Prepositions in Nonstandard Nigerian English

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)

Informal uses of prepositions in Nigerian English

Prepositions pose a great deal of problem to English language users. Some examples of nonstandard usages in Nigerian English are given below:

Where to (Nonstandard)?
Where are you going (to) (Standard)?

What of if I did not come (Nonstandard)?
What if I did not come (Standard)?

She is leaving Lagos to London this evening (Nonstandard).
She is leaving Lagos for London this evening (Standard).

Round up. Time’s up (Nonstandard).
Round off. Time’s up (Standard).
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
Academic Advisor, Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan;
&
Doctoral Student of English, University of Ibadan.

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