Phenomenon of crises

SAMPLE 1: “It is sad that today the crises has taken a new dimension since the introduction of grazing law in some states…Major General Victor Okwudili Ezuggwu identified the herdsmen conflict as a global phenomena that mostly affects the Africa sub-region…”(Political Solution not Anti-grazing Laws will End Killer Herdsmen Attacks, The Sun, 12 August, 2018)

Readers should please note the relationship between the word crises and the singular form has. It is important to note that the word crises is in its plural form and the verb has in its singular form.

The singular form is crisis. Other words whose forms are similar to those of crisis (singular) and crises (plural) are: thesis (singular) and theses (plural); synthesis (singular) and syntheses (plural); hypothesis (singular) and hypotheses (plural).

ALSO READ: Exciting sex positions for couples’ enjoyment (1)

The following sentences illustrate the usage of the singular form, crisis: 1) The crisis is threatening to tear the institution apart. 2) The crisis was responsible for the destruction of the values and structures for which the company was reputed. 3) The crisis is obviously assuming an ugly dimension. 4) The crisis was blamed on clashes of personalities. 5) The two factions kept insisting there was no crisis. 6) Fortunately, the crisis is in the process of being resolved. 7) The crisis has been resolved. 8) A crisis of this nature has never been experienced in this institution. 9) We should not be deceived into believing that the crisis has been resolved. 10) The crisis has helped in revealing the weak points in the system.

The following sentences illustrate the usage of the plural form, crises: 1) Political and social crises are tearing African nations apart. 2) The crises are such that can be easily resolved when people would agree to have a dialogue. 3) Internal crises are weakening our social institutions. 4) Many of the social crises that plague the lives of our youths are traceable to drug abuse. 5) The first and second republics were ruined by political crises that were motivated by selfishness and narrow-mindedness. 6) Crises are often good for the health of human relationships. 7) The crises have resulted in the resignation of many top members of staff. 8) The crises have prevented the organization from making remarkable progress. 9) The crises have polarized the union. 10) The crises have created camps among workers, making the environment unprecedentedly dangerous.

Next, we illustrate the usage of thesis (singular) and theses (plural). Thesis: 1) A thesis is a strong statement offering information on the focus of the research effort. 2) The thesis, though simple, is amply illustrated. 3) My thesis in this essay is that women are oppressed and discriminated against in many African societies. 4) Your thesis is not clearly stated, giving the impression that you have no clear idea of what you are saying. 5) The thesis is to be restated at every critical point in the development of the essay. 6) If your thesis is trite, you are not likely to come up with anything revolutionary.

Now we illustrate the usage of the plural form, theses: 1) The theses are to be submitted latest by Friday next week. 2) The confusion resides in the fact that two theses are stated in the introductory chapter. 3) All the badly written theses are to be returned to their authors. 4) The theses are rather speculative. 5) The five most brilliant theses are being stored electronically. 6) These theses are representative of all others.

At any rate, the sample should read either: “the crisis has taken a new dimension” or: “the crises have taken a new dimension.”

There is a similar grammatical problem in the phrase, “a global phenomena”, a phrase that occurs in the structure: “Major General Victor Okwudili Ezugwu identified the herdsmen conflict as a global phenomena.” Please note that the article (a) coming immediately before the adjective global which in turn modifies the noun phenomena is synonymous with the word one. Equally important is the fact that the word phenomena is in its plural form. The singular form is phenomenon. Similar to saying “a phenomena” is saying “a houses” or “a books” or “a boys”.

Please read the following sentences: 1) Food scarcity is a phenomenon that should not be allowed to persist in a modern nation. 2) Fear is a phenomenon that can become a psychiatric case if not checked early enough. 3) Flooding is a natural phenomenon that every responsible government should be able to control or even prevent. 4) Kidnapping is a recent phenomenon in the Nigerian crime scene. 5) The phenomenon of rape especially of infants is receiving attention at the highest quarters. 6) Electoral fraud is a phenomenon that is as serious as any other form of corruption.

As we have noted, the plural form is phenomena. Please read the following sentences: 1) The phenomena studied by the social scientists are different from those studied by the natural scientists. 2) Spiritual phenomena are so mysterious that they cannot be studied scientifically. 3) The phenomena we encounter in our dreams are different from those we encounter in our daily lives. 4) The traditional hunter regaled us with the stories of the mysterious phenomena he experienced in the forest. 5) Evil phenomena are present everywhere, but they can be checkmated by the forces of light. 6) Hatred, malice, bitterness, and other similar negative phenomena are a product of the depraved human nature.

Sample 2: “…stakeholders agreed that there was the need for relevant agencies of government, the academia as well as industries in the food and beverage sector to work together by investing heavily on research to pave way for economic growth in Nigeria.”(Foods and Beverage Stakeholders Seek Increased Research to Boost Economy, The Nation, 28 October, 2018)

We are interested in the expression “pave way” which occurs in the larger structure, “to pave way for economic growth in Nigeria.” The important point to note is that the article the is missing immediately before the noun way. The expression should actually read: pave the way.

Now read the following sentences: 1) The removal of the manager paved the way for a thorough reorganization of the company. 2) The arrest of the mastermind paved the way for the arrests of a number other criminals in the neighbourhood. 3) The electrification of the area paved the way for the location of many industrial plants in the area. 4) Many old buildings were pulled down to pave the way for the huge ultramodern commercial centre. 5) The cancellation of the old Modern Schools paved the way for the current 6-3-3 system of secondary education.