English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
New Month Grammar
As we ~bow down~ before You this new month, grant our desires, Oh Lord (nonstandard).
As we bow before You this new month, grant our desires, Oh Lord (standard).
May the Lord grant all that we are ~requesting for~ this month (nonstandard).
May the Lord grant all that we are requesting this month (standard).
Remember, as you lay your bed, so you lie on it (Nigerian English).
Remember, you’ve made your bed, you must lie in it (Global English).
While the Nigerian variant is often used to encourage people, If you say that someone has made their bed and must lie in it, you mean that since they have chosen to do a particular thing, they must now accept the unpleasant results of their action. However, note that in standard English, you make bed (not, lay bed).
GAB
1 Comment
Dr.,
Thank you for this piece.
I would like to know what is wrong with ‘bow down’?
1. “He bowed down before the king and begged for mercy.” (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 4th ed.).
2. “The people all bowed down before the Emperor.” (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, New 9th ed.).