COMMON ERRORS IN NOUN USAGE

The grammar of a language teaches the learners and follow the masters

Rule: There are some nouns which look singular but in fact, they are plural. Such nouns like policy, poultry, people, gentry, and cattle are always used in the plural. Here are some usage examples:

1.The police were informed on time. Not The police were informed on time.
2. We get eggs from the poultry. Not We get eggs from poultries.
3. Poultry lay eggy. Not Poultries lay eggs.
4. Many people are going to the fair. Not Many peoples are going to the fair.

Note: But people also mean ‘a nation’. Then it can be made plural by adding ‘s’.

5. The population of the world can be divided into many races and peoples. Not The population of the world can be divided into many races and people.

6. There are no gentry in the town. Not
There are no gentries in the town.

7. The gentry of the town is are very fashionable. Not The gentry of the town are very fashionable.

8. Many cattle were grazing in the field. Not Many cattles were grazing in the field.

Rule: Nouns like scenery, machinery, work, poetry, furniture, information, luggage, and advice are used only in the singular.

1. Kashmir is famous for its beautiful scenery. Not Kashmir is famous for its beautiful sceneries.
2. There is much beautiful beautiful scenery in Kashmir. Not There are much beautiful beautiful scenery in Kashmir.
3. He deals in machinery.Not He deals in machinery.
4. Machinery often goes out of order. Not Machineries often goes out of order.
5. I have much urgent work to do.Or I have many pieces of urgent work. Not I have many urgent works to do.
6. Tourists have sent their luggage by train. Not Tourists have sent their luggages by train.
7. I have bought much new furniture. Not I have bought many new furnitures.
8. He gave me much information.Not He gave me many informations.
9. My father gave me much good advice. Not My father gave many good advices.
10 . Keats has written much fine poetry. NOT Keats has written many fine poetries.

Rule: Nouns like news, gallows, innings,mathematics, hair, economics, physics politics,statistics, stylistics metaphysics and summons seam to be plural in form as they have an added -s but in fact they are always singular. Look at the following examples:

1. This news was very good Not These news were very good.
2. The murderer was hanged on this gallows. Not The murderer was hanged on these gallows.
3. The Indian team won the match by one innings and fifty runs. Indian team won the match by one inning and fifty runs.
4. Mathematics is very difficult. Not Mathematics are very difficult.
5. His hair is curly and black. No His hair are curly and black.
6. Economics deals with money matters. Not Economics deal with money matters
7. Physics deals with nature and natural phenomenon. Not Physics deal with nature and natural phenomenon.
8. Politics is dirty game. Not Politics are dirty game.
9. Statistics is a dull subject. Statistics are a dull subject.
10 Metaphysics is the study of the ultimate reality of things. Not Metaphysics are the study of the ultimate reality of things.
11.The summons has been issued by the court. Not The summons have been issued by the court.

Rule: Nouns like clothes, jeans, vegetables, scissors, spectacles, trousers, pants, shorts, socks,measles, tidings,ashes, belongings alms, savings, contents, riches, glasses, binoculars and circumstances are always used in the plural. These nouns look like any other plural but in fact it is not possible to remove the ‘s’ of these nouns to change them in singular form.If needed, a counting expression, such as a piece of or a pair of, can be used to make them countable such as a piece of clothes, a pair of scissors. Such nouns usually refer to items of clothing or tools but there are many other such nouns like arms, authorities, congratulations, contents, goods, grounds, surroundings, thanks, troops. Have a look at the following usage examples:
1. Vegetable are quite cheap these days. NOT Vegetables is quite cheap these days.
2. My scissors are quite sharp. NOT My scissors is quite sharp.
3. Where are my spectacle? NOT Where is my spectacle?
4. He wears tight trousers. NOT He wears tight trouser.
5. His pants are very loose. NOT His pant is very loose.
6. He wears shorts in the playground. NOT He wears short in the playground.
7. Socks keep the feet warm. NOT Sock keeps the feet warm.
8. He is the suffering from measles. NOT
He is suffering from measle.
9. Every act of kindness deserves thanks.
NOT Every act of kindness deserves thank..
10. Have you heard the happy tidings? NOT Have you heard the happy tiding?
11.Please check your belongings before leaving the cinema hall. NOT Please check your belonging before leaving the cinema hall.
12. The beggar asked for alms. NOT The beggar asked for alm.
13. I have invested all my savings in business. NOT I have invested all my saving in business.
14. The contents of this book are printed on the first page. NOT The content of this book are printed on the first page.
15. Riches have wings. NOT Riches has wings.
16. My circumstances do not permit me to go to England. NOT My circumstance do not permit me to go to England.

Rule: Some nouns like sheep, deer, swine and price have the same form both in the singular and plural. Look at the examples:
1. The wolf has killed many sheep. NOT The wolf has killed many sheeps.
2. The hunter killed two deer. NOT The hunter killed two deers.
3. Swine are wallowing in the mire.NOT Swines are wallowing in the mire.
4. One cigarette costs three pice. NOT One cigarette costs three pices.

Rule: Nouns like pair, dozen, score hundred, thousands and million are used in the singular after numerals and otherwise in the plural

1.I bought two pair of shoes. NOT I bought two pairs of shoes
2. Give me two dozen eggs. NOT Give me two dozens eggs
3. A century is equal to five score years.NOT A century is equal to five scores years.
4. Five hundred men were present at meeting. NOT Five hundreds men were present at meeting.
5. Hundreds of men went to see the fair. NOT Hundreds men went to see the fair.
6. Thousands of people greeted the Prime Minister. NOT Thousands people greeted the Prime Minister.
7. Millions of men live in poverty. NOT Millions men live in poverty.
8.It is a hundred rupee note.NOT It is a hundred rupees note.
9. She is a seven year old girl.NOT She is a seven years old girl.
10. I ran a five mile race.NOT I ran a five miles race.

Rule: Sometimes words like house, shop, school and temple are omitted after a possessive case.
1.The police were informed on time. Not The police were informed on time.
2. We get eggs from the poultry. Not We get eggs from poultries.
3. Poultry lay eggy. Not Poultries lay eggs.
4. Many people are going to the fair. Not Many peoples are going to the fair.

Rule: There are some nouns that refer to groups of people, called ‘collective’ nouns. Such nouns can be plural or singular, depending on whether they are considered as a single group or as a collection of individuals. Some examples are committee, jury, enemy, family, government, team.
1a. Her family has produced many politicians.
1b. Her family have threatened to disown her.
2 a. The jury is unanimous in its decision.
2b.The jury divided in its opinion.

The plural is the normal choice with the names of football teams because they are regarded as a collection of individuals:
Manchester United are coming to play here.
The relationship between nouns (as subjects) and verbs is called ‘agreement’.