Miscellaneous Collocation

– Use of 'so' and 'that':
When 'so' is used in a sentence as an intensifier or degree adverb, not that a 'that' clause should follow e.g. The boy is so clever that he won all the prizes for his category. Avoid the use of 'so' if you do not use a 'that' clause.

– Use 'such' and 'that':
Just like 'so', when 'such' is used as an intensifier, it should be followed by a 'that' clause. The difference is that, an article 'a'/'an' should follow e.g. He is such a boy that everyone would love to see. Note that when an adjective and an article follow 'so', you should not use a 'that' clause e.g. it is wrong to say: He is so clever a boy that I would love to see him. It is better to just say: He is so clever a boy. If you must use a 'that' clause, then use 'such' instead of 'so' e.g. He is such a clever a boy that I would love to see him or He is such clever a boy that I would love to see him.

Two words that are also used as intensifier are 'too' and 'very'. However, note that when they are used, you must avoid the use of a 'that' clause e.g. it is wrong to say He is too/very clever that I would love to see him. Avoid the use of a 'that' clause with any of these intensifiers.

– Use of 'with a view to' and 'ing-verb':
When 'with a view to' is used in a sentence, note that the verb that should follow should be in a progressive (continuous) form e.g. I came here with a view to seeing the clever boy (not with a view to see).

– Use of 'look forward to' and 'ing-verb':
When 'look forward to' is used, the verb that should also follow should be in a progressive (continuous) form e.g. I look forward to seeing you next week (not look forward to see). We all look forward to enjoying ourselves at the party.

– Use of 'no sooner' and 'than':
When 'no sooner' is used in a clause, it should be followed by 'than' e.g. No sooner had I entered the house than the rain started.

– Use of 'scarcely'/'hardly' and 'when':
When 'scarcely' and 'hardly' are used in a clause, they should be followed by 'when' e.g. Scarcely had the semester started when the school was shut down. Hardly had I begun to speak when the bell rang. The concert had hardly started when the lights went off.

– Use of 'no choice' and 'but':
Note that when the phrase 'no choice' is used, you should not follow it with a clause beginning with 'than', but follow it with a clause that begins with 'but' e.g. The students have no choice but to pass. (Not than to pass).

In the next article we are going to write about Disjunctive (Question Tag).

Collocations in English

Collocation is a regular pattern in which words are formed. It is also described as the company that words keep.

Prepositional Collocations
Prepositional collocation involves the use of verbs with prepositions. It should be noted that certain verbs choose certain prepositions. This implies that the use of verbs with prepositions is not random.

1. Buckle down (not buckle up) meaning to concentrate on one's work.
2. Leave for (not leave to)
3. Link with (not link to)
4. Alongside (not alongside with)
5. Comprise (not comprise of)
6. Demand (not demand for)
7. Solicit (not solicit for)
8. Advocate (not advocate for)
9. Request (not request for)

Note that the verbs demand, solicit, advocate and request will only take the preposition 'for' if the speaker carries out the action on behalf of of somebody else. For instance: In the law court a lawyer can solicit or advocate for a client e.g. I, Barr Okon, am here to solicit for John. But when the speaker wants something for themselves, the preposition 'for' cannot be used. For instance: The protesters hit the streets to solicit their rights and request their salaries. They will also take "for" when used as nouns e.g. My demand for justice is firm; The request for our salary isn't a crime. Note that 'of' is used with 'comprise' when used in passive form and that case, it is used in the past form with the auxiliary verb 'to-be' (is, was, are, were, am, been and being) in front of it as in: 'be comprised of' e.g. The committee is comprised of eminent members of staff. When 'comprise' is used in an active form, it does not take 'of' e.g. The committee comprises eminent members of staff. (Not comprises of...)

10. Attached to (not attached with)
11. Interested in (not interest on)
12. In one's interest (not for one's interest)
13. Connect with (not connect to)
14. Believe in (not believe on)
15. Accordance with (not accordance to)
16. Congratulate on (not congratulate for)
17. In the meantime (not for the main time)
18. In black/white suit (not on black/white suit)
19. On campus (not in campus)
20. On bus (not in bus)
21. Round up ("round up" is usually misused to mean to end what one is doing. This is wrong! "round up" means to arrest while "round off" means to end what one is doing)
22. Agree with (somebody)
23. Agree to (something)
24. Angry with (somebody) (not angry at)
25. Result in (effect of something) e.g. the fuel subsidy removal resulted in a week-long strike.
26. Result from (the cause of something) e.g. the one week strike resulted from the removal of fuel subsidy.
27. In the long run (not on the long run)
28. Prefer to (not prefer than). E.g. it is wrong to say: I prefer rice than beans but you say I prefer rice to beans.
29. Share between/among: We use between when it is just two people that are involved e.g. Share the money between Jane and Juliet. On the other hand, we use among when more than two people are involved. E.g. Share the money among Jane, June and Juliet.
30. Deal in (trade) e.g. My mother deals in textile.
31. Deal on (treat or discuss an issue)
32. Travel abroad (not travel to abroad)
Note: It is wrong to put "to" when the name of the place is not mentioned. 'Abroad' is not a name of a country therefore it is wrong to say "travel to abroad" instead you say "travel abroad".
33. Eject (nor eject out): It is tautological to add " out" to eject.
34. Die of (a disease or sickness)
35. Die for (a cause, a belief or a struggle).

In the next article we are going to write about Miscellaneous Collocation.

Articles 'The' 'A' and 'An'

Articles are pre-modifiers normally used before noun. We have two types of articles: the definite article and the indefinite article.

Definite Articles (The)

A definite article is used with specific names of people, animals, places or things. It is used with nouns that we are familiar with. That is, the noun should be what we were talking about previously. For example:

• I saw a boy yesterday; the boy gave me some money.

It is called the definite article because it is used specifically.

Observe this dialogue!

First speaker: The boy came here

Second speaker: Oh! You mean John?

First speaker: Yes!

In the dialogue above, you will observe that 'John' being the subject matter, is not new in the conversation.

Article 'The' is used in the following areas:

- With Names of Countries

Examples:

i. The Federal Republic of Nigeria

ii. The United State in America

iii. The People's Republic of China

- With Geographical Location

Examples:

i. The Pacific Ocean

ii. The River Niger

iii. The Red Sea

iv. The Sahara desert

v. The Atlantic Ocean

- With Family Names

Examples:

i. The Ayanwoles

ii. The Babalolas

iii. The Dangotes

Note: When article 'the' is used with family names, 's' is added to that family name as seen in the examples above.

- With Names of Popular Figures

Examples:

i. The Soyinka of Nigeria

ii. The Miss Sanda of the United Africa Organization

Note: Article 'the' is used with names of popular figures when we want to differentiate between them and other people bearing the same name as seen in the examples below.

i. I saw Mr Buhari, not the Buhari of Nigeria.

ii. I saw Mr Oyetola, not the Oyetola of Osun State.

- With names of Associations, Clubs and Unions

Examples:

i. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta

ii. The Ife Descendants Association

iii. The Lions Club

- With Designations/Titles

Examples:

i. The Inspector General of Police

ii. The Chairman of NURTW

- With Musical Instruments

Examples:

i. He is good with the piano

ii. She enjoys playing the saxophone

But not that article 'the' will not be used with modern musical instruments. For instance, you do not say:

He enjoys the jazz music

She plays the bass in our band

But:

He enjoys jazz music

She plays bass in our band

The Indefinite Articles

There are two indefinite articles: Articles 'a' and 'an'. The indefinite articles are used with nouns requiring unspecific information. That is, they are not specific. They are used when we are not referring to any particular person or things. For example:

i. A man came here.

ii. An orange was stolen.

The difference between article 'a' and article 'an' is that, article 'a' is used with nouns that begins with a consonant (sound) while article 'an' is used with nouns that begins with a vowel (sound).

For example:

An orange, an egg

A car, a table

Note: Articles 'a' and 'an' are used only with singular countable nouns.

Examples:

1. She came from a good and an honest family.

2. The boy is a European.

3. We spend an hour to this time.

4. John is quiet an honest man.

5. The man is planning to build a house.

6. The chairman slept over in a hotel.

7. We went to Oyo state to experience a historical event.

8. What I see is merely a utopia.

9. I saw the king riding on a horse yesterday.

Moving on to the next article: Subjunctive (Real and Unreal Future)