DAILY GRAMMAR (DG) 26-03-2018
1. A student robbed my mobile phone in the lecture room yesterday. (No)
A student robbed me of my mobile phone in the lecture room yesterday. (Yes)
(A person robs you OF something or he steals something FROM you. Besides, a person can just steal. For example, “I know the person who steals our pens at prayer time”; “a student stole my mobile phone in the lecture room yesterday.”)
2. I know what he said was outrightly wrong but I didn’t want to argue with him. (No)
I know what he said was outright wrong but I didn’t want to argue with him. (Yes)
(“Outright” means “wholly” or “completely” as used in the example above. It also means “at once” or “immediately”. For example, “he was hit by a truck and he died outright”. Please, there is no “outrightly” in the English language.)
3. He is serious about his relationship with your daughter. (No)
He is serious with his relationship with your daughter. (Yes)
(You are “serious” (meaning “deeply interested”) ABOUT a person. For example, “Kemi, trust me; I am serious about you.” However, you are serious WITH an important thing or phenomenon. For example, “it is high time you were serious with your studies.”)
Did You Know?
A word or expression spelled same way both forward and backwards is called a “palindrome”. Examples are words like “racecar”, “level”, “deified”, “madam, I am Adam”.
Can you think of more palindromic words and expressions?