Pass WAEC/NECO English And Other Exams Using Correct Sentences

There are several errors in our daily written and spoken English Language. These  errors are sometimes overlooked or accepted under normal or literally spoken language. But talking English proper, otherwise known as “Queens English”, there are lots of grammatical errors inherent in them.
This is one of the reasons why many candidates fail their English Language in WAEC/NECO, JAMB, UTME and other relevant examinations and attribute it to victimization. No reasonable human being takes delight in failing others especially when you have done the correct thing.
English Language is very wide and you need to read omnivorously, hungrily to be able to know certain grammatical structures that before now, were considered correct but in actual fact, not correct.
Below are some of the common mistakes or errors in our daily spoken English and written examinations which affect lexis and structures, comprehension, summary, good essay and letter writing.
1. Don’t say Could you please borrow me your pen? Say Could you please lend me your pen?
2. Don’t say my brother will leave to Benin tomorrow. Say my brother will for Benin tomorrow.
3. Don’t say I can be able to do the work. Say I can do the work or I am able to do the work.
4. Don’t say please off the light. Say please switch off the light.
5. Don’t say he eat rice everyday. Say he eats rice every day.
6. Don’t say should in case it rains, I will not attend the meeting. Say should it rains, I will not attend the meeting.
7. Don’t say a five-year old girl emerged first in the competition. Say a five-year old girl emerged first in the competition.
8. Don’t say I going to the Saloon to barb my hair. Say I am going to the salon to have my hair cut.
9. Don’t say from henceforth, I will not allow you. Say henceforth, I will not allow you.
10. Don’t say my body is scratching me. Say my body itches me. So based on that, I scratching it.
11. Don’t say one of my brother has it. Say one of my brothers has it.
12. Don’t say the headquarter of the church is in Abuja. Say the headquarters of the church is in Abuja.
13. Don’t say I and John attended the wedding. Say John and I attended the wedding.
14. Don’t say we both had toast bread for breakfast. Say we both had toast fro breakfast.
15. Don’t say my junior brother lives in Lagos. Say my younger brother lives in Lagos.
16. Don’t say my senior brother gave me the money. Similarly, say my elder brother gave me the money.
17. Don’t say I am suppose to do the work for him. Say I am supposed to do the work for him.
18. Don’t say he was indeed very tired, so therefore he could not do the work again. Say he was indeed very tired and could not do the work again. Please don’t use so and therefore together, is tautology.
19. Don’t say the meeting will hold on Monday. Say the meeting will be held on Monday or the meeting will take place on Monday. (this is very important as events don’t hold by themselves; it’s people who hold events).
20. Don’t say no sooner he entered the hall when the news was announced. Say no sooner he entered the hall than the news was announced.
21. Don’t say according to the Principal, he said students should stop coming to school late. Say according to the Principal, students should stop coming to school late.
22. Don’t say the crowed were much, say the crowed was much. The crowed is an entity which must take a singular verb.
23. Don’t say the family have come, say the family has come. Or alternatively, the two families have come. Both usage or the two sentences must take a singular and plural verbs respectively.
24. Don’t say we are doing this on your interest. Say we are doing this in your interest.
25. Don’t say we have finished it. Say we are done or we are through.
26. Don’t say have patients. Say have patience.
27. Don’t say you have dirtified my shirt. Say you have dirty my shirt.
28. Don’t say it was a slip of the tongue. Say it was a slip of the lip.
29. Don’t say my father sold his car sometimes last year. Say my father sold his car sometime last year.
30. Don’t say the young man lives in the boys’ quarter. Say the young man lives in the boys’ quarters.
31. Don’t say he lives in a two-bedroom flat. Say he lives in a two-bedroomed flat.
32. Don’t say she will see the result on the long run. Say she will set the result in the long run.
33. Don’t say where are you going to? Simply Say where are you going?
34. Don’t say the meeting were rowdy. Say the meeting was rowdy.
35. Don’t say one of the members were arrested. Say one of the members was arrested.
36. Don’t say he is one of the richest man in town. Say he is one of the richest men in town.
37. Don’t say is between you and I. Say is between you and me.
38. Don’t say the Vice Chancellor’s office is out of bound to students. Say the Vice Chancellor’s office is out of bounds to students.
39. Don’t say I will try my possible best. Say I will try my best or I will do my utmost or put in my best.
40. Don’t say is a high time I leave or is a high time you stop this nonsense. Say is a high time I left or is a high time you stopped this nonsense. Is a high time the problem is solved. It must be said in the past tense.
41. Don’t say I believe on you. Say I believe in you.
42. Don’t say directors generals. Say directors general.
43. Don’t say conclusively, say in conclusion or finally.
44. Don’t say I saw the young man last three days ago. Say I saw the young man three days ago.
45. Don’t say two plus two is equals to four. Say two plus two equals four or two plus two is equal to four.
46. Don’t say we shall travel next tomorrow. Say we shall travel the day after tomorrow.
47. Don’t say nowadays, I use to wake up early. Say nowadays, I wake up early.
48. Don’t say a 3 days programme were held. Say a 3 day programme was held.
49. Don’t say a 5 men committee were set up. Say a 5 man committee was set up.
50. Don’t say all but one were affected. Say all but one was affected.
In conclusion, I want say that some of the above highlighted words may sound funny to you out there, but the above correct sentences are very important not only in writing good essay or letter writing, but are very helpful in your Lexis and structures, comprehension, summary in English Language in WAEC/NECO, JAMB, UTME and other relevant examinations. We strongly hope these corrections are noted henceforth. Good luck.