Common Errors in Usage of Noun (3)

 Common errors in usage of Noun (3) 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
My sheeps are grazing in the field.	My sheep are grazing in the field.	Sheep is always considered plural without taking‘s’.
The wages of sin are hell.	The wages of sin is hell.	Alike politics, ethics, physics, innings, Wages is considered singular, and thus the singular verb is used with it.
My spectacle is new.	My spectacles are new.	Spectacle always take‘s’ and considered plural. Same is the case with scissors, trousers, riches, thanks etc
The sceneries of Kashmir are wonderful.	The scenery of Kashmir is wonderful.	Scenery is considered singular when quantity is referred. While it will be plural only in the case when many kinds of scenery are referred.
The news are true.	The news is true.	‘News’ is same in singular or plural. Here it is denoting singular sense so singular verb is used.
Differing news is coming in.	Differing news are coming in.	Here news is denoting plural sense so plural verb is used with it.
We eat fruits.	We eat fruit.	Alike furniture, information, rice Fruit normally does not take‘s’ even though denoting plural sense.
My uncle gave me many advices.	My uncle gave me many pieces of advice.	Advice when meant as counsel it does not take‘s’ though denoting plural sense. While when it refers to information then used with adding‘s’.
Intelligence officer furnished advice to concerned departments.	Intelligence officer furnished advices to concerned departments,	Here advice refers to information and denoting plural sense thus taking‘s’ after it.
You are weak in mathematic.	You are weak in mathematics.	Mathematic always take‘s’ and always considered singular. Similar nouns are politics, innings, civics, ethics, physics etc.
I take pain over my work.	I take pains over my work.	Pain when used as Noun mostly takes‘s’ with it.
I ate food to my hearts’ content.	I ate food to my heart’s content.	Apostrophe’s is used with singular noun. The noun heart denoting singular sense thus takes’s. If it was plural noun hearts then only’ is placed after it like hearts’.
He has ten heads of cattle.	He has ten head of cattle.	Same as dozen, rupee and paisa, brace etc.
He bought five scores apples.	He bought five score apples.	Same as head of cattle, score, brace etc.
They are his son-in-laws.	They are his sons-in-law.	Compound noun takes‘s’ with principal word for making plural.
I have ten rupees note.	I have ten-rupee note.	Paisa, pound, rupee, dozen, head of cattle, brace of bird won’t take‘s’ though denoting plural sense.
He has three fifty paisas pieces.	He has three fifty-paisa pieces.	Same as above.
I have just finished my meals.	I have just finished my meal.	Meal does not take ‘s’ unless it refers to number.
We have many works to do.	We have much work to do.	Quantity is referred thus much is used instead of many. Many represents number.
Do not make friend with bad boys.	Do not make friends with bad boys.	When friendship in whole is referred then friend is always used as friends.
We deal in mens’ hat.	We deal in men’s hat.	Plural noun not ending in s will take complete Apostrophe s after it.
I am your’s obediently.	I am yours obediently.	Possessive pronouns do not take apostrophe s.

 

 

Note:

 

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 that common errors in usage of noun (3) would be helpful for strengthening the understanding of correct use of noun in grammatical perspective.