By Olayiwola Ridwan
Aminu meets Salamatu again on her way back to the hostel after lectures.
Aminu: Assalamu ‘Alaykum, Hajia Salamatu (says Aminu in his loud voice)
Salamatu : Looks around for the caller.
Aminu: (Quickly appears before her) It is me, Aminu Bala Tanimu. Hope you can still remember me.
Salamatu: Not really. I do find it difficult to remember people I have not known for a long time.
Aminu: Oh! It’s fine. This is actually the second time of our meeting. I was the one who had a brief introductory interaction with you around the walkway some days ago.
Salamatu: Oh! Aminu?! Yes! Yes! Yes! I can remember you now.
Aminu: I’m happy to hear that. I just noticed that you just finished your lectures. Where are you heading to?
Salamatu: I’m heading to the hostel.
Aminu: That’s cool. CAN I KEEP YOUR COMPANY for today?
Salamatu: (wondering why the question) KEEP MY COMPANY? I’m sorry, I don’t run a company yet.
Aminu: I didn’t mean to look after your establishment. I meant, “to spend some hours with you.”
Salamatu: Oh! Now, I understand you. You want to keep ME company?
Aminu: Absolutely! I would like to keep YOUR company.
Salamatu: I’m really impressed about the improvement in your communication skill. You must have followed my instruction given the other day.
Aminu: Certainly! I now follow The News Digest Press to get updates from MIND YOUR GRAMMAR COLUMN with Olayiwola Ridwan Adetunji.
Salamatu: No wonder. That notwithstanding, I would like to draw your attention to a common error you just committed. Don’t see me as being self-assertive. I’m just trying to be generous with the little I know too.
Aminu: Your ideas and your manners are quite impressive to me. In fact, I’m happy I met someone like you. You keep me growing. You are not just a woman. You are exceptional at that.
Salamatu: Thanks for the compliment. The common error is the expression KEEP YOUR/MY/HIS COMPANY. Such an expression is unknown to the native speakers. What is known is; KEEP YOU/ME/HIM COMPANY. So, the standard way to ask such a question is: CAN I KEEP YOU COMPANY? (not YOUR COMPANY). CAN I KEEP HIM COMPANY? (not HIS COMPANY). CAN YOU KEEP ME COMPANY? (not MY COMPANY).
Aminu: This is absolutely amazing! This is quite new to me. I really appreciate the enlightenment. If I may ask, how did you get to know about all these uncommon English usages?
Salamatu: I used to follow MIND YOUR GRAMMAR COLUMN with Olayiwola Ridwan Adetunji before he stopped sometime ago. I have not been following the column lately though.
Aminu: (sees her last response as an opportunity to outsmart her). That’s amazing. Can I keep YOU company now?
Salamatu: For today, you can’t keep ME company. I’m occupied already. Some other time perhaps.
Aminu: All right, Hajia. Thanks for the courtesy.
Salamatu: Don’t mention it.
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