Daily Grammar – Week 15

DAILY GRAMMAR (DG) 10-06-2018

1a. May I have your complimentary card? (No)

May I have your business card? (Yes)

May I have your contact card? (Yes)

1b. The young lady was disvirgined by her shameless uncle. (No)

The young lady was deflowered by her shameless uncle. (Yes)

(A “complimentary card” is a card that is free, which does not describe the meaning intended by many Nigerians, from the point of view of Standard British English. A business or contact card, however, provides information about a person’s business or address. Also, “disvirgin” is a Nigerian coinage that won’t be found in most standard dictionaries; to “deflower” is to deprive a female person of her virginity.)

2a. Some people think that hate speech should be banned outrightly. (No)

Some people think that hate speech should be banned outright. (Yes – adverb)

He is fond of telling outright lies about Buhari. (Yes – adjective)

2b. If your friend is not careful, hot drinks will ruin his life. (No)

If your friend is not careful, hard drinks will ruin his life. (Yes)

If your friend is not careful, strong drinks will ruin his life. (Yes)

(“Outright” is both an adjective, meaning “open and direct”, and an adverb, meaning “wholly or completely”. It does not require “ly” as an adverb. Besides, “hot drinks” are drinks served hot like coffee and tea. “Hard” or “strong drinks” are alcholic or contain intoxicants. “Hard drink” obviously is the opposite of “soft drink”.)

3a. He needs a plate number for his new vehicle. (No)

He needs a number plate for his new vehicle (Yes)

3b. In Yoruba folklore, the tortoise is a cunny animal. (No)

In Yoruba folklore, the tortoise is a cunning animal. (Yes)

(A “number plate” is a sign affixed to the front and rear of a vehicle displaying its registration number; a “plate number” is the margin of a plate from which postage stamps are printed. Then, “cunny” is a vulgar slang that is better left alone here while “cunning” means to be sly, clever or crafty.)

Did You Know?

The word “computer” has been used to refer to a person since 1632, to a machine since 1869 and to an electronic device since 1946.