her last birthday was one to remember. She enjoyed herself with her classmates and teachers. The following weekend was her dad's opportunity to spoil the birthday girl. He drove her to her choice resort at the outskirts of the town and had fun. She never imagined her dad could go to such an extent, to make her 12th year birthday really special for her. She enjoyed all that the special moment afforded her. Her dad will be 45 in a few days. While on the resort, she vowed to surprise her dad on his birthday too. She knew she couldn't do it alone. She will enlist the help of her mom.

"Happy birthday, dad!" she said to her father who is barely awake. She gently crawled towards him on the bed and sang a special birthday song for him. "Once again dad, happy birthday," she said. "I wanted to be the first to say happy birthday to you. I hope I beat your associates, friends and mom to it?" she asked in teenage-hood innocence. "Hmm, Hmm, Hmm, you did!" She screamed and hugged her dad. The mom all the while has been awake, keenly listening to father and daughter intimate conversation. "What's that scream all about?"she asked to register her presence. "Nothing mom," she said and excused herself. That wasn't all she had in stock of surprises for her dad. The plan to present him a cake—an home baked caked—was top on her agenda. On her way back home, she anxiously reminded her mom of the cake to be baked.

"Mom, do we have all we need?"

"We've got nut-meg?"

"Yes, ma!" the mom answered teasingly.

"What of vanilla extract?" she continued to ask as she surfed the internet on her mom's phone for cake ingredients.

"I should think we've got enough flor to bake."

"That, my dear, is why I'm about to turn to the left, to the market," she said as she made the quick turning.

Toluwalade's very sensitive mom, meanwhile, took note of all her expressions. She possesses very stubborn, probing ears. If a paper falls to the ground, she probably could hear it did! When they got to the market, she didn't allow Toluwalade to stay back in the car, browsing the internet. Toluwalade was also happy she could see the market for the first time, too. She is only conversant with shopping malls. The shout of customer rents the air.

"What do you want to buy?"

"I have what you want to buy,"said a compelling voice among the market women.

"Come and buy from me," another woman gestures to them.

She stopped by the stall of one Ibo woman. "Give me two measures of fine wheat flour," she requested, stressing the word 'flour'. Like mother, like daughter, Toluwalade became bothered that her mom mispronounced the word 'flour'. Mom is old school, she thought. At home, she asked, "mom, isn't 'flower' different from 'flour'? You asked your customer for 'flower' instead of 'flour'.

"Really?"

"You pronounced the words alike."

"Would you like to tell me how I should have pronounced it?"

"Flor, mom."

The mom laughed and said to her, "that's not correct, my daughter. The word 'flour' and 'flower' are pronounced alike. The two words are homophones. You must have been taught homophones in school."

"Yes ma, but 'flour' and 'flower' were never mentioned to us.

"Now that I have mentioned it to you. It's never too late to learn, dear. Mind you, don't just hear from my mouth, go and get your dictionary right away and check up the pronunciation of the two words. Later in the day, I will give you a list of examples of words that are homophones." The list of words Toluwalade's mom gave her included:

I. sew/sow/so
II. cite/sight/site
III. weak/week
IV. story/storey
V. flour/flower
VI. stile/style
VII. roar/raw
VIII. one/won
IX. now/noun
X. know/no
XI. meat/meet
XII. too/to/two
XIII. ewe/you
XIV. awe/or
XV. gaol (not goal)/jail



DISCUSSIONS

Some commonly mispronounced words; for example: curtain/cotton; walk/work; lose/loose; word/ward/world, etc. don't fall in this category. In other words, they are not homophones.

You are advised to pay close attention to the words highlighted in blue, red, green, and yellow.

For the purpose of clarity, homophones are words which are different in meaning and spelling, but pronounced the same way.

Did you take note of the use of homophones in the expression: It's never too late to learn, dear?


Source: http://olabanjititles..com/2019/02/toluwalade-learns-to-pronounce-flour.html?m=1

The one who says a glass of water before him is half empty and the one who says the same glass of water is half-full is neither wrong nor right. A former colleague will usually say, we see differently. It is an eye-opener that can end all strifes.

That brings to mind an advert of popular beverage brand, Coca-Cola, in the Middle East, many years ago. They presented three pictures about their product before their Arab audience in the following order:

Picture One: Picture of an obviously sickly, dehydrated man.

Picture Two: Picture of the same man taking a bottle of chilled coke.

Picture Three: Picture of the same man now energized and full of life, as a result of the act in picture two.

However, the target Arab audience saw the pictures about the product presented before them differently. To the Arab audience, the pictures were seen in the following order:

Picture One is that of a man full of life and energy. (Picture Three above)

Picture Two is that of the same man in picture one taking a chilled bottle of coke. (Picture Two above)

Picture Three is that of the same man now sickly and almost collapsing, as a result of the act in picture two. (Picture One above)

It became an advert gone wrong, because of insensitivity to the reading and writing pattern of the target audience, the Arabs, who read from right to left. The implication was that the Arabs perceived the product, Coca-Cola Coke, as a beverage that is injurious for consumption.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/02/coca-cola-advert-gone-wrong.html?m=1

Mr. Jacobs, our English Language teacher, always looked forward to the first day at school. We did, too for so many reasons. He was always right on time to welcome everyone back to school. It was the beginning of a new term, so everybody appeared neat and tidy.

The day however turned out to be educative and memorable when Mr. Jacobs asked the entire class the meaning of the word 'teller'. We all knew the answer, particularly so because it was always a requirement to be admitted into school on the first day. So more than half of the class raised their hands. It was however Musa that Mr. Jacobs acknowledged to talk. Musa explained that it is an evidence of payment issued at the bank after a transaction. We were shocked when he said Musa wasn't correct and asked if anyone else would try. It was the class captain, Femi, that took a second attempt at the teaser. He said it is a form that is used for payment in the bank. When Mr. Jacobs said this answer was also wrong, the class was as silent as graveyard.

When nobody else would make an effort, Mr. Jacobs answered his teaser himself. According to him, a teller is a person whose job is to receive and pay out money in a bank. "A teller is somebody, not something!" he stated. Sensing our disbelief, he challenged us to check up the meaning of the word in the English dictionary. We did and we were dumbfounded and elated. We were dumbfounded because we and many others had always been wrong, but elated because we had learnt something new. The entire class clapped Mr. Jacobs, and thanked him for being a wonderful English Language teacher.


DISCUSSIONS

If you had been in Mr. Jacobs' class that first day in a new term and the question was thrown at you, what would have been your response? Perhaps the same as Musa's and Femi's.

Perhaps you want to check up the meaning of the word 'teller' in your dictionary, like Mr. Jacobs' students did. Why not!

You will also notice that in the last paragraph, there is an expression in red type boldface. It is to draw your attention to how the verb 'clap' (the past tense in this case) is to be used in a sentence.
Note carefully that the sentence did not read:

The entire class clapped for Mr. Jacobs.
(The reason is because the preposition 'for' is not be used after clap.)

You've got a doubt like Mr. Jacobs' students, why not get your dictionary and check up the verb 'clap'. I recommend Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, preferably 9th Edition.

Thank you for reading. This feature continues next week Monday. You will have a wonderful week ahead.

http://olabanjititles..com/2019/02/english-lessons-lesson-1.html?m=0