Nouns

THE FAMILY OF THE NOUNS:

Noun is the name of a person, place or a thing. For example - Rama, Sita, Delhi, Pen,
Table, Bus etc. The following chart will make you familiar with the family of the Nouns.
Nature of the Noun & Some examples
Proper Noun: It denotes one particular person, place or thing.
Ex: Chandu, Calcutta, India, the Ganga, etc.

Common Noun: Common Noun is the name given in common to

Table, glass, town, king, etc. Every person or thing of the same class or kind.
Collective Noun: It denotes a group or collection of similar.
Ex: Army, Class, host, jury etc. individuals considered as one complete whole.
Material Noun It denotes matter or substance of which a thing.
Ex: Milk, iron, silver, gold, (is made up of material).
Abstract Noun: It expresses quality, state or action.
Ex: Truth, love, soul, mind, greatness, life, etc.

BEHAVIOUR OF THE NOUN

Rule 1: This group includes those nouns which are always used in the plural.
Example:
1. Premises
2. Spectacles
3. Bowels
4. Valuables
5. Billiards
6. Trousers
7. Socks.. etc.

Examples:
(a) Riches have wings,

(b) Kindly give me a pair of scissors;

(c) My spectacles have been broken.

Rule II: This group includes those nouns that look like plural, but are used in the singular.
Example:
1. Mathematics
2. Statistics
3. Economics
4. Politics
5. Gymnastics
6. Physics

Examples:
(a) Mathematics are a difficult subject. (Incorrect)
Mathematics is a difficult subject. (Correct)
Note: Mathematics looks like plural but, in fact, it is singular. So, we cannot use plural verb
with it.
(b) Politics are a game of compromise. (Incorrect)
Politics is a game of compromise. (Correct)
(c) These news were broadcast from All India Radio only yesterday. (Incorrect)
This news was broadcast from All India Radio only yesterday. (Correct)

Rule III: This group is a family of collective nouns. These nouns are singular in form but are
used as plural.
Example:
1. Gentry
2. People
3. Police

4. Cattle
5. Poultry

Examples:
(a) The police is looking into the matter. (Incorrect)
The police are looking into the matter. (Correct)
(b) The cattle is grazing in the field. (Incorrect)
The cattle are grazing in the field. (Correct)
(c) Peoples should be loyal to their nation. (Incorrect)
People should be loyal to their nation. (Correct)

Rule IV: This group is a family of those nouns which are generally used in the singular.
Example:
1. Poetry
2. Advice
3. Information
4. Hair
5. Scenery

Example:
(a) I do not like poetries of Keats. (Incorrect)
I do not like poetry of Keats. (Correct)
(b) The old furniture were disposed of. (Incorrect)
The old furniture was disposed of. (Correct)
(c) The sceneries of the Himalayas are excellent. (Incorrect)
The scenery of the Himalayas is excellent. (Correct)

Rule V: Some nouns have the same form in singular and plural.

Example:
1. Sheep
2. Fish
3. Cod
4. Swine
5. Deer

Examples:v (a) I saw ten deers yesterday (incorrect)

I saw ten deer yesterday (correct)
(b) The fishes cannot live without water. (Incorrect)
The fish cannot live without water. (Correct)

Rule VI: Some nouns when preceded by a numeral remain unchanged in form.
Example:
1. Hundred
2. Thousand
3. Lac
4. Crore
5. Million

Examples:
(a) I need 3 crores for my needs (incorrect)
I need 3 crore for my needs (correct)
(b) Six hundreds miles is a long distance. (Incorrect)
Six hundred miles is a long distance. (Correct)

NOUNS AND THEIR NUMBERS:

Making Plural Number:

1.

By addings to the singular noun;

Singular
Plural
Pen
Pens
Cow
Cows
Dog
Dogs

2.
3.

By adding 'es' at the end of a singular noun if it ends in s, sh, x, ch, z etc:
Singular
Plural
Touch
Touches
Gas
Gases
Box
Boxes
Match
Matches
Church
Churches
Brush
Brushes

4.
5.

By adding 's' to a singular noun if it ends in y and if there is a vowel before the 'y'
Singular
Plural
Holiday
Holidays
Journey
Journeys
Guy
Guys
Key
Keys
Boy
Boys

6.
7.

Those singular nouns that end in'f or 'fe' form their plural by changing the F into V
and adding 'es' to those that end in F and 's' to those that end in 'fe'.
Singular
Plural
Half
Halves
Leaf
Leaves
Thief
Thieves
Shelf
Shelves
Knife
Knives
Life
Lives
Wife
Wives
Self
Selves

8.
However there are certain exceptions to the above rule. For instance, a few ending in 'f
or 'fe' get their plurals by adding 's'.
Singular
Plural
Safe
Safes
Strife
Strifes
9.
Nouns ending in 'ief, 'oof, 'eef and 'rf get the plural by simply adding 's' to the singular:
Singular
Plural
Chief
Chiefs
Grief
Griefs
Puff
Puffs
Stuff
Stuffs
Proof
Proofs
Roof
Roofs
Surf
Surfs
10.
There are still other singular nouns ending in F which form their plural by following both
the above methods and both the plurals thus obtained are correct.
Singular Plural
Hoof
Hoofs or Hooves
Staff
Staffs or Staves
Scarf
Scarfs or Scarves
11.
12.

Those singular nouns which end in 'o' and have a consonant before that 'o' form their
plural by adding 'es' to the singular:
Singular
Plural
Mango
Mangoes
Buffalo
Buffaloes
Hero
Heroes
Mosquito
Mosquitoes
Negro
Negroes
Potato
Potatoes
Volcano
Volcanoes

13.

However there are some singular nouns of the above description that do not follow the
above rule. Instead they get their plural by simply adding's':
Singular
Plural
Dynamo
Dynamos
Halo
Halos
Photo
Photos
Piano
Pianos
14.
15.

Such singular nouns which end in o' and have a vowel before that o' form their
plural by adding 's:
Singular
Plural
Studio
Studios
Cameo
Cameos
Cuckoo
Cuckoos
Radio
Radios

16.
17.

Some nouns form their plurals by changing the vowel sound of the singular.
Singular
Plural
Foot
Feet
Goose
Geese
Louse
Lice
Man
Men
Mouse
Mice
Tooth
Teeth
Woman
Women

18.
There are some nouns which are a combination of two or more words. These are
known as compound nouns.
Such nouns get their plural by adding's' to the main or the principal word.
(a) in some cases it is the first word that forms the plural:
Singular
Plural
Daughter-in-law
Daughters-in-law
Commander-in -chief Commanders-in-chief

Sister-in-law
Looker-on
Brother-in-law

Sisters-in-law
Lookers-on
Brothers-in-law

19.
Examples where the second word forms the plural
Singular
Plural
Book-case
Book-cases
Class-fellow
Class-fellows
Race-horse
Race-horses
Step-son
Step-sons
Grand-father
Grand-fathers
Maid-servant
Maid-servants
20.
Examples where both the words make plural:
Singular
Plural
Man-servant
Men-servants
Woman-servant
Women-servants
Lord-justice
Lords-justices
Assignment 1
1.

His friend (a) / has been (b) / suffering from (c) / measle for three days (d)/ No Error
(e)

2.

You (a)/ are (b)/ good (c)/ at mathematic. (d)/ No error (e)

3.

All the Army Chief (a) / are (b) / present (c) / on the Republic Day Parade, (d)/ No
Error (e)

4.

There are (a)/ many (b)/ mouses in (c)/ your house (d)/ No Error (e)

5.

Some thiefs (a)/ entered (b)/his house (c)/ yesterday, (d)/ No Error (e)

Answers:
1. (d) (measles)
2. (d) (Mathematics)
3. (a) (Chiefs)
4. (c) (Mice)

5. (a) (thieves)
Prepared by,
IACE, Hyderabad.