Spot the error in Nouns - Rules, examples and practice questions

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
'Darts' is a noun, which 'looks' plural, but is used as 'singular'.

The correct sentence should be: Darts is played by men as well as women.

To understand this type of errors, we must understand the behavior of nouns.

Nouns can be divided into several types, as covered in this and following questions.

Nouns that look like plural, but are used as singular

News, Mathematics, Ethics, Linguistics, Phonetics, Politics, Economics, Statistics, Measles, Rickets, Billiards, Darts, Droughts, Innings, Gymnastics, Mechanics, Classics, Physics, Summons, Gallows

Example:

Incorrect:	Mathematics are a difficult subject.
Correct:	Mathematics is a difficult subject.

Incorrect:	Politics are a dirty game.
Correct:	Politics is a dirty game.

The similar explanation applies to the usage of all other words listed above.

ANSWER: 3

Explanation:
Replace 'sceneries' by 'scenery'.

'Scenery' is an uncountable noun, it cannot be made plural by joining 's/es'.

The correct sentence should be: Recently I visited Singapore and found the scenery to be breathtaking.

Nouns which are used in 'singular'.

Luggage, Baggage, Breakage, Furniture Drapery, Imagery, Scenery, Poetry, Pottery, Machinery Work, Paper, Wood, Iron, Stone, Glass, Dust, Rubbish, Dirt Electricity, Traffic, Information, Advice Food, Bread, Grass, Stationary, Mischief, Infantry Offspring, Issue, Abuse, Cavalry, Fuel, Alphabet, Hair, Bedding

Example

Incorrect:	I do not like poetries of Anand.
Correct:	I do not like poetry of Anand.

Incorrect:	The old furnitures were disposed of.
Correct:	The old furniture was disposed of.

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
Replace 'is' with 'are'. Although 'police' appears singular, yet it is used in 'plural' sense.

The correct sentence should be: The police are becoming more and more inactive.

**You do not need to add “s” “es” to make them plural.

Nouns that are used in 'plural'

Cattle, People, Police, Gentry, Peasantry, Electorate, Nobility, Poultry, Riches, Odds Arms, Bellows, Fetters, Pincers, Tongs, Sheers, Scissors Trousers, Pants, Pantaloons, Trappings, Socks, Shorts, Stockings Clergy, Folk, Mankind, Vermin, Public, Premises, Alms, Goods, Surroundings

Example

Incorrect:	Peoples should be loyal to the nation.
Correct:	People should be loyal to the nation.

The similar explanation applies to the usage of all other words listed above.

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
Use of 'datas' is wrong. The word 'data' is used in both, singular and plural form.

The correct sentence should be: The present data show that the death rate has fallen down.

Nouns that have same form in singular and plural.

Series, Species, Deer, Sheep, Fish, Cod, Yoke, Salmon, Salmon, Turbot, Pike, Mackerel Headquarters, Means, Score, Agenda, Data Apparatus, Swine, Rice, Heathen, Pan, Amends

Example

Incorrect:	A series of lectures were delivered.
Correct:	A series of seminar was delivered.

Incorrect:	The headquarter of the Army is in Delhi.
Correct:	The headquarters of the Army is in Delhi.

Note that the above words should be used carefully and according to the sense which the sentence intends to convey.

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
The correct expression should be - 'a dozen copies' or 'dozens of copies'.

The correct sentence should be: She has bought a dozen copies of English Grammar books.

Nouns that express measure, money, length, weight, number or counting

Foot, Thousand, Hundred, Meter, Pair, Score, Million, Year, Head, Dozen

Example:

Incorrect:	Seven hundreds miles is a long distance.
Correct:	Seven hundred miles is a long distance.

Incorrect:	It was a ten-years project.
Correct:	It was a ten-year project.

Incorrect:	Three dozens eggs have been bought.
Correct:	Three dozen eggs have been bought.

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
The correct use should be - 'forces'. Some nouns have more than one meaning in their singular and plural form. 'Force' denotes 'strength', 'forces' denotes 'troops/ army'.

The correct sentence should be: Indian forces are known for their loyalty and integrity.

Let us now see some nouns that have more than one meaning in their singular and plural form,

Singular form of Noun and its Meaning	Plural form of Noun and its Meaning
Gain - Profit, Acquisition of wealth	Gains - Profits
Light - Lamp, Brilliance	Lights - Lamps
Wood - Timber, Forest	Woods - Forests
Force -Strength, Body of Armed men	Forces - Troops
Abuse - Wrong use, Reproach	Abuses -Wrong Practices

Example:

Wood is used as a fuel to light furnaces. (Timber)

We lost our way in the woods. (Forests)

Force should be met with force. (Strength)

A force of 15 persons robbed the bank. (Body of armed men)

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
The correct usage is - 'letters'. The intention here is to convey that the complete telegram is to be written in block(capital) letters.

The correct sentence should be: He instructed me to write the telegram in capital letters.

Similarly,

Singular form of Noun and its Meaning	Plural Form of Noun and its Meaning
Arm - Upper limb (part of body)	Arms -Weapons, Upper limbs
Provision - Condition	Provisions - Conditions, Food
Colour - Hue	Colours - Flags, Hues
Spectacle - Sight	Spectacles - Eye-glasses, Sights
Letter - Alphabet	Letters - Alphabets, Messages
Custom - Habit	Customs - Duties on goods, Habits
Manner - Method	Manners - Behavior, Methods
Pain - Ache	Pains - Troubles, Careful efforts

ANSWER: 3

Explanation:
Use 'irons' instead of 'iron'. Here, 'irons' denote 'chains'. Some nouns change their meaning when used in plural form.

The correct sentence should be: The judge ordered that the
irons of the accused should be removed.

Some nouns that change their meaning when used in plural form:

Noun (Singular Form)	Meaning	Noun (Plural Form)	Meaning
Blind	Unable to see	Blinds	A screen for a window
Advice	Counsel	Advices	Information
Authority	Command	Authorities	Persons in power
Character	Moral qualities of individual	Characters	People in novel, play or films
Good	Nice	Goods	Property (things)
Iron	Metal	Irons	Chains
Content	Satisfaction	Contents	Things contained
Respect	Regards	Respects	Compliments
Work	Job	Works	Compositions
Earning	Income	Earnings	Savings
Quarter	One-fourth	Quarters	Houses
Air	Atmosphere	Airs	Affected manners, Proud behaviour

Example

It is shameful to use force with a woman. (Strength)

The forces on the border are always alert. (Army)

I shall return within two hours. (Come back)

The returns were very poor. (Earnings)

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
Replace 'formula' by 'formulae'. Some nouns have more than one plural form with different meanings.

Here, Formula - Singular

Formulas - Plural, meaning- Methods of application

Formulae - Plural, meaning- Rules of Physics

The correct sentence should be: You cannot master physics without learning the formulae that govern it.

The following is the list of some nouns with two plural forms which differ in meaning:

Noun (Singular)	Plural I	Meaning	Plural II	Meaning
Penny	Pennies	Separate coins	Pence	Collective noun
Fish	Fish	Considered collectively	Fishes	Considered separately
Shot	Shots	Throw, stroke or hit in certain games	Shots	Firing from the gun
Index	Indexe	Tables of contents	Indices	Signs in algebra
Cloth	Cloths	Pieces of cloth	Clothes	Garments
Brother	Brothers	Sons of the same parent	Brethre	Members of a community or society

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
Replace 'price' with 'cost'. Nouns like price and cost are often confused.

Price denotes amount paid by the customer, cost denotes amount paid by the manufacturer/shopkeeper.

The correct sentence should be: The cost of production in the industrial sector has gone up.

Example:

	Nouns	Proper Use	Example
1.	Habit	It belongs to individual.	He is a victim of bad habits.
	Custom	It belongs to society or country.	The Nigerians have strange customs.
2.	House	It is a building to live in.	This house is made of bricks.
	Home	It is a particular house in which one is living.	You must go home now.
		Home may also denotes one's native place or	India is the home of the Indians.

List of Nouns (Pairs) often confused:

	Nouns (in pairs)	Proper Meaning
1.	Cause	'Cause' produces results.
	Reason	'Reason' explains or justifies a cause.
2.	Ground	It is outside of the house.
	Floor	It is part of the room.
3.	Shade	A place sheltered from the sun.
	Shadow	The shade of any object.
4.	Customer	A buyer of goods
	Client	One who avails oneself of services.
5.	Man	Male human; Used in general sense
	Gentleman	Man of character
6.	Air	'Air' is what we breathe
	Wind	'Wind' is what makes the leaves of the tree move.

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
The correct form is: 'sisters-in-law'.

There are some nouns which are combination of two or more words. These kind of nouns are known as Compound Nouns.

Such nouns get their plural by adding 's' to the main or the root/principal word.

The correct sentence should be: All his sisters-in-law are very beautiful to look at.

Let us now see list of some compound nouns and their correct plural forms,

Singular	Plural
Daughter-in-law	Daughters-in-law
Hanger-on	Hangers-on
Commander-in-chief	Commanders-in-chief
Brother-in-law	Brothers-in-law
Passer-by	Passers-by
Looker-on	Lookers-on

Singular	Plural
Book-case	Book-cases
Class-fellow	Class-fellows
Race-horse	Race-horses
Step-son	Step-sons
Cast-away	Cast-aways
Maid-servant	Maid-servants
Horse-race	Horse-races

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
In cases of the form, “Noun + Preposition + Noun”, noun is always singular. i.e. woman after woman.

The correct sentence should be: Woman after woman spoke against the practice of dowry.

Examples:

Incorrect	Correct
Days after days	Day after day
Days by days	Day by day
Rows upon rows	Row upon row

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
The correct usage is: One of the problems.

In cases of the form, “One of + the + Noun(Plural)”, the noun is always plural.

The correct sentence should be: One of the problems with you is that you are not sincere.

In the same way, note the proper use of nouns after the following phrases,

Each of + the + Noun (Plural noun should be used) e.g. Each of the boys Similarly, Either of + the + Noun (Plural) Neither of + the + Noun (Plural)e.g. Either of the girls	Most of + the + Noun	1. If Noun is Uncountable, use Singular form of noun e.g. Most of the time 2. If Noun is Countable, use plural form of noun e.g. Most of the visitors
None of + the + Noun (Plural) e.g. None of the boys Any of + the + Noun (should be Plural) - Only if Noun=Countable e.g. Any of these three girls	All of + the + Noun	1. If Noun is Uncountable, use Singular form of noun e.g. All of the luggage 2. If Noun is Countable, use plural form of noun e.g. All of the coins

Let us now see the proper application of apostrophe ( 's )

Man/animal - man's life, ram's wife, dogs' kennels, cows' tails

Time - a moment's delay, a week's leave, a month's absence

Weight - a ton's weight; a gram's weight

Money - a rupee's value; a Pound's worth

Space - a razor's edge, a needle's point, a boat's length.

Some dignified natural objects - the earth's surface/gravity/creatures/area etc. The sun's rays; heaven's will

Special cases - The ship's arrival/departure, The train's arrival/departure, The plane's arrival/departure, A boat's crew

Note: I) Apostrophe ('s) is not used with two immediate/consecutive nouns.
e.g. Rachit's wife's career – incorrect.

The correct usage is - The career of Rachit's wife

II) In case of compound nouns, apostrophe ('s) is used with tailing word.

e.g. Son-in-law's shirt

The Government of India's order

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
The correct expression is- Ram and Sita's house. When two nouns are closely related, apostrophe ('s) is used with tailing noun.
The correct sentence should be: I visited Ram and Sita's house thrice but found the couple absent.

ANSWER: 5

Explanation:
No error in the sentence.

The correct sentence should be: “Everybody's business is nobody's business” said the teacher.

Note here that apostrophe ('s) is also used with the following -

Anybody/ Somebody/ Nobody/ Everybody/ Anyone/ Someone/ No one/ Everyone

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
Replace 'nobody's else ' with nobody else's. With 'anybody else/ somebody else', apostrophe is used with 'else'

The correct sentence should be: I like your suggestion and nobody else's.

Similarly, in case of one another and each other , apostrophe ('s) is used after 'other'.
e.g. They liked each other's idea.