Common Errors in Usage of Noun (1)

 

Common errors in usage of Noun (1) is written with an intention to elaborate the grammatical rules attached to the usage of Noun while speaking or writing in English Language.

It gives examples of sentences with correction of incorrect use of noun in the light of grammatical rules.

 
It also provides you with the reason why and how the incorrection is corrected in accordance with grammatical rules.

Rules that are elaborated in examples.

    Following nouns are always considered in plural sense. 

    They are never treated singular and takes plural verb when used as   subject of sentence.

 

Cattle, Swine, People, Poultry, Gentry, Police, Peasantry, Artillery.

Following nouns are always used in singular sense even though their form is like plural.

 

Politics, Physics, Mathematics, Civics, Ethics, Innings, Mechanics, Gymnastics, Metaphysics, Athletics, Economics, Gallows, Classics, Summons.

Following nouns are always used in a singular sense, unless some other meaning is intended.

 

Furniture, Information, Luggage, Scenery, Advice, Machinery, Stationery, News, Poetry, Business, Mischief, Fuel, Issue, Repair, Rice, Food, Corn.

 

Whatsoever quantity is involved Rice is used as Rice without taking‘s’ with it.

 

Rice is used as Rices when kinds of rices are meant

Similar is the case with Corn and Food, they will take‘s’ not for quantity, but for different kinds.

 

Similarly hair, advice, scenery, furniture, offspring does not take‘s’ after them unless some other meaning is intended.

 

Advice when used in a sense of Counsel does not take‘s’, while when it is meant for information then it take‘s’.

 

When scenery of some place is meant, it will not be sceneries. However when different kinds of scenery are being discussed then it will be sceneries.

 

Hairs is only used when attention is drawn to number.

When adjective is used as a noun, it will be preceded by definite article and does not take‘s’ after it.

Rich is adjective, when used as noun it will be The rich, same is the case with poor, blind etc, they will be The poor or The blind when used as a noun.

 

Nouns are sometimes classified in countable and uncountable nouns. 

Countable nouns have singular and plural numbers as they can be counted. For eg table, tables, car, cars, tooth, teeth etc

 

Uncountable nouns are those which are not ordinarily countable. 

So they have singular form but no form of plural by adding ‘s’ or other letter. 

For eg. Rice, Information, Dirt, Hair, Jewellery or some abstract nouns i.e Knowledge, Advice.

 

They can be added by ‘s’ in some peculiar meanings.

 

Some nouns are considered countable as well as uncountable, depending on context or situation.

 

Meal, Coffee

I have taken my meal. (Uncountable)

I used to take three meals in 24 hours. (Countable)

 

I do not like coffee. (Uncountable)

He shall have three coffees. (Countable)

 

Hope the rules defined in our blog namely common errors in usage of Noun (1) have thoroughly been understood.

Now we go through the examples given below to know how and why the sentence is found incorrect and corrected in terms of grammatical rules.

 

Incorrect	Correct	Reason according to Rule
		Gymnastics, Innings, Politics, Physics, and Mathematics etc are the nouns always considered as Singular nouns, thus when used as a subject of a sentence, they will take singular verb.
Politics are not my concern.	Politics is not my concern.	The noun politics is always considered as singular noun, thus it takes singular verb. Other nouns of same category are gymnastics, physics, metaphysics, mechanics, innings mathematics, ethics and civics etc.
There were no breads in the shop.	There was no bread in the shop.	It is being told that not single bread was available in shop, mentioning number not more than one. Thus it is obvious that singular verb is needed to be used.
We have brought some new furnitures.	We have bought some new furniture.	The noun furniture does not take‘s’. Thus it will always be furniture rather than furnitures.
We saw beautiful sceneries in Gilgit.	We saw beautiful scenery in Giligit.	Alike furniture, scenery will never be used as sceneries. In both cases singular or plural it will be scenery.
I will take care of her luggages.	I will take care of her luggage.	Similar to furniture and scenery, the noun luggage either singular or plural will not take ‘s’. It will be luggage in both cases.
We have received informations.	We have received information.	Alike furniture, scenery, luggage the noun information will never take‘s’ and remain same in both cases either singular or plural.
The blinds need our support.	The blind need our support.	Blind is actually an adjective and when adjectives are used as noun, it takes‘s’ for eg. Riches. But when the definite article ‘the’ is placed before such nouns then the‘s’ after them is dropped. So it will be The blind instead of The blinds.
The riches do not like the poors.	The rich do not like the poor.	Same rule is applied here. Rich and poor are adjectives but when they are used as noun, they take the definite article ‘the’ before them and does not take‘s’ after them. This is the rule which should be remembered.
The cattles are a nuisance on our streets.	The cattle are a nuisance on our streets.	The noun cattle is always used in a plural sense, without adding ‘s’ to it. Thus it always takes plural verb in a sentence. Other nouns of same category are people, swine etc.
I have had my meals.	I have had my meal.	Meal is countable as well as uncountable noun. Here one person is meant to having meal so the sense of uncountable noun is being developed here therefore it does not take‘s’. In countable form it may be ‘I used to have three meals in a day’. In this case meals are applicable. Because the sense of number is being developed or the number count is involved.
You are good at Mathematic.	You are good at mathematics.	Rule is defined above. Similar category of nouns politics, athletics etc.
Her hairs are brown.	Her hair is brown.	Hair is considered singular as the context does not involves number or the number is not in focus.
Summons have been served on the defaulters.	Summons has been served on the defaulters.	Summons is always considered in singular sense so take singular verb ‘has’.
He has received his transfer order.	He has received his transfer orders.	Order when used as Noun, takes‘s’ after it.
Please pay my respect to my teacher.	Please pay my respects to my teacher.	Respect when used as Noun, takes‘s’ after it.