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.
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:
Class -> classes
Branch -> branches
Brush -> brushes
Watch -> watches
Most nouns ending in –o, generally form their plurals by adding –es.
Examples are:
Hero -> heroes
Potato -> potatoes
Volcano -> volcanoes
Some singular nouns ending in –o, form their plurals by simply adding –s.
Examples are:
Photo -> photos
Stereo -> stereos
Dynamo -> dynamos
Nouns ending in a consonant + -y, form their plurals by changing that –yinto –i and adding –es.
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.
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
Proof -> proofs
Dwarf -> dwarfs
Belief -> beliefs
A few nouns form their plurals irregularly. Examples are given below.
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
The essay is the most important part of a college application, so you need to focus and make a good essay to convince the university accept you. You even get help from essay writing expert to ensure you acceptance. Check out, please DigitalEssay.net
ReplyDelete