COMPILED BY: MANSOOR ALI

LECTURER@ GDC KHIPRO

ERRORS IN THE USE OF NOUNS

1. NOUNS THAT CANNOT BE MADE PLURALS

Incorrect: The sceneries of Kashmir are beautiful.

Correct: The scenery of Kashmir is beautiful.
Incorrect: My father gave me two advices, which are very dear to me.
Correct: My father gave me two pieces of advice, which are very dear to me.
Incorrect: I have bought three soaps and two brushes.
Correct: I have bought three bars of soaps and two brushes.
Incorrect: Her hairs are very long.
Correct: Her hair is very long.

We may use the following patterns in this case.

 A piece/ two pieces of (information, news, work, advice, knowledge ,poetry,
prose, criticism, etc )
 An article/ three articles of ( clothing, luggage, apparatus, jewelry, cutlery,
crockery, stationery, etc.)

2. NOUNS THAT HAVE SAME SINGULAR AND PLURAL FORMS.

Swine, sheep, deer, salmon, trout, fish, gallows, innings, counsel, aircraft, etc

Incorrect: These sheeps will be slaughtered early in the morning.

Correct: These sheep will be slaughtered early in the morning.
Incorrect: He has sold all his swines.
Correct: He has sold all his swine.
Incorrect: The lions are reported to have killed five deers in two days.
Correct. The lions are reported to have killed five deer in two days.
Incorrect: These aircrafts are made by China.
Correct: These aircraft are made by China.

3. NOUNS THAT LOOK PLURAL BUT ARE GENERALLY USED AS SINGULAR.

Electronics, linguistics, statistics, mechanics, civics, aeronautics, economics, avionics,

cards, darts, dominoes, measles, rickets, news, politics, summons, etc.

Incorrect: Rickets/measles are the cause of my disturbance.

Correct: Rickets/ measles is the cause of my disturbance.
Incorrect: Mathematics have never been my favourite subject.
Correct. Mathematics has never been my favourite subject.
Incorrect: These news are very important.
Correct. This news is very important.
 3. THE COLLECTIVE NOUNS THAT ARE ALWAYS USED AS PLURALS.
Poultry, cattle, vermin, gentry, peasantry, clergy, police

Incorrect: Poultry has given him great profit.

Correct: Poultry have given him great profit.
Incorrect: Peasantry of Pakistan is living under hopeless circumstances.
Correct: Peasantry of Pakistan are living under hopeless circumstances.
Incorrect: The police has caught the thief.
Correct: The police have caught the thief.

4. NOUNS WITH PLURAL FORMS AND TAKE PLURAL VERBS.

GROUP. A. Trousers, scissors, pants, pajamas, glasses, shorts, drawers, pliers,

spectacles, goggles, binoculars, fetters, scales, compasses, etc.

GROUP. B. customs, remains, assets, thanks, congratulations, condolences, savings,

lodgings, regards, respects, arms, pains, damages, surroundings, forces, troops,
manners, friends, brains, contents, particulars, valuables, belongings, orders, means,
statistics, effects, spoils, receipts, alms, credentials, papers etc.

NOTICE THE DIFFERNCE BETWEEN THE USAGE OF UNDERLINED

WORDS.

 Please give me two sheets of paper to write an application.

 Please get the papers of your property verified.
 He is carrying the branches of wood on his back
 The woods are lovely , dark and deep.
 The mass of this body is greater than what I expected.
 This is a country where masses are illiterate and the rules are incompetent.
 He opened the bottle and pour half of the contents into the glass
 He failed to understand the content of my essay.
ERRORS IN THIS CASE.

Incorrect: your allegation has no ground at all.

Correct: Your allegation ahs no grounds at all.
Incorrect: W take great pain to satisfy our valued customers.
Correct: We take great pains to satisfy our valued customers.
Incorrect: he has received the order of his transfer.
Correct: He has received the orders of his transfer.
Incorrect: His saving has increased to a considerable extent.
Correct. His savings have increased to a considerable extent.
Incorrect: Please convey my thank/ regard/respect to you father.
Correct: Please convey my thanks /regards/respects to you father.
Incorrect: You need to learn table manner.
Correct: You need to learn table manners.