Properties of comparison

SAMPLE 1: “While the school authorities is working together with security agencies especially having the assurance of the military for the protection of the school, the picture will however become clear when the school resumes later in the year.” (Trying Times for University of Maiduguri, The Nation, Sunday, August 6, 2017)

We are interested in the singular verb (is) which occurs between the noun authorities and the progressive form, working: “the school authorities is working together with security agencies.” As we have noted, the verb (is) is in its singular form. It becomes important for us to establish the noun from which the verb derives its singular form, for the form of the subject noun/noun phrase must be consistent with that of the verb. Actually, the form of the verb must be dictated by the form of the noun.

The only noun that has such a logical and grammatical relationship with the verb-slot that its form must have an influence on the form of the verb is authorities. Since this noun (authorities) is obviously in its plural form, the verb has to share its plurality. In consequence, the verb is hereby changed to its plural form: are.

Sample 2: “He also recalled that his colleagues and mentors even had confidence in him than he had in himself.”(I Saw my Father’s Butchered Body Wheeled back Home, The Nation, Sunday, August 13, 2017)

I draw readers’ attention to the word than which occurs in the following context: “had confidence in him than he had in himself.”To appreciate the error involved in the writer’s choice of the element than, we need to know how comparison operates in English. The word than is usually employed for the purpose of constructing comparison.

But it usually occurs in conjunction with another adjective to which the morpheme –er is attached: higher, bigger, richer, greater, fewer, lower, nearer; otherwise the word more is employed. Examples: (1) Our house is bigger than yours. (2) Christmas is nearer than I have thought. (3) That tree is taller than the one near our house. (4) The weather is brighter today than it was yesterday. (5) This well is deeper than that. (6) This novel is more interesting than that. (7) Titi is more brilliant than Dayo. (8) This task is more demanding than the previous one. (9) Our farm is more extensive than yours. (10)The old generation cars seem to be more durable than the modern ones.

The rule is this: Do not use the word than unless it is preceded by a comparative word ending in –er (such as better, higher, lower, etc.) or its synonym more. This rule does not fail to apply even when the word much is involved in the structure: (1) The girl is much more brilliant than the boy. (2) This car is much more efficient than that. The word much is simply used as an intensifier and does not affect the comparative structure of the sentence.

To return to our sample, we find the word than in the structure, but it is not preceded by any of the comparative words we have identified. There lies the error. That sentence should be restructured in such a way that it would accommodate a comparative word. Otherwise the item than would remain hanging.

Sample 3: “The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude who led other senior police officers including Mr Sanusi Buba, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations told newsmen that Yekini Saheed and his gang had raided several houses, robbing victims of their phones, cash and other valuable properties in the city of Ibadan and environs.”(Oyo Police Arrest 10 Robbery Suspects, The Nation, Sunday, August 6, 2017)

We note the noun properties which occurs in the following context:”robbing victims of their phones, cash and other valuable properties.” Please note that the word (properties) is in its plural form. Note, furthermore, that the properties in question are included among the items made away with by armed robbers.

The reporter seems confused as to the grammatical characteristics of the noun property. There are two basic ways of regarding the word.

Whenever we use the word property to refer personal effects or movable items such as shoes, clothes, furniture, television sets, fridges, generators, and even motor cars, we should use it in its singular form. No matter the volume or quantity of such items, the word property should remain in its singular form and the choice of verb should be singular. Please read the following sentences: 1) The landlord has seized the tenant’s property kept in two rooms, saying he won’t release it until and unless he pays all his debt. 2) No matter how long you stay in the UK, your property will remain in this room and it will be intact.  3) Before I woke up, he had gathered all his property and travelled back to our home town. 4) Since he owns little property, he doesn’t need more than one room. 5) Fire destroyed the entire house including his sister’s property kept in one of the rooms. 6) His property consists of a few items all of which are kept in one huge bag. 7) After working for two years, his property is so much that he needs to rent a second room. 8) Thieves broke into the room and made away with almost all his property. 9) He has found a new house and his children are helping to carry her property to the new place. 10) Two trucks carried his property to his newly built house. 11) In those days, slaves were considered part of the personal property of rich men. 12) Shoes and shirts are the most prominent elements of my property.

The word property has been used in its singular form in each of those sentences because it is about personal effects, household items, movable belongings. However, when the word is employed in reference to land and houses, it can be used in the singular sense if the reference is to a singular item or in the plural if the reference is to two or more items. Indeed, whenever the word property is used in the plural by knowledgeable people, the assumption is that the reference is to land/houses. It should not be used in the plural sense if the reference is to personal effects as discussed and illustrated earlier.

Now read the following sentences: 1) The government has decided to sell all its properties in the choicest parts of the country. 2) Properties are more expensive in Lagos than in any other part of Nigeria. 3) I have three uncles who are into the business of buying and selling of properties. 4) There is an uncompleted property which the owner wants to sell at a moderate price. 5) I have refused to buy that property because it is too close to a stream. 6) The prosecution has alleged that the politically exposed persons have acquired the said properties with the proceeds of corruption. 7) Only teachers are allowed to buy and own properties in the estate. 8) I want to acquire a property in an exclusive area. 9) He rejected the property because it was too close to the police barracks. 10) Being in a marshy and undeveloped area, the property should not be expensive.

From the discussion and analysis so far, it should be obvious that the word property should be in its singular form in the context under reference.