ENGLISH grammar NOUNS for all competitive exams (PART 1)

                                                        NOUN                              PART 1 of 2

A noun is a part of speech that is used to identify a class of people, places, things, living creatures, objects, persons, states, qualities, action, state of existence, ideas, activity, or emotions.
Types of noun

1. Common noun
2. Proper noun
3. Abstract noun
4. Material noun
5. Compound noun
6. Collective noun

Explanation as per all Competitive Exams 

1. Common Nouns: A common noun is a word used for a class of person, place, or thing.
2. Proper Nouns: A proper noun is the name of a person, place, or thing.

COMMON NOUN              PROPER NOUN
Car.                                         Ford
Man                                        Rohan
Bridge                                    Howrah bridge
Lake                                       Sukhna lake
Tea                                         Tata tea
Restaurant                              Mc D

NOTE: 

• A common noun can be singular and plural as well which means it's a countable noun. The use of the article ‘A’ and ‘AN’ is permissible with countable nouns.
• A proper noun is always singular. The use of the article ‘A’ and ‘AN’ is not permissible.

     3. Abstract Nouns: An abstract noun is a word which names something that you cannot see, hear, touch, smell, or taste. For example Parenthood, belief, childhood, truth, love, soul, greatness, poverty, honesty, beauty, bravery, charity, fear, ego.
NOTE:  Abstract noun is always singular. The use of the article ‘A’ and ‘AN’ is not permissible.
     4. Material noun: Material Noun is the name of a material or a substance or an ingredient of an alloy. For example Wood, Gold, Iron, Stone, brick.

 NOTE: Material noun is always singular. The use of the article ‘A’ and ‘AN’ is not permissible.
Never use ‘S’ at the end of the material noun it changes the meaning of the word. For example
                       Wood - Timber (This table is made up of wood.)
                      Woods – Forest (The woods are lovely, dark and deep but I have a promise to keep.)
Study the uses of nouns with one meaning in singular and another in the plural.
Noun                          Used as                       Noun                          Used as
Wood                         Material                      Woods                        Forest
Water                         Material                      Waters                        Sea
Asset                         Quality                        Assets                         Property
Sand                          Material                      Sands                          Land
Iron                           Material                       Irons                          Chains
Cloth                         Material                      Clothes                       Dress
Abuse                        Indecent word             Abuses                       Misuses
Work                         Labor                           Works                         Literary writing
Air                            Element                        Airs                            Behavior
Advice                      Suggestion                   Advices                      Bills/information
Fruit                          Edible thing                Fruits                           Results
Wit                            Ability to talk             Wits                             Intelligence
Arm                          Organ                          Arms                           Weapons
Good                        Advantage/use            Goods                          Articles
Return                      Come back                  Returns                        Profit/loss
Force                        Strength                       Forces                         Defense forces
Compass                  Extend/range               Compasses                  V-shaped instrument
Content                    Substance                    Contents                      Matter in books
Quarter                     Fourth part                  Quarters                      Residence
Respect                    Regard                         Respects                     Compliments

Study the uses of nouns with one meaning in singular and two in the plural.

Noun                         Meaning                       Noun                  1st meaning                      2nd meaning
Colour                       Material                       Colours                Material                            Flags
Custom                      Habit                           Customs               Habits                               Tax
Effect                        Result                           Effects                 Results                              Property
Ground                     Earth/Reason                Grounds              Earth/Reasons                   Enclosed land
Manner                     Mode/Method               Manners              Modes/Methods                Behavior
Moral                       A lesson                        Morals                 Lessons                             Habits
Number                    Numeral                       Numbers              Numerals                          Songs
Part                           Portion                         Parts                    Portions                             Abilities
Spectacle                  A sight                         Spectacles            Sights                               Glasses
Premise                    Proportion                    Premises               Proportions                      Houses

5. Compound Noun: A compound noun is one comprising at least two words.
For example court-martial, pickpocket, watermark, Mother-in-law, Board of Members, Court-martial, Manservant, Cooking-oil, swimming pool, fish tank, housework, eyelid, shotgun, baby-sitter, laughing-gas, daughter-in-law, Blackboard

NOTE: Compound nouns can be singular and plural as well. The use of the article ‘A’ and ‘AN’ is permissible.

6. Collective Nouns: A collective noun is a word that refers to a group. It can be either singular or plural.

Always Singular

Always singular collective nouns can be classified into three categories:

Category 1(Group reference)
A tuft of hairs.
A colony of ants.
A bevy of swans.
A bunch of grapes.
A loaf of bread.
A Gaggle of geese.
A bundle of sticks.
A mob of angry people.
A flock of tourists.
A band of musicians.
A flock of birds.
A pair of shoes.
A herd of deer/cattle/elephants/goats/buffaloes/cows.
An album of stamps/autographs/photographs.
A board of directors.
A host of sparrows.
A crowd of people/spectators.
A troop of lions.
A litter of puppies/kittens.
A pack of wolves.
A school of whales.
A gang of laborers.
A troupe of artists/dancers.
A team of players.
A tribe of natives.
A crew of sailors.
A panel of experts.
An army of ants.
A haul of fish.
A litter of cubs.
A galaxy of stars.
A wad of notes.
A forest of trees.
A stack of wood.
A fleet of ships.
A string of pearls.
An audience of listeners.
A hedge of bushes.
A library of books.
A basket of fruit.
A bowl of rice.
A pack of cards.
A team of horses/ducks/oxen.
A bouquet of flowers.
A zoo of wild animals.
A kennel of dogs.
A bunch of keys.
A chest of drawers.
A regiment of soldiers.
A group of dancers.
A cloud of dust.
A pack of lies.
A range of mountains.
A pack of hounds.
A class of students.
A gang of thieves.
A flock of sheep.
An army of soldiers.
A choir of singers.
A group of islands.
A staff of employees.
A pack of thieves.
A hive of bees.
A flight of birds.
A bunch of crooks.
A team of horses.
A murder of crows.
A swarm of bees/ants/rats/flies.
A pile of books.
Note:

• It uses in a singular form only.
• The use of the article ‘A’ & ‘AN’ is just before them. For Example, I saw a herd of cattle. (use ‘a herd of’)
• These nouns may be used to denote singularity as follows. For Example, i) A piece/a word of advice. ii) An article of luggage.

Category 2 (Singular form without using ‘S’ at the end of the word)
Scenery
Information
Furniture
Advice
Machinery
Stationary
Poetry
Mischief
Fuel
Issue
Rice
Wheat
Gram
Infantry
Hair
Alphabet
Vocation
Fruit
Word(promise)
Crockery
Luggage
Grass
Dust
Baggage

Note:

• It uses in a singular form only.
• Article ‘A’ & ‘AN’ is not used before them. For Example, He gave me an information. (Omit ‘an’)
• These nouns may be used to denote singularity as follows. For Example, i) A piece/a word of advice. ii) An article of luggage.

Category 3 (Singular form with the use of ‘S’ at the end of the word)
Mathematics
Statistics
Economics
Economics
Politics
Innings
Gymnastics
Athletics
Gallows
News
Physics
Summons
Mechanics
Mumps
Measles
Rickets
Billiards
Arabian nights
Note:

• It uses in a singular form only.
• Article ‘A’ & ‘AN’ is not used before them. For Example, She is suffering from a measles. (Omit ‘a’)

Always Plural

Always plural collective nouns can also be classified into three categories:

 Category 1 (Plural form without using ‘S’ at the end of the word)
For Example Cattle, Poultry, People, Gentry, Peasantry, Artillery, Vermin, clergy, folk

 Category 2 (The plural form with the use of ‘S’ at the end of the word)           
For Example Riches, Premises, Bowels, Valuables, Proceeds, Alms, Annals

 Category 3 (Things which cannot be parted)
For Example Scissors, Trousers, Stockings, Spectacles, Shorts, Socks, Tongs, tweezers, Pincers, Shoes, Jeans, scales, bloomers, breeches, pliers.

NOTE: 

• All the three categories should be used in plural form followed by plural verbs (are/were/have).
• Articles 'A' & 'AN' should not be used with any of these categories.

PRACTICE EXERCISE

1.      The sceneries here are good.

2.      I have lost my furnitures. 

3.      We have received no informations.

4.      He told his mother these news. 

5.      There are no bread in this shop.

6.      Please excuse me for the troubles I have caused.

7.      I am learning a new poetry. 

8.      I am reading poem.

9.       The cattle is grazing in the ground. 

10.   Where is my trousers? 

ANSWERS

1.      The scenery here is good.

2.      I have lost my furniture. 

3.      We have received no information.

4.      He told his mother thIs news. 

5.      There is no bread in this shop.

6.      Please excuse me for the trouble I have caused.

7.      I am learning new poetry. 

8.      I am reading a poem.

9.       The cattle are grazing in the ground. 

10.   Where are my trousers? 

Thanks 

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Director (English Planet)

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