GRAMMAR FOR A GREAT LINGUIST

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

GRAMMAR FOR A GREAT LINGUIST!

I celebrate a renowned linguist and ~a former president~ of Linguistic Association of Nigeria on his birthday (nonstandard).
I celebrate a renowned linguist and former president of Linguistic Association of Nigeria on his birthday (standard). Note that when two nouns refer to an individual, the second of the two nouns should not be preceded by an article.

He ~was a former~ Dean of Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University (nonstandard).
He is a former Dean of Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University (standard). In describing a living person, the use of a past tense verb and the adjective former is inappropriate.

Professor Harrison Adeniyi is a linguist and administrator ~per~ excellence (nonstandard).
Professor Harrison Adeniyi is a linguist and administrator par excellence (standard).

~Congratulation~ on your birthday, dear Prof (nonstandard).
Congratulations on your birthday, dear Prof (standard).
GAB