WRONG EXPRESSIONS: 1. The girl is having a headache. 2. It’s time we go to school. 3. Jumai would come for the party if she is invited. CORRECT EXPRESSIONS: 1. The girl has a headache. 2. It’s time we went to school. 3. Jumai will come for the party if she is invited. EXPLANATIONS: 1. It is wrong to use the present continuous form of HAVE especially with PAIN, ACHE or ILLNESS. It is the simple form of the verb that is acceptable. It is even wrong to use HAVING to show possession or ownership. Hence, do not say I AM HAVING N1,000. This sentence is better rendered as I HAVE N1,000. 2. Time is usually expressed in the past. This is because TIME is not static. It moves along with ACTION. The time you begin an action will be different from the time the action will be completed. 3. This sentence presents a likely condition. That is, if JUMAI IS INVITED, SHE WILL COME. In this kind of sentence where an if- clause contains a present simple tense (is), the other part must have a future simple tense (will). It is wrong to use the past simple tense (would) which may present an unlikely condition.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:16:04 +0000
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