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)
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. |
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