Learned or Learnt?

Common Errors in English With Samuel Alimi

It is common to observe that writers often use the spellings ‘learnt’ and ‘learned’ interchangeably in their expressions. However, ‘learnt’ is generally accepted in British English, while ‘learned’ is adopted in American English and Canadian English. Both forms are used as the past tense and past participle forms of the verb. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines ‘learn’ as ‘to acquire or attempt to acquire knowledge or an ability to do something’. In another entry, it means ‘to gain knowledge from a bad experience in order to improve’.

We have learnt the differences between reading and studying. (British English)

We have learned the differences between reading and studying. (American English)

Eze and Abdullahi learnt a lot about South Africa during their vacation. (British English)

Eze and Abdullahi learned a lot about South Africa during their vacation. (American English)

The children learnt how to pray for protection at age seven. (British English)

The children learned how to pray for protection at age seven. (American English)

Many adults learnt about content creation on TikTok, Facebook and other platforms from GenZ. (British English)

Many adults learned about content creation on TikTok, Facebook and other platforms from GenZ. (American English)

The word ‘learned’ is used as a predicative and attributive adjective, and it is accepted in all English-speaking locations, including America and Canada. To support this claim, here are the sentences extracted from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

The learned professor can speak knowledgeably on a wide array of subjects.

The example in the Cambridge dictionary: This sort of aggression is learned behaviour.

Other recent examples noted in today’s class include:

Because Dr. Ahmed is learned, his son could not change his first-semester examination results.

Imaginary and Imaginable

The differences between the ‘imaginary’ and ‘imaginable’ is that the former refers to “something that exists only in the imagination”, while the latter refers to “something that can be imagined or conceived of.”  Using them incorrectly can lead to misinterpretation.

Study the example sentences below:

All of her fears about death were imaginary.

The minister’s imaginary power projects have been humorously analyzed by commentators.

Another example from the Cambridge English Corpus:

In this imaginary situation, you could eventually come to think that you were somehow causing the movement.

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines ‘imaginable’ as “possible to be thought of or believed”.

Consider the following examples:

The university offers courses in every discipline imaginable.

The existence of the internet would not have been imaginable in 1709.

It is imaginable that the president would assent the bill changing the National Anthem.

Cease and Seize

Cease means ‘to stop’, while seize means ‘to grab or capture’.

Consider the following sentences:

The custom officers ceased the smuggled goods from the smugglers on Monday. (Incorrect)

The custom officers seized the smuggled goods from the smugglers on Monday. (Correct)

The students were enjoined to seize wearing sandals to school. (Incorrect)

The students were enjoined to cease wearing sandals to school. (Correct)

Who ceased your bag? (Incorrect)

Who seized your bag? (Correct)

Before you use any of them in your sentences or expressions,ask yourself, “Does this word fit my intended meaning?”

Uninterested and Disinterested

To be “uninterested in something” means “not interested or indifferent”.

I am uninterested in the political situation in Nigeria and Africa in general.

The politicians are uninterested in the effects of fuel subsidies on the poor.

The President is uninterested in the TV programme that invited him for an occasion.

The Labour Union is uninterested in any starvation wage offered by the Federal Government.

To be disinterested means “to be impartial’.

None of the judges are disinterested in the case between the feuding families.

As a Grammar Columnist, he is disinterested in any talks concerning governance.

Some teachers are disinterested in the use of technology for teaching.

In conclusion, use ‘disinterested’ when you have no interest in the outcome of any case or when you are unbiased. When you are not interested in something, use ‘uninterested’.

ASSIGNMENT
Choose the correct answers to each of the following questions:

The electoral commission is _______in the outcome of the presidential election. (a) misinterested (b) uninterested © reinterested
Over 1000 bags of rice were _________ at the border last night. (a) ceased (b) seized (c) sees
3. The level of unprecedented suffering sponsored by the removal of fuel subsidy is _______. (a) unimaginable (b) imaginary © conceivable
Kindly forward your answers to samueltolulopealimi@gmail.com; 07049203179
Names of those who answered the last questions correctly
David Okufuwa, Olaniyi Temitayo, Adesina Sofiyat, Pitan Rasheed, Alimi Olive, Rasheed Fatah, Idowu Rofiat, Eze Jeremiah, Caroline Praise, Shukurat Adekola, Bolanle, Olusola, Bala Aminat, Bello Sulaimon, Adaeze Beauty and Jerry Solomon.