Common Errors in Usage of Noun (2)

Common errors in usage of Noun (2) 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.

Incorrect	Correct	Grammatical reason
He was troubled by these news.	He was troubled by this news.	‘News’ is mostly considered as singular thus takes singular verb and pronoun.
I will take care of your luggages.	I will take care of your luggage.	Luggage does not take‘s’ even if it is plural.
Please excuse the troubles.	Please excuse me for the trouble.	‘Trouble’ mostly does not take‘s’ like luggage.
He had been to his mother’s-in-law house.	He had been to his mother-in-law’s house.	Apostrophe’s is used with last word when the noun consists of more than one word.
His hairs are grey.	His hair is grey.	‘hair’ does not take ‘s’ unless meant otherwise.
Summons have been served on the defaulters.	Summons has been served on the defaulters.	‘Summons’ is always considered singular and so take singular verb and pronoun.
There is no place in this compartment.	There is no room in this compartment.	The suitable word for compartment is room representing space.
He has received his transfer order.	He has received his transfer orders.	Order when used as noun mostly take‘s’.
I have come to pay my respect to my mentor.	I have come to pay my respects to my mentor.	Respect when used as noun mostly take‘s’.
He invited all his son-in laws to gathering.	He invited all his sons-in-law to gathering.	When compound nouns are pluralized by adding‘s’ to the principal word.
He brought me two dozens apples.	He brought me two dozen apples. Or he brought me dozens of apples.	Dozen is singular and plural alike and does not take‘s’ in 1st method. Dozen take ‘s’ only in the 2nd method.
We had a good play of cricket.	We had a good game of cricket.	Game is the suitable word instead of play when some sports are being spoken of.
Nadeem is taking part in the drama.	Nadeem is taking part in the play.	Play is the suitable word instead of drama when some art item is being spoken of.
He is a good neighbourer.	He is a good neighbour.	Both are similar but neighbour is suitable instead of neighbourer.
There were jokers at the circus.	There were clowns at the circus.	Particular word clown is used instead joker.
She has bought some stationeries.	She has bought some stationery.	Stationery does not take‘s’ even though used in plural sense.
The chair’s leg is broken.	The leg of the chair is broken.	Apostrophe’s is not used with lifeless things.

Note:

Compound nouns are said to be those nouns which have more than one word. 

For e.g.  Mother-in-law, step-son, commander-in-chief, governor-general etc

 

When a noun or a noun phrase follows another to describe it further, the latter is said to be in Apposition to the former.

 

For e.g.  

Quaid-e-Azam, the Father of the Nation.

The Khatoon-e-Pakistan, Miss Fatima Jinnah.

Liaqat Ali Khan, the Quaid-e-Millat.

 

Apostrophe ‘s is only used with living beings or personified objects. In addition it is used with words denoting space, time and weight, and with nouns denoting dignified objects.

 

Arm’s length, stone’s throw, hair’s breadth ( space)

Day’s journey,  year’s leave,  hour’s work. (Time)

Pound’s weight, ton’s weight (weight)

Heaven’s will, court’s decree, sun’s rays (dignified things)

 

 

Personified object is lifeless thing or quality, which is spoken of as if it were living person, like fortune, duty, death, sorrow.

 

Fortune’s favourite, duty’s call, death’s row, sorrow’s tears.