Basis, Bases, Perpetrate, Perpetuate

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Sample 1: “He insisted the former Anambra State Governor would never emerge Nigeria’s president having based his campaigns on those basis.” (Tinubu’s aide, Alake, attacks Chimamanda over letter to US president, Opera News, 8th April, 2023)

I draw readers’ attention to the phrase: those basis. It should be obvious that the modifier (those) is in its plural form, the singular form being that. The anomaly here is found in the fact that a plural demonstrative pronoun (those) modifies a singular noun (basis). That is a major concord problem. It would seem that the writer, like many Nigerian users of English, does not realise that that form (basis) is singular. It is singular and its plural form is: bases.We have made the point emphatically in an earlier discussion that there should be an indefinite article (a) before the word daily as another modifier of the noun basis. As a singular countable noun, the word basis requires that article.

Now read the following sentences:

1) The meeting holds on a regular basis.

2) The allowances are paid on a monthly basis.

3) The training sessions are held on an annual basis.

4) Workers are employed on a part-time basis.

5) Contrary to your view, there is a basis for rejecting the application.

6) Meetings are held on a monthly basis.

7) Children and adults should wash their teeth on a daily basis.

8) The police patrol the area on a weekly basis.

9) Methods and approaches are changed on a yearly basis.

10) Budgets are prepared and presented on an annual basis.

11) Guards are changed on a regular basis.

Note that in each of those sentences, the word basis is in its singular form. It is important to note the spelling. Note, in addition, that the word is modified by a/an. This modifier is obligatory.

Now compare those sentences with the following:

1) I have two bases for objecting to that proposal.

2) The philosophical bases for the argument are quite sound.

3) On both theological and moral bases, the idea is repugnant.

4) The chairman insisted that people must provide rational bases for their suggestions.

5) I am trying to examine the bases for the various arguments presented.

It is as ungrammatical to use the singular form (basis) without the indefinite article a pre-modifying it as it is to allow that word (a) to pre-modify the plural form (bases). You shouldn’t say: “She visits us on regular basis.” Rather say: “She visits us on a regular basis.” Do not say: “There are a sound bases for their arguments.” Rather say: “There are sound bases for their arguments.”

Now read the following sentences:

1a) The proposal was rejected on that basis.

1b) The proposal was rejected on those bases.

2a) Thatis the basis for the decision.

2b) Those are the bases for the decision.

3a) There is no basis for ejecting the tenant.

3b) There are no bases for ejecting the tenant.

4a) The properties were shared purely on the basis of law.

4b) The properties were shared on the bases of law, culture and compassion.

5a) That is the basis for faulting the argument.

5b) Those are the bases for faulting the argument.

At any rate, we should have either that basis or those bases.

Sample 2: “Comrade Modupeola…has distanced herself from it and expressed her strong reservations against some cash-activists using her name to perpetuate the monumental fraud.” (Labour, people are angry with Adeleke in Osun, Opera News, 8th April, 2023)

Let’s examine the import of the word perpetuate which occurs in the following context: “using her name to perpetuate the monumental fraud.”

The context makes it clear that the word perpetuate has been used as a near synonym of the word commit as used in the expression “to commit a violent crime”.

It should become obvious that the word perpetuate has been used in confusion with perpetrate. The confusion of identity stems partly from inaccurate pronunciation and partly from spelling liability on the part of the reporter. This kind of problem will continue to arise for as long as writers do not take up the challenge of getting thoroughly familiar with the “tools” of their trade – the words of the language. Crimes and other forms of misdeeds are said to be perpetrated. To perpetuate something, on the other hand, is to cause such a thing to continue.

Let’s illustrate their respective usage. First perpetrate:

(1) Since the crime was perpetrated long before the law came into force, the offender cannot be successfully prosecuted now.

(2) Poverty cannot be an excuse or justification for perpetrating crime.

(3) Those who perpetrated the violent crime will be brought to justice speedily.

(4) The human rights abuses perpetrated during the military era are still being collated.

(5) The surprising thing is that the crime was perpetrated under the nose of the police.

(6) Any crime perpetrated henceforth shall receive instant judgement.

7) Several murders have been perpetrated in the neighbourhood in recent times.

8) All over the world, great evils are perpetrated by the police in the name of keeping law and order.

9) The thugs on the payroll of politicians perpetrate more heinous crimes than [do] the much touted criminals being pursued by the police.

10) The nation has been subjected to far more danger by the crimes perpetrated by political and technocratic elites than those perpetrated by violent criminals.

11) Various forms of injustice are perpetrated by the police through taking of bribes and excessive use of force.

Now perpetuate:

(1) The interesting thing about genes is that they are perpetuated for as long as new generations are brought into being.

(2) Folk tales are the chief means through which values are perpetuated in traditional societies.

(3) Church doctrines and practices are perpetuated through regular Bible teaching.

(4) Chief executives usually seek to perpetuate their influence in office by replacing themselves with their lackeys.

(5) Instead of perpetuating them, we should do everything we can to eliminate these pernicious habits.

(6) By refusing to punish those misdeeds, we are not only condoning poor work habits, we are actually collaborating to perpetuate them, encouraging people to continue to indulge in them.

7) Experienced teachers should exercise leadership by not allowing inexperienced teachers to perpetuate incorrect information.

8) Education is the chief means through which values of previous generations are perpetuated. 9) Journalists have a great role to play in perpetuating the society’s positive values.

At any rate, the word perpetrate should replace perpetuate in the context under examination.

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