By Olayiwola Ridwan
Aminu meets Salamatu along the walkway.
Aminu: Assalamu ‘Alaykum, Hajia.
Salamatu: Wa’alaykumus Salaam.
Aminu: My names are Aminu Bala Tanimu.
Salamatu: Pardon?
Aminu: I mean, I’m Aminu Bala Tanimu by name. Would you mind telling me your name too?
Salamatu: Oh! My name is Salamatu Jimba.
Aminu: Nice meeting.
Salamatu: I reserve the greatest pleasure.
Aminu: ehm ehm….
Salamatu: How may I help you?
Aminu: Did my name sound odd to you when I first introduced myself ?
Salamatu: Not really. I just couldn’t understand you.
Aminu: Truly? What went wrong?
Salamatu: What really sounded odd to me was your style of introduction, not your name in particular. You said, *”MY NAMES ARE.”* I am unfamiliar with such a style of introduction.
Aminu: Gosh! Does that sound incorrect? Could you put me through?
Salamatu: Absolutely! It does. Well, I wouldn’t mind putting you through. By the way, are you a student on this campus? Haven’t you heard of MIND YOUR GRAMMAR? A column with Olayiwola Ridwan Adetunji, a 300-level Law student and Secretary General of The News Digest Press?
Aminu: Answers in the negative.
Salamatu: I would advise you to follow The News Digest Press for adequate grammar knowledge. All the same, the proper way to introduce yourself is to say; MY NAME IS…, since you are introducing yourself alone. So, you should consider your name as a singular and use a singular verb as against the plural verb “are.” *No matter how long your name may be, it’s still considered as one*. I hope this helps. Once again, endeavor to do as I instructed you earlier. Follow The News Digest to get more information about grammar.
Aminu: Omo! This girl is brilliant o! (Soliloquizes Aminu). I don meet bone wey strong pass my teeth (Feeling a little bit disappointed). Thanks for your time. Nice meeting once you again.
Salamatu: It is my pleasure.
The duo depart. Aminu finds the means to follow MIND YOUR GRAMMAR COLUMN with The News Digest, so that he can always come back adequately fortified.
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