NOUN RULES
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Rule 1
The nouns such as – Jury, choir, committee, council, crowd, herd, orchestra, team, government,
mob, community, union, club, opposition, firm, flock etc. are used as collective nouns to denote a
group. They are considered to be singular and a singular verb is used with them.
Example
The committee has submitted its report.
Rule 2
The unit of measurement (such as - hour, pound, kilo, mile…etc.) is always used in the singular form
in the structure –‘Half + a/an + unit of measurement’; as, ‘Half a kilo’, ‘Half an hour’.
Note: The unit of measurement (such as – hour, pound, kilo, mile…etc.) is also used in the singular
form in the structure – ‘A + half + unit of measurement’; as, ‘A half kilo’, ‘A half hour’.
Example
Only Half an hour left to finish this work.
Rule 3
o A plural noun is used after ‘one and a half’; as ‘One and a half kilos’
o While ‘A/An + singular noun + and + a half’ is used in English Language; as,
o ‘A kilo and a half kilos’,
o ‘An hour and a half’.
Rule 4
The structure – ‘Numeral Adjectives + plural noun + and + a half’ or Numeral Adjectives + and + a half
+ plural noun is used in the English Language. Numeral Adjectives: One, two, three, four…..etc. some,
all, many, few…..etc. are called Numeral Adjectives; as,
o ‘Two kilos and a half’ ‘Five hours and a half’ ‘Two and a half kilos’.
Rule 5
A plural noun is used after ‘Cardinal Adjectives except one’. Cardinal Adjectives: One, two, three,
four, five, six….etc. are called Cardinal Adjectives; as ‘Five kilometres’
Example
I have fifty rupees.
Rule 6
Generally, the plural of a proper noun is not possible. But the plural of a proper noun can be formed
(=made) by adding ‘s’ according to need.
Example
There are two Mohans in my class.
Rule 7
These nouns such as – barracks, corps, crossroads, Innings, headquarters, précis, series, species,
Issue, offspring, aircraft, craft, swine are used in the same form both in singular and plural.
Example
All the police barrack of Gorakhpur are old.
Rule 8
The structure – ‘Noun + preposition + same noun’ is always used in the singular. A singular noun is
always used before preposition and after a preposition; as’
Example
Village after village has been swept away.
Rule 9
A plural noun or a plural pronoun is used after these phrases – one of, each of, either of, neither of,
any one of, a few of, very few of, half of, a lot of, a large number of etc.
Example
One of the boys was innocent.
Rule 10
If we add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to some Adjectives, they become plural nouns; as’
Example
We have to taste the sweets and bitters of our lives.
Rule 11
Some nouns always remain in plural form. They take plural verb. These nouns have no singular form.
These are -
Assets, alms, amends, annals, archives, ashes ,arrears, athletics, auspices, species, scissors , trousers,
pants. clippers, bellows, gallows, fangs, measles, eyeglasses, goggles, belongings, breeches. Bowels ,
braces ,binoculars, dregs, earnings, entrails, embers ,fetters, fireworks, longings, lees, odds
,outskirts, particulars, proceeds, proceedings ,riches, remains, shambles, shears, spectacles ,
surroundings ,tidings ,tactics ,tongs ,vegetables, valuables, wages etc.
Means' — In the sense of income'. Means always takes a plural verb. In the sense way to achieve
some end, Means takes a singular verb. When 'a' or 'every' is used before Means', it is singular.
Examples
(a) My means were reduced substantially.
(b) Every means is good if the end is good.
Rule 12
If two adjectives are joined by 'and' and 'The' is used before the first adjectives, A plural noun is used
after the second Adjective.
Example
Dr. S.S. Prasad was an examiner of the Patna and Bihar universities.
Incorrect: Dr. S.S. Prasad was an examiner of the Patna and Bihar university.
Rule 13
If two adjectives are joined by 'and' and 'The' used before both Adjectives or each Adjective, A
singular noun is used after the second Adjectives.
Example
The first and the second chapter of this book are interesting.
Incorrect: The first and the second chapters of this book are interesting.
Rule 14
Some nouns look plural in form but have singular meaning. Such nouns take singular verb. These are:
news, innings, politics, summons, physics, economics, ethics. mechanics, mathematics, measles,
mumps, rickets, billiards, draughts, etc.
Rule 15
Some nouns look singular but have plural meaning. Such nouns take plural verbs. These are: cattle,
clergy, cavalry, infantry, poultry,peasantry, children, gentry, police etc.
Rule 16
Some nouns are always used in singular . These are uncountable nouns. We should not use article
A/An with such nouns. These are -
Scenery, poetry, furniture, advice, information, hair, language. business, mischief, bread, stationery,
crockery, luggage, baggage, postage, knowledge, wastage, money, jewellery, breakage etc,
We can not pluralise such nouns by adding `S' or 'es'.
Example It is incorrect to write sceneries, informations, furnitures, hairs.
If hair is used as countable it can be pluralised : e.g., one hair, two hairs.
Example I need three hairs of a black horse.
Rule 17
Some nouns have plural meaning. If a definite numeral adjective is used before them they are not
pluralised. e.g., pair, score. Gross , stone ,hundred, dozen, thousand. million. billion. etc.
Otherwise these nouns can well be pluralised:
Dozens of women, Hundreds of people, Millions of dollars, Scores of shops. Many pairs of shoes,
thousands millions etc.
Rule 18
If a numeral adjective and a fraction are used with a noun, the noun is used with the numeral and
the noun will be in singular.
Examples
(a) He gave me one rupee and a half.
(b) She gave me two rupees and a quarter.
Avoid the following structure
Examples
(a) He gave me one and a half rupees. (Incorrect).
(b) She gave rite two and a quarter rupees. (Incorrect)
If the numeral adjective and the fraction refer the multiplication, the noun be placed in the end (after
the fraction) and it must be plural.
Examples
(a) Your deposits has grown two and a half times within two years.
(b) My salary has increased three and a quarter times within three years.
Rule 19
Some nouns are known as common gender nouns. They can be used for either sex; Male or Female.
These are called dual gender nouns. Such nouns are : teacher, student, child, clerk, candidate.
advocate, worker, writer, author, leader, musician, politician, enemy, client, president, person,
neighbour etc. When these are used in singular, use third person singular masculine (his) pronoun
with them.
Examples
(a) Every candidate should write his ( not her) name.
(b) Every person should perform his ( not her) duty.
Each. either, everyone. everybody, no one, nobody, neither, anybody are also common gender
pronouns.
Rule 20
Some nouns are used for specifically for feminine gender only. i.e., blonde, maid, mid wife, coquette,
virgin etc.
Now a days nouns 'bachelor' and 'virgin' are being used for masculine and feminine gender as well .
Use of Apostrophe with 's'
(A) You can form the possessive case of a singular noun that does not end in 's' by adding an
apostrophe and `s' We should use apostrophe in following situations only
(1) Living things -> Mohan's book
(2) Thing personified; as —> week's holiday
(3) Space time or weight ; as —> a day's leave
(4) Certain dignified objects; as
o The court's orders
o At duty's call
(5) Familiar phrases; as —
o At his wit's end
o At a stone's throw
It there are hissing sounds (sounds of sh or s) ending a word, use apostrophe without 's' with such
words. e.g., For Jesus' sake, For conscience' sake, The roses' fragrance etc. (It can be noted that if we
use apostrophe with s with such words it couldn't be pronounced well)
(B) You can form the possessive case of a plural noun that does not end in 's' by adding an
apostrophe and a 's,' as in the following example.
Example The men's cricket team will play as soon as the women's team is finished.
(C) You can form the possessive case of a plural noun that does end in 's' by adding an apostrophe.
Example The concert was interrupted by the ‘dogs' barking, the ‘ducks' quacking, and
the ‘babies' squalling.
(D) Do not use apostrophe with possessive pronouns
i.e., his, hers, yours, mine, ours, its, theirs etc.
Yours faithfully, yours truly, ours garden , his pen, hers purse, theirs room.
(E) Use apostrophe with the last word in following titles.
Examples
(a) Governor-general's instructions.
(b) Commander-in-chiefs orders.
(c) My son-in-law's sister.
(d) Ram and Sons's shop.
(F) Do not use 'Double apostrophe'. Avoid double apostrophe in a sentence.
Example
(a) My wife's secretary's mother has expired. (Incorrect)
The mother of my wife's secretary has expired. (Correct)
(G) Apostrophe with 's' is used with; Anybody/ Nobody / Everybody / Somebody / Anyone /
Someone / No one / Everyone.
Example Everyone's concern is no one's concern.
If else is used after these words, use apostrophe with else as per following:
Example I can rely on your words, not somebody else's.
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Rules of Noun
Noun is a word used to name a person, animal, place or thing. Here are some rules of nouns which
should be used while making sentences.
These rules will be very helpful in common error problems.
Rule: Some nouns are always singular. These are uncountable nouns. Articles A/An are not used with
these nouns.
These nouns are:
Machinery, Work, Wood, Dust, Traffic, Electricity, Scenery, Poetry, Furniture, Advice, Luggage,
Information, Luggage, Hair, Money, Language, Business, Mischief, Knowledge, Bread, Stationery,
Crockery, Baggage, Postage, Wastage, , Jewellery, Breakage etc.
Ex:
He gave me information.
Sachin transported his furniture by Truck.
Rishma has good knowledge of grammar.
Rule: Some nouns are always in plural form they don’t have singular form. Plural verb is used with
them.
These nouns are:
Cattle, Assets, Alms, Police, Amends, Annals, Archives, Ashes, Arrears, Athletics, Wages, Auspices,
Species, Scissors, Gentry, Trousers, Pants, Clippers, Shambles, Bellows, Gallows, Fangs, Measles,
Eyeglasses, Tidings, Goggles, Belongings, Breeches, Braces, Binoculars, Dregs, Entrails, Embers,
Fireworks, Lees, Odds, Outskirts, Particulars, Proceeds, Proceedings, Riches, Bowels, Remains,
Shears, Spectacles, Surroundings, Tactics, Tongs, Vegetables, Valuables, Etc.
Ex:
Cattle are not allowed to enter that ground.
These pants are good.
These poultry are mine.
Rule: Some nouns have the same form in singular as well as in plural form.
These nouns are:
Sheep, Fish, Crew, Family, Team, Carp, Pike, Trout, Deer, Aircraft, Counsel, Swine, Vermin, Species
Etc.
Ex:
A deer is grazing in the field.
Deer are grazing in the field.
Sparrow is now a rare species.
There are many species of cow.
Rule: Nouns expressing number like hundred, dozen, score etc are used in singular with numerical
adjectives.
These nouns are:
Hundred, Pair, Score, Stone, Dozen, Thousand, Million, Billion, Gross, Etc.
Ex:
Sumit bought four dozen apples.
Samir got five hundred rupees.
Deepika has two pair of sandles.
Rule: Plural noun is used after One of, Neither of, Either of, and Each of.
Ex:
One of my friends is an Engineer.
Either of them will come.
Neither of the students hasRu failed.
Rule: Some nouns look plural but have singular meaning. Singular verb is used with them.
These nouns are:
Summons, News, Politics, Physics, Economics, Mechanics, Mathematics, Measles, Ethics, Rickets,
Billiards, Draughts, Innings, etc.
Ex:
I have a good news.
Economics is my favourite subject.
It was a good innings by India.
Rule: Some nouns look singular but have plural meaning. Plural verb is used with them.
These nouns are:
Infantry, Children, Cattle, Cavalry, Poultry, Peasantry, Gentry, Police, Clergy, Etc.
Ex:
Children are playing in the ground.
Cattle are not allowed to enter in the ground.
Police are coming.
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ATTENTION – MY EVERY POST BEGINS WITH YOUR SMILE AND YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? SO
PLEASE WEAR THE SMILE. TRUST ME NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS AS GREAT AS YOUR SMILE.
OK now let’s talk about noun. We all know that noun is a very important chapter from exam point
of view. Let’s learn its important rules with the help of numerous examples:
Study notes on Noun for SSC, Bank and other exams /Compilation of important rules associated
with NOUN(with examples)
Let’s discuss some important rules associated with NOUN(with examples)
RULE 1
Uncountable nouns are generally used in the singular form.
Indefinite article is not used before them.
They are not used with plural verb.
Some examples of this noun – Advice,Evidence, Word, Information , Hair, Luggage, Scenery,
Business, Employment, Machinery, Equipment, Baggage, Furniture, Poetry etc
Spotting Errors
One should be true to one’s words.
One should be true to one’s word.
Rohan gave me an information.
Rohan gave me information .
All the evidences were against him.
All the evidence was against him.
Note – a piece of /an act of /a loaf of etc is used to make an uncountable noun, singular.
Example – Rohan gave me a piece of Information.
Similarly pieces of /acts of/loaves of etc is used to make an uncountable noun, plural.
Example – Rohan gave me some pieces of advice.
RULE 2
Certain nouns exist in plural forms only. Thus “s” can’t be removed from such nouns to make them
singular. They take plural verb with them.
Examples – Scissors, Tongs, Pliers,Pincers, Bellows, Trousers Shorts, Pants, Pajamas, Goggles,
Binoculars, Alms, Archives, Embers, Arrears, Lodgings, Outskirts, Shambles, Tactics etc
Where is my pants?
Where are my pants?
Alms was given to the beggar.
Alms were given to the beggar.
Note :-Wages can be used in both singular and plural form. When it means labour it acts as
plural. when it’s used as result, it acts as singular.
Example – Wages are paid in cash.
Wages of hard work is sweet.
Click here for the compilation of important rules associated with PRONOUN(with examples)
Click here for the compilation of ERROR DETECTION QUESTIONS from PRONOUN (with
examples)
RULE 3
News, Innings, Politics, Summons, Physics, Economics, Shingles, Linguistics etc are certain nouns
that are plural in form but singular in meaning. They take singular verb.
Spotting errors
This news is not fake.
The summons has been received by Mukesh.
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash.
Note – summons is used as a noun and singular , plural of summons is summonses while
‘summon’ is used as a verb which means to ask someone to appear especially in a court.
Two summonses have been received.
Summons – Noun
They were summoned to the court to give advice.
summon – Verb
Click here for the important error spotting questions from Noun
RULE 4
There are some collective nouns which are plural in nature so take plural verbs with them.’s’ or
‘es’ are not used with them to make them plural
Example – cattle, peasantry, cavalry, people, folk, children, gentry, police etc.
Cattle is grazing in the field.
Cattles are grazing in the field.
Cattle are grazing in the field.
Note – when ‘people’ means a group of persons it acts as plural without taking ‘s’ with it, but
when ‘people’ is used in the sense of a country or a race then it takes ‘s’ with it to make a plural
formation.
Example – There are young peoples at the party.
There are young people at the party.
India, china and Pakistan are people of Asia.
India, china and Pakistan are peoples of Asia.
RULE 5
The collective nouns like committee, jury, house, ministry, police, mob, audience, team, board are
used with singular verbs when they are used as a body or a group and not as [Link] they
are used as members then they take plural verb.
( Tip – when a group is considered as a single unit, it takes a singular verb and singular pronoun
and when it’s considered plural, it takes a plural verb.)
Example – The police has become insensitive.
The police was posted all over the route.
The police were posted all over the route.
The committee have approved expenditure of fifty crores.
The committee has approved expenditure of fifty crores.
The committee has not decided on the matter yet.
The committee have not decided on the matter yet.
Note – when a collective noun like committee, jury etc is not unanimous, it takes plural verb as in
this case it’s not considered as a single unit.
CLICK HERE FOR THE HINDU PHRASAL VERBS COMPILATION
CLICK HERE FOR THE HINDU IDIOMS COMPILATION
CLICK HERE FOR THE HINDU VOCAB COMPILATION
RULE 6
Hyphenated noun does not have plural form.
Example – He gave me five hundred – rupees notes.
He gave me five hundred – rupee notes.
Sumit stays in five – stars hotels.
Sumit stays in five – star hotels.
RULE 7
Nouns expressing number are used in singular form, with numeral adjectives.
Example – sheetal gave me five dozens pens.
Sheetal gave me five dozen pens.
RULE 8
If a preposition connects two similar nouns , the noun used in singular form takes singular verb.
Example – Villages after villages was visited during the last election.
Villages after villages were visited during the last election.
Village after village was visited during the last election.
RULE 9
Use of apostrophe with ‘s’
a) The use of apostrophe with ‘s’ is not correct in the case of non living things. It is restricted only
to living things, time, weight, distance, amount or personified nouns.
The table’s wood.
The wood of the table.
Girl’s hand.
A one-kilometre’s journey.
Time’s march.
A rupee’s worth.
Nature’s laws.
b) Two nouns in the possessive case denote plural form. When apostrophe with ‘s’ is used with
one noun, it expresses singular form.
For example
Shweta and Sohan’s mother (the mother of both Shweta and Sohan)
Shweta’ and Sohan’s mothers ( mothers of Shweta and Sohan)
C) With compound nouns apostrophe with ‘s’ is added only with the last word.
Sister’s-in-law behaviour.
Sister-in-law’s behaviour.
d) Pronouns are written by omitting apostrophe but ‘s’ is added.
Yours truly
Its colour
e) Possessive case is indicated by apostrophe without ‘s’ after plural nouns or words ending with
‘s’.
John keats’ poem
Girls’ hostel
Jesus’ sake
Dickens’ novel
Kalidas’ works
f) ‘Else’ combined with indefinite pronouns (somebody, anybody , nobody etc) is expressed in
possessive case as somebody else’s in place of somebody’s else.
This is not my pen. This is somebody’s else.
This is not my pen. This is somebody else’s.
Rule 10
Note the use of fractions.
One and a half years is wasted.
One and a half years are wasted.
A year and a half is wasted.
Some words are used wrongly in colloquial English in India.
Examples
Incorrect Correct
Cousin brother /sister cousin
Pick pocketer Pick pocket
Proudy Proud
Big blunder Blunder
Difference between Envy and Jealousy
Jealousy is the fear to lose the person/thing that we have. Envy means resentful desire of something
possessed by someone else.
Click here for the compilation of important error spotting/detection questions from
Noun(with explanation)
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Noun Rules with examples
Here we have 5 rules, with the help of these rules we can understand which type of noun should be
used and where we have to use singular or plural form of noun.
Rule 1
Category1
Some nouns always remain singular. The verb and pronoun associated with these nouns are
also always singular.
We don’t use these nouns in the plural form, that is we don’t add ‘s’ with these words and
we don’t use plural verbs or plural pronouns with them.
Examples: hair, information, machinery, aircraft, furniture, sheep, fish, bread, advice, money.
Category 2
Some nouns are always in the plural form.
We attach ‘s’ at the end of these words even if the quantity of them is single.
The usage will always be plural.
Verb and Pronoun attached with these nouns will also be in the plural form.
Normally, these are words with meaning that come in a pair.
Examples:
1. These scissors are broken
2. My trousers are torn.
3. My spectacles are dirty.
4. Gloves are useful.
5. Socks are here.
Category 3
Some nouns are used in the singular sense but the verb and pronoun attached to them are
plural.
Normally, these are words that are already the plural of some words.
Examples:
1. People are standing on the road.
2. Policemen are running after me.
3. Children are playing in the park.
4. Cattle are grazing in the fields.
Category 4
Some words end plurally, i.e. with an ‘s’ in the end, but the usage in terms of verb and
pronoun is always singular.
Normally, we have diseases and subjects in this category.
Examples:
1. Measles is a deadly disease.
2. Rickets is spreading, and tuberculosis needs to be cured.
3. Politics of this state is dirty.
4. Economics is a tough subject.
5. Mathematics is important.
Rule 2
If the main topic, jist or crux of the sentence is singular, the verb and pronoun will also be singular.
Examples:
1. Bread, butter and milk are good for breakfast. (Incorrect)
2. Bread, butter and milk is good for breakfast. (Correct)
3. Social, financial, political and infrastructural development are important for India. (Incorrect)
4. Social, financial, political and infrastructural development is important for India. (Correct)
5. Knowledge of maths, science, social studies and economics are essential for 10th class
students. (Incorrect)
6. Knowledge of maths, science, social studies and economics is essential for 10th class
students. (Correct)
Rule 3
Normally we treat all collective nouns singularly.
Examples:
1. The group of students has come first.
2. My team has won the match.
3. A bunch of keys was found in the trash.
4. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule.
Exception 1: Whenever we divide or split the collective noun, it becomes plural.
Examples:
1. My team are split further into 5 small teams.
2. My class are divided into many sections.
Exception 2:
When the subject of the collective noun comes before the collective noun, its usage will be plural.
Examples:
1. A band of robbers has attacked the city.
2. Robbers of a band have attacked the city.
Rule 4
All material nouns are treated singularly.
Examples:
1. Gold is expensive.
2. Water is healthy.
3. Oxygen is important.
Exception: When the material noun is countable, its usage becomes plural too.
1. Diamonds are a woman’s best friend. (Correct)
2. Please pick up all bricks and stones from the floor. (Correct, as bricks and stones are
countable)
3. My house is made of bricks and stones. (Incorrect, because bricks and stones of a house
cannot be counted)
4. My house is made of brick and stone. (Correct)
Rule 5
Similar sounding words
Practice and Practise
Advice and Advise
There are a few pairs of words like above in English vocabulary that have the difference
of ‘c’ and ‘s’. We must remember that there is a grammatical difference between these words.
Advise is a noun. Example: Thank you for your valuable advice.
Advise is a verb. Example: Thank you for advising me.
Practise is a noun. Example: How is your football practice going?
Practise is a verb. Example: Are you practising football everyday?
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Rule : 1
The following words are uncountable and used in singular form as they don’t have plural form.
Indefinite article should not be used with them.
Words:- Luggage ,Advice ,Imagery ,Pottery ,Baggage ,Furniture ,Scenery ,Food ,Machinery
Breakage ,Drapery ,Poetry , Work ,Paper ,Wood ,Iron ,Glass ,Rubbish ,Electricity ,Dirt ,Bread ,Grass
,Traffic ,information etc..
Example – The scenery of Kashmir is very charming.
He has much information/ a lot of information.
I need a piece of good advice.
They need a piece of bread / a loaf of bread.
Note :-
We may use following words to make it singular or plural –
A piece of (singular)
Pieces of (plural)
A bit of (singular)
Bits of (plural)
A heap of (singular)
Heaps of (plural)
A loaf of (singular)
Loves of (plural)
Q1. Your advices is (A) / the proof of your (B)/ discriminating mind
and (C) / pragmatic approach towards poor (D) / no error (E)
Ans. (A)
Explanation: – replace ‘advices’ by ‘advice’
Rule : 2
Following are some nouns which are always singular but look like plural:-
Words:- News ,Linguistics ,Economics ,Mathematics ,Phonetics ,Statistics ,Ethics ,Politics ,Measles
,Rickets ,Billiards ,Darts ,Droughts Innings Physics etc…
Example – Physics is a difficult subject.
Billiards is an interesting game.
The news was wrong.
Statistics shows the great improvement.
Rule : 3
Some nouns have the same form whether singular or plural –
Series headquarters thousand
Species means score
Deer dozen agenda
Sheep hundred data
Example – I saw two sheep in the zoo.
A series of lectures is to be delivered today.
Four dozen eggs have been sold.
Q 2. He has bought (A)/ a dozens copies (B) / of story books (C) / which are very popular among
the children (D) / on error (E).
Ans. (B)
Explanation: – replace dozens by dozen.
Rule : 4
If two nouns are connected by ‘and ‘ and both are closely related, add apostrophe ‘s’ with the last
noun.
Example – My mother and father’s choice is perfect.
His brother and sister’s study room is combined.
Rule : 5
Use `s with living things.
Example –Ram`s house is well maintained .
Priya`s son is very cute.
Rule : 6
With collective noun when it is used as a unit use singular form of verb and when it is used as
members use plural form of verb.
Some collective nouns are :-
Gentry peasantry poultry odds cattle team police tongs sheers scissors briefs nobility
riches tools people arms
Example –The cattle is grazing.
Cattle are fighting among themselves.
Rule : 7
Noun indicating numerals must be used in singular form
Example – A hundred rupee note
A ten mile walk
Two ten rupee notes
It was a two-hundred-page diary.
It was a ten-day job.
It is a one-step dance.
Rule : 8
After following phrases use plural form of noun
One of Any of
Some of Each of
Either of Neither of
None of Most of / all of + the (If Noun uncountable – Singular; Noun countable- Plural)
Note – either / neither without ‘of’ takes the noun in singular form.
Example – One of my favourite players has come.
None of the articles has been sold.
Any of the boys can do this.
Q 3. His company is (A) / one of the few company (B)/ Manufacturing this product (C)/ in the
whole country (D) / No error (E) .
Ans. (B)
Explanation: – ‘one of’ is followed by plural noun , replace company by companies.
Q 4. The manager concluded that (A) / either Mahesh (B) /or teja were (C) / responsible for the
last week`s theft (D) / No error (E).
Ans:- (C)
Explanation: – Either and Neither (without of) are followed by singular noun and take the verb in
singular form ,replace plural verb ‘were’ by singular verb ‘was’.
Rule : 9
The possessive case of a compound noun is made by using `s with the last word.
Father -in- law`s
Mother – in -law`s
Chief of corporation`s order
Note :-
Plural formation of compound noun is made by making root word plural.
Example –Sons in law Maid servants
Chief ministers Prime ministers
Q [Link] brother – in – laws (A) / who live in Bombay (B) / have come to stay with us (C) / No error
(D).
Ans. (A)
Rule :10
Some nouns don’t follow any specific rule for plural formation.
Example –
Mouse – Mice Louse – Lice
Basis – Bases Axis – Axes
Goose – Geese Man – men
Woman- women Phenomenon – Phenomena
Criterion – Criteria Handful- Handfuls
Tooth – Teeth Foot- Feet
Rule : 11
Some nouns end with f/fe for their plural formation remove f/fe and add ‘ves’
Example –
Loaf – Loaves Wolf – Wolves
Self- selves Leaf – Leaves
Thief- Thieves Half – halves
Calf – calves Wife – wives
Knife- knives Life- Lives
Rule : 12
Noun + Preposition + the same noun
Use both the nouns in singular form
Example – Door upon door
Man after man
Day by day
Day after day
Rule : 13
`s can be used with anybody /somebody/nobody/everybody/No one /someone/ anyone
Example – Everybody`s business is nobody`s business.
Note :-
if ‘else’ is used after anybody/somebody use `s with else.
Example –
I like your website and not anybody else`s.
Rule : 14
Apostrophe s can be used with each other and one another .
Example – They respect each other`s decisions.
we like one another`s dresses.
Q 6. All individuals are (A) / different, so their (B) / tastes
vary from (C) / one another (D) / No error (E).
Ans. (D)
Explanation: – Use ‘one another’s as short form for ‘tastes of one another’
Rule : 15
Structure:- A + noun + of +noun
Use `s with the last noun.
Example – A dress of priya`s .
A dress of priya.
Rule : 16
Make comparison between same cases of nouns either nominatives or objectives.
Example – There is no understanding between you and me.
Q 7. He looks (A) / more depressed than (B) / her but I don’t (C)/ know the reason (D) / No error
(E).
Ans- (C)
Explanation: – Comparison should be between the same form of nouns. Here the comparison is
between he (nominative case) and her (objective case), Use the nominative form of her – She
Rule : 17
Use objective case of noun with ‘Let’
Let + obj + bare infinitive (infinitive without ‘to’)
Example – Let us go to the cinema tonight.
Q 8. Let you and I (A) / go to the airport (B) / to welcome (C) /our beloved friend (D) / No error (E).
Ans- (A)
Explanation: – let is always followed by objective case , the objective form of I is ‘me’ and both the
subjective and objective forms of you is ‘you’ . The correct uses should be ‘Let you and me’
Rule : 18
Generally apostrophe‘s’ is used with living things.
But in the following cases we may use apostrophe‘s’
Time indicating nouns (a moment’s delay, a week’s leave, one month’s vacation)
Weight indicating nouns (a ton’s weight)
Some dignified natural objects. (The earth’s surface)
Ex :-
Q 9. In today meeting (A) / we must first discuss (B) / and thrash out the problem (C) / one by one
(D)/ No error (E).
Ans – (A)
Explanation: – Write ‘ In today’s meeting’ in part (A)
Rule : 19
Singular noun + singular verb
Plural noun + plural verb
Q 10. The course provide (A) / not only (B) /theoretical input (C) / but also practical training (D) /
No error (E) .
Ans. (A)
Explanation: – use singular verb ‘provides’ for the singular noun ‘The course’
Q 11. If the teacher (A) / is good, the students (B) / will Respond (C) / positively to them (D) / No
error (E).
Ans. (D)
Explanation: – ‘Them’ is used for plural noun whereas ‘Him’ is used for singular noun, here the
subject ‘the teacher’ is singular noun, the correct uses should be ‘him’ instead of ‘them’.
Q 12. He firmly believes (A) / that a radical change (B) / in the structure of our (C) / various
departments are necessary (D) / No error (E).
Ans. (D)
Explanation: – replace are by ‘is’ as the subject of the sentence ‘a radical change’ is a singular noun.
Q 13. Mohan has collected (A) / all the necessary documents (B) / and have written a good paper
(C) / for his conference (D) / No error (E).
Ans. (C)
Explanation: – The subject ‘Mohan’ is a singular noun hence the verb used for singular noun must
be in singular form ,replace have by has.
Q 14. Many a man (A) / have been (B) / working (C) / under me (D) / No error (E).
Ans. (B)
Explanation: – Replace have by has
Q 15. The unskilled class of (A) / workers are the (B) / most exploited class under (C) / the present
labour contract system (D) / No error (E).
Ans. (B)
Explanation: – Subject of the given sentence ‘The unskilled class’ is a singular noun, use singular
verb ‘is’
Q 16. I saw the accident (A) /but fortunately , I didn’t have to (B) / give evidence as there were
(C) / a large number of other evidences (D) / No error (E).
Ans:- (D)
Explanation: – The noun ‘evidence’ is used for non-living thing (paper, document etc.) as a proof
whereas the noun ‘witness’ is used for a person as a proof , here in the given sentence use ‘witness’
instead of ‘evidence’ as it refers to a person (I)
[Link]
Important Rules for Noun
Now let's go through some important rules of Noun through examples given below:
Rule 1:
Incorrect: He gave me very important informations.
Correct: He gave me very important information.
There are some nouns which do not take the plural form. They are always used in the Singular
number. These nouns are uncountable nouns. Following nouns are always used in Singular number :
Machinery, Information, Poetry, luggage, Jewellery, Knowledge, Percentage etc.
Rule 2:
Incorrect: My trouser is dirty.
Correct: My trousers are dirty.
There are some nouns, which are only used in Plural Form. Also, these nouns take Plural Verb with
them always. Following nouns are always used in Plural number and takes Plural verb with them :
Spectacles, Tongs, pincers, scissors, goggles, gallows, fangs, alms, amends, trousers, pants,
particulars, proceeds, regards, riches, savings, troops, thanks, braces, wages, belongings, etc.
Rule 3:
Incorrect: Mathematics are an easy subject.
Correct: Mathematics is an easy subject.
There are some forms of the noun, which look like a Plural form, but actually, they are Singular and
hence take Singular verb with them. Following words are singular and take singular verb with them :
Mathematics, Politics, News, Politics, Physics, Economics, Athletics, Innings Etc.
Rule 4:
Incorrect: Cattle is grazing in the eld.
Correct: Cattle are grazing in the eld.
Some collective nouns, which are Singular in form ( they do not take 's' or 'es' at the end), but With
them always Plural verb is used.
For example Cattle, People, Police. Poultry, gentry, peasantry. These words always take Plural verb
with them.
Rule 5:
If in a sentence, if Noun+Preposition + the same noun is given, then this noun will be in singular
form. We will not take plural form of them.
For example :
Matches after matches were played between India and Pakistan (Incorrect)
Match after match were played between India and Pakistan. (correct)
Rule 6:
To make compound nouns Plural, always add 's' or 'es' to the main word only.
For example :
[Link]-in-laws (Incorrect)
Mothers-in-law (Correct)
[Link]-in-chiefs (Incorrect)
Commanders-in-chief (correct)
Possessive Noun:
Possessive nouns are the nouns which show ownership. Possessive nouns refer to something which
you own.
In Singular Possessive nouns, Add apostrophe 's' to the singular word to show possession.
For example :
1. Car's Engine, Here we are talking about one car.
2. Boy's Book, Here we are talking about one boy.
3. Sheetal's Dress, Here we are talking about one girl i.e. Sheetal.
If a singular word ends in s, it is still necessary to add 's.
Bus's Tires, here we are talking about one bus only The plural form of a bus is buses.
Lens's colour, here we are talking about one lens only The plural form of the lens is lenses.
For Plural Possessive nouns,
When a plural word ends in 's' or 'es', then do not use 's' after apostrophe in that word. In such
words, add only the apostrophe to the end of the word.
For example,
Cars' engine, Here we are talking about more than one car.
Boys' book, Here we are talking about more than one boy.
But if a plural word is not ending with 's' or 'es' , use apostrophe 's' after the word (Just like singular
words)
For example :
Children's play, Here we are talking about more than one child. Still, we are using apostrophe s.
The apostrophe is not used with possessive pronouns.
Your's Faithfully (Incorrect)
Yours Faithfully (Correct)
In the case of compound nouns, apostrophe comes only at the end of compound nouns :
Sister's-in-law birthday (Incorrect)
Sister-in-law's birthday (correct)
The double apostrophe is not used in a sentence :
I decorated my daughter's book's page. (Incorrect)
I decorated the page of my daughter's book (Correct)
