The Sunday News
Charles Dube
MANY times we make grammatical mistakes because some words confuse us. The words have slight differences in meaning which we are unaware of or we take for granted.
By the end of this article students would have eliminated mistakes which spoil their written work leading to low marks. There is great need for students to construct grammatically correct sentences.
With technological advancement students tend to be influenced by Whatsapp language for example which is incorrect. Words which come to mind and commonly confuse students are like the following: although, though, even though, In spite of, and despite.
Study this example situation: The Grade Zero class spent the whole morning outside. It was quite chilly but they enjoyed themselves. Although it was quite chilly, the Grade Zero class spent the whole morning outside. After although we use a subject + verb. Although he was unwell, he managed to write the examination. She did not pass the examination although she spent most of the time studying. Although it was chilly, they enjoyed their holiday.
After in spite of (or despite) we use a noun, a pronoun (this/that/what etc) or –ing. In spite of the unfriendly weather, we enjoyed our game. He did not get the job despite his outstanding qualifications.
He was unwell, but in spite of this he went to town. Despite what happened last time, I still respect you. I am not tired in spite of driving the whole night.
Note that we say, “in spite of”, but despite (without of). You can also say in spite of/ despite the fact (that). In spite of the fact that he tried to make amends, he was still fired. She is still in the house despite the fact that she is late for the examinations.
Sometimes we use though instead of although.
She did not pass the examination though she spent the whole day studying. In spoken English though is often used at the end of a sentence: The meal was wasn’t nice, I liked the dessert though. Even though is a stronger form of although. Even though I had driven the whole night I was not tired. At/on/in (time). We use at with times: at 3’oclock, at 10.am, at lunch time, at midnight. The train departed at three o’clock.
We also use at in the following expressions: at night – She left at night. At the weekend – He visits her at weekends. Easter – He goes on holiday at Easter. At the moment/ at present. The manager is busy at the moment/ at present. At the same time – The two examinations started at the same time. At the age of – He started driving at the age of 16 or he started driving at 16.
On. We use on with dates and days – on 10 July, on Friday(s), on Christmas Day (but ‘at Christmas). We also say: on Friday morning(s), on Monday evenings.
We use in for longer periods of time (for example: months/years/seasons. In (the) winter, in 1990s. They got married in 2009. We also say: in the morning(s)/ in the afternoons/ in the evenings. I will see you in the morning. In + a period of time = a time in the future. The match will be ending in a few minutes. (= a few minutes from now) The teacher has gone away. He will be back in a week. (= a week from now.
For, during and while. We use for + a period of time to say how long something goes: for two years, for three years, for a week. I have worked for this company for six years. We played football for two hours last week. She will be away for a week. We use during + noun to say when something happens (not how long). During the musical show/ during our holiday/ during the night. I fell asleep during the show and heard nothing. The ground is wet. It must have rained during the night.
We use while + subject + verb – I fell asleep while I was watching television. By (+ a time) = not later than). You should have received the parcel by Thursday. (= He/she will receive the parcel on or before Thursday, on Thursday at the latest). We use until (or till) to say how long a situation continues: Wait until he comes maybe he can assist you.
In/at/on. Study the following examples: in a room/in a building/in a garden/ in a town, in a farm. In the water, in a pool, in a row, in a queue, in a line. Sentence examples: We found a crowd in the room. There was nothing in the shop. Nobody wants to live in the mountains nowadays. She found her missing pen in her bag. Feeling hot the boys swam in the pool. Have you read this article in the article. I met Jane in the street. Who is the man in that photograph? (not ‘on that photograph’).
Practice in the use of cited examples in this article leads to better performance in sentence construction. Well-constructed sentences result in the appealing quality of style.
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