English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

MIND THE “T”

He made a ~complain~ about her today (nonstandard).
He made a *complaint* about her today (standard).
Note that “complain” is a verb:
You can *complain* to me. ✅

He confessed under severe ~constrain~ (nonstandard).
He confessed under severe *constraint* (standard).
You can use “constrain” as a verb:
You need to *constrain* your children for some reasons. ✅

They behaved with more ~restrain~ that I had envisaged (nonstandard).
They behaved with more *restraint* than I had envisaged (standard).
Use “restrain” as a verb:
He did that to *restrain* him. ✅
GAB