Rules for Nouns- Singular verb, Plural nouns

A noun is a term that refers to a person, location, object, or concept. Every item we can see or discuss has a term that identifies it. A Noun is a word that acts as a “naming” word. Every name we can think of is a noun. People (e.g., boy, Rita), animals (e.g., cat, cockroach), locations (e.g., street, Bangalore), things (e.g., Table, Wire), substances (e.g., Gold, glass), traits (e.g., Happiness, sadness), and measurements (e.g., inch, pound) are among the items included. Now, using the examples below, let’s go over some essential Rules for Nouns.

Rules for Nouns

1. Some nouns need a singular verb at all times: Scenery, machinery, advice, information, stationery, furniture, gram, issue, abuse, fuel, rice, bedding, repair, news, economics, physics, mischief, poetry, business, mathematics, classic, innings, gallows, ethics, athletics.

• He has given advices. (Correct use- advice)

2. Although certain nouns have a singular meaning, they are usually employed as plural nouns and need a plural verb: Cattle, company, peasantry, artillery, gentry, vermin, people, clergy, police.

• The Police has controlled the situation. ( correct use- have)

3. Some nouns are always pluralized and must be followed by a plural verb: Trousers, stockings, shorts, scissors, spectacles, measles, goods, tidings, annals, alms, premises, thanks, chattels, etc.

• The spectacles is a costly item. (correct use- are) 

4. Some nouns denote length, measurement, money, weight, or a number. When they are preceded by a numerical, their form does not change: Foot, dozen, thousand, head, meter, pair, score, year, hundred, million.

• I have seven dozens of shoes. (correct use- dozen) 

5. Jury, committee, government, audience, public, team, symphony, corporation, and other collective nouns are used in both singular and plural forms. It is dependent on the application.

• The team have not arrived yet. (correct use- has) 

6. Some nouns have different meanings in the singular and plural:

• Work = job, works = compositions, factories
• Respect = regards, respects = compliments
• Content = satisfaction, contents = things contained
• Force = strength, forces = army
• Iron = metal, irons = fetters, chains
• Good = wise , goods = property
• Authority = command, authorities = persons in power
• Air = atmosphere, airs = proud
• Advice = counsel, advices = information

7. People are frequently confused or make blunders while using specific terms.

• It also means charges for the labour when used in the plural sense.
• Wages means punishments when used in the singular.
• Cousin – brother or sister is wrong; only cousin is correct.
• English teacher is wrong; the teacher of English is correct.
• Family members is wrong; members of the family is correct.
• Boarding is wrong; boarding house is correct.
• Freeship is wrong; free – studentship is correct.
• Lecturership is wrong: lectureship is correct.

8. In terms of person, number, and gender, a pronoun must agree with its antecedent.

• Each of the fellows must carry his own bag.
• All learners must do their homework.
• Every learner must bring his luggage.

9. The pronoun of the masculine or feminine gender is used depending on the context when using ‘everyone,’ ‘everyone,’ ‘anybody,’ and ‘each.’

• I shall be happy to help each of the boys in this practice.
• Anyone can qualify for this exam if he tries.
• Each of the six boys in the class has finished their tasks. (Incorrect)
• Each of the six boys in the class has finished his task. (Correct)

10. The pronoun ‘one’ must be followed by ‘one’s’.

• One must complete his homework in time. (Incorrect)
• One must complete one’s homework in time. (Correct)

11. The pronoun employed is singular when two or more singular nouns are joined by ‘either or’; ‘neither nor’, ; and ‘or’.

• Either Sohan or Rohan will give their cycle. (Incorrect)
• Either Sohan or Rohan will give his cycle. (Correct)

12. When a singular and a plural noun are joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’, the pronoun must be plural.

• Either the student or his teachers failed in his duty. (Incorrect)
• Either the student or his teachers failed in their duty. (Correct)

13. ‘Whose’ is used for living persons and ‘which’ for lifeless objects.

• Which novel did you select?
• Whose photograph is lying there?

14. ‘Each other’ is used when there are two subjects or objects and ‘one another’ when there are more than two.

• Ram and Sita loved each other.
• Those five students, who are sitting there, love one another.

15. When a pronoun stands for a collective noun, it must be in the singular number and in the neuter gender if the collective noun is viewed as a whole, but if it gives an idea of different entities, a plural pronoun is used. 

E.g., The jury gave ‘its’ verdict.

Here the ‘jury’ gives the idea of one whole.

If the collective noun conveys the idea of separate individuals comprising the whole, the pronoun standing for it must be plural.

E.g., The jury were divided in their opinions.

In this sentence, the ‘jury’ gives the idea of several individuals.

16. ‘Some’ is used in affirmative sentences to express quantity or degree. ‘Any’ is used in negative or interrogative sentences.

• I shall purchase some oranges.
• I shall not purchase any oranges.
• Have you purchased any oranges?

However, the word ‘some’ can be used appropriately in interrogative phrases that actually request.

• Will you please provide me some water?

Conclusion

We hope you have fully comprehended all of the Rules for Nouns. Only by practising questions connected to them will you be able to learn them. Simply cramming them won’t benefit you and help you achieve your goal, and you’ll quickly forget about it. As a result, make sure you put in as much practice time as possible.

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