Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Nouns

 

Singular And Plural Nouns

Some nouns have the singular and the plural alike. Some have no singular forms; likewise, some nouns have no plural forms. Test your understanding of singular and plural nouns with this grammar exercise.

Singular and Plural Nouns Exercise 1

Most nouns form their plurals by adding -s to the singular. However, there are some nouns that have only a plural form or a singular form. Plural nouns should be followed by a plural verb and singular nouns should be followed by a singular verb.

Rules regarding the formation of plurals

In English, we form the plurals of nouns by adding –s to the singular. Examples are given below.

Boy -> boys
Girl -> girls
Book -> books

There are several exceptions to this rule. Nouns ending in –s, -sh, -chand –x, form their plurals by adding –es to the singular.

Examples are:

Box -> boxes
Class -> classes
Branch -> branches
Brush -> brushes
Watch -> watches

Most nouns ending in –o, generally form their plurals by adding –es.

Examples are:

Mango -> mangoes
Hero -> heroes
Potato -> potatoes
Volcano -> volcanoes

Some singular nouns ending in –o, form their plurals by simply adding –s.

Examples are:

Piano -> pianos
Photo -> photos
Stereo -> stereos
Dynamo -> dynamos

Nouns ending in a consonant + -y, form their plurals by changing that –yinto –i and adding –es.

Baby -> babies
Lady -> ladies
City -> cities
Story -> stories

Most nouns ending in –f or –fe form their plurals by changing –f or –feinto v and adding –es.

Leaf -> leaves
Life -> lives
Thief -> thieves
Knife -> knives

There are several exceptions to this rule and the following nouns form their plurals by simply adding –s.

Examples

Roof -> roofs
Proof -> proofs
Dwarf -> dwarfs
Belief -> beliefs

A few nouns form their plurals irregularly. Examples are given below.

Man -> men
Woman -> women
Tooth -> teeth
Mouse -> mice

Some nouns have the singular and the plural alike. Examples are: swine, sheep, deer

The nouns dozen, score, pair, hundred and thousand do not have a plural form when they are used after a number.

The car cost me five thousand dollars. (NOT … five thousands dollars)

Singular and Plural Nouns Exercise 2

Common mistakes in the use of nouns

In this lesson, we will take a look at some common mistakes in the use of nouns.

Incorrect: There is no place on this bus. Correct: There is no room on this bus.

Incorrect: I am learning a new poetry. Correct: I am learning a new poem.

 Incorrect: He is leaving his service. Correct: He is leaving his job.

Incorrect: All of my relations are poor. Correct: All of my relatives are poor.

Incorrect: The clock has struck five hours. Correct: The clock has struck five.

Incorrect: The boarding is full. Correct: The boarding house is full.

Incorrect: I saw two females in the store. Correct: I saw two women in the store.

Incorrect: He enquired about your state of health. Correct: He enquired about the state of your health.

Incorrect: My English is very weak. Correct: I am very weak in English.

Incorrect: The weather of Chennai does not suit me. Correct: The climate of Chennai does not suit me.

Incorrect: Why are you standing in the center of the street? Correct: Why are you standing in the middle of the street?

Incorrect: I visit them once in a week. Correct: I visit them once a week.

Incorrect: Her hairs are grey. Correct: Her hair is grey.

Incorrect: I bought two dozens pencils. Correct: I bought two dozen pencils.

Incorrect: He took insult at this. Correct: He took offence at this.

Incorrect: He put your sign here. Correct: He put your signature here.

Noun phrases exercise

A noun phrase is a group of words that serves the same purpose as a noun. A noun phrase can be the subject or object of a verb. It can also be the object of a preposition.
Identify the noun clauses in the following sentences.

1. I hope to win the first prize.

2. I tried to solve the puzzle.

3. Did you enjoy reading this book?

4. The boy wants to go home.

5. Horses prefer living in dark stables.

6. The accused refused to answer the question.

7. The boy denied stealing the money.

8. To write such rubbish is disgraceful.

9. I dislike having to punish my kids.

10. I will hate to do such a thing.

Answers

1. Noun phrase: to win the first prize; it acts as the object of the verb hope

2. Noun phrase: to solve the puzzle; it acts as the object of the verb tried

3. Noun phrase: reading this book; it acts as the object of the verb enjoy

4. Noun phrase: to go home; it acts as the object of the verb wants

5. Noun phrase: living in dark stables; it acts as the object of the verbprefer

6. Noun phrase: to answer the question; it acts as the object of the verb refused

7. Noun phrase: stealing the money; it acts as the object of the verb denied

8. Noun phrase: to write such rubbish; it acts as the subject of the verbis.

9. Noun phrase: having to punish my kids; it acts as the object of the verb dislike.

10. Noun phrase: to do such a thing; it acts as the object of the verbhate.

Abstract nouns

Examples are given below.

Quality – goodness, kindness, beauty, intelligence, generosity, cleverness, obedience, honesty, brightness, wisdom, bravery, courage, hardness, softness

Action – laughter, theft, movement, judgment

State – childhood, boyhood, manhood, youth, slavery, sickness, poverty, death, sleep

The names of the arts and science are also abstract nouns. Examples are: physics, chemistry, grammar, music

Abstract nouns can be formed from adjectives, verbs and common nouns.

From adjectives

Kindness from kind

Bravery from brave

Illness from ill

Honesty from honest

From verbs

Obedience from obey

Growth from grow

Pleasure from please

From common nouns

Childhood from child

Slavery from slave

Exercise

Form abstract nouns from the following adjectives.

1. Long           ————————–

2. Strong        ————————–

3. Wide          ————————–

4. Young         ————————–

5. Humble      ————————–

6. Decent             ————————–

7. Cruel          ————————–

8. Bitter          ————————–

9. Prudent      ————————–

10. Dark         ————————–

11. Wise         ————————–

12. Good        ————————–

13. Vacant     ————————–

14. Sweet       ————————–

15. Human     ————————–

16. Free          ————————–

17. Proud       ————————–

18. Brave       ————————–

19. Novel       ————————–

20. Poor         ————————–

21. Just           ————————–

22. Vain          ————————–

23. Sane         ————————–

24. Ignorant  ————————–

Answers

1. Long -> length

2. Strong -> strength

3. Wide -> width

4. Young -> youth

5. Humble -> humility

6. Decent -> decency

7. Cruel -> cruelty

8. Bitter -> bitterness

9. Prudent -> prudence

10. Dark -> darkness

11. Wise -> wisdom

12. Good -> goodness

13. Vacant -> vacancy

14. Sweet -> sweetness

15. Human -> humanity

16. Free -> freedom

17. Proud -> pride

18. Brave -> bravery

19. Novel -> novelty

20. Poor -> poverty

21. Just -> justice

22. Vain -> vanity

23. Sane -> sanity

24. Ignorant -> ignorance

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