Author: EnglishNaija

Clap him or clap for him: all the explanation you need

EnglishNaija

Do you say ‘clap for him’ or ‘clap him’? Which of them is correct? We will look at how and where different speakers (all of which speak English as a primary language) use the above expressions with a new insight for everyone, no matter which style they use. Every discourse I came across on this subject tends to be from a particular point of view (of a particular set of speakers), but we will pull them all together here. All facts are verifiable and credible. ‘Clap’ is both a noun…

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Free Ebook Download: questions, answers, explanations…

EnglishNaija

You’ve seen and studied questions/answers books, but would you love to see one with a simplified explanation of each answer? That’s what this ebook is all about. Whether you’re studying for an examination or just need lessons in modern English, this is for you. You would love it—rest assured. May you find the knowledge you seek. Download.  

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Who exactly is a ‘vulcanizer’?

EnglishNaija

In Nigeria, ‘vulcanizers’ do general maintenance work on vehicle tyres. They patch up punctured tyres, maintain pressure, attach tyres to wheels, etc.   In British and American English, does ‘vulcanizer’ have the same meaning? Here is the answer: Vulcanization is a chemical process of heating natural rubber with sulphur in order to make it tougher or stronger. By extension, a vulcanizer could mean someone who vulcanizes rubber, the equipment used for this process, or a substance added to rubber during this process.  In America, people who are called vulcanizers in Nigeria…

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The comma rules you should know

EnglishNaija

On the one hand, the comma is apparently the most popular punctuation mark in English; on the other hand, it is often misused. These are the uses of the comma you should know: v To separates items. Examples: 1. He bought shirts, jackets, trousers, socks, and shoes.2. The names on the list were: Olusola Adeboye, Leon James, Uchechi Anazodo, Usman Rabiu, Polinosky Sanzer and Kim Kardashian. See explanation on comma before ‘and’.    v Used in larger units to separate phrases, clauses and sentences. Examples: 1.     The boy, according to the report, was about…

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Why you shouldn’t say ‘My names are…’

EnglishNaija

People who say ‘My names are…’ think they know simple grammar than most of us because when two to three names are mentioned, they assume that’s a plural noun phrase. For the ones who would listen, let’s tell them this: a full name is a singular nominal concept because it refers to one individual and represents a single human. Whether you have one or ten first names before your surname, they refer to YOU and they all combine to form your identity. Examples: My name is Tailor Swift. My name is…

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