Spotting Error Rules, Types, Practice Set in Noun for SSC CGL, CHSL, SBI, IBPS
English language section bears a major significance in competitive examinations like SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, CPO, IBPS, SBI, LIC, SEBI, NABARD etc. Here, we will discuss Spotting Error Rules, Types, Practice Set in Noun for SSC CGL, CHSL, IBPS etc.
Let’s learn the
Spotting Error in Noun
Basics: Parts of Speech
Noun is a type of parts of speech that is used to name of persons, places, things, actions, ideas etc.
- Proper Noun: A Proper noun denotes the name of a particular person or place.
- Common Noun: A Common noun denotes a name given in common to every person or thing of the same kind or class.
- Collective noun: A Collective noun denotes the name of a group of persons or things or body etc.
- Abstract Noun: An Abstract noun denotes an idea, quality, phase or state etc.
- Material Noun: A Material noun denotes the name of the material, substance or things.
Appositon means placing a noun near another noun to describe it. It is a kind of descriptive expression not joined by any conjunction. Example: Shweta, the Captain of our team, scored a century.
Rule 1
- In English language the Uncountable Nouns are used in the singular structure.
- Indefinite article is not used before them.
Examples
Advice, information, hair, luggage, business, mischief, bread, scenery, abuse, vacation, evidence, employment, alphabet, poetry, food, furniture, baggage, fuel, paper, equipment, machinery, material etc.
Sentence Examples
- He gave me an information. (use ‘a piece of instead of ‘an’)
- He was punished for committing many mischiefs. (Use ‘much mischief in place of “many mischiefs”)
These Uncountable nouns may be used as singular form
- a piece/a word of advice.
- a word of abuse
- an act of mischief
- a piece of work
- a piece/loaf of bread
Rule 2
There are some of the collective nouns which can not be used with singular verbs,used only with plural verbs.
Examples
cattle,majority, peasantry, gentry, poultry, clergy, people, folk etc
Sentence Examples
- Cattles are grazing in the field. (Use ‘cattle’ in place of cattles”)
Rule 3
There are some collective nouns which are used with singular verbs when they are used as an individual body or group.
Examples
crowd, committee, jury, house, board, ministry, family, mob, audience, police, team, number etc
Sentence Examples
- The committee is unanimous on this issue of new education policy.
- The committee are divided and there is no consensus on the Mullaperiyer Dam dispute.
Rule 4
Some nouns always take a plural verb.
Examples
Spectacles, trousers, scissors,premises, stockings, shorts, scales, measles, goods, thanks, tidings etc.
Sentence Examples
- Where is my spectacles? (use ‘are’ instead of ‘is’)
Rule 5
There are some nouns when used in plural form, the meaning of the noun is entirely changed.
Examples
- Good = wise , goods = property
- Iron = metal, irons = chains
- Advice = counsel, advices = information
- Air = atmosphere, airs = proud
- Authority = command, authorities = persons in charge
- Force = strength, forces = army
- Respect = regards, respects = compliments
- Work = job, works = factories
- Wood = materials, Woods = Forest
- Custom = habit, customs = tax
- Arm = Organ, arms = weapon
Rule 6
Some nouns (in plural form and ends with ‘s’ or ‘es) are used with singular verb
Examples
Innings, Series, News, Summons, subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Mechanics, Politics, Economics,diseases like Mumps, Measles, Rickets etc Sports and Games like Billiards, Aquatics, Gymnastics, Athletics etc,the names of countries like United States, United Arab Emirates etc.
Sentence Examples
- Politics are very complex and nasty platform.(Use ‘is’ in place of ‘are’)
- These news are disappointing.(Use ‘is’ in place of ‘are’)
Rule 7
A compound noun (numerical + noun) is not used in plural form if the noun does the function as an adjective.
Example
- Ten-day tour
- A ten-mile race
- A ten-year old girl
- A five-rupee note
Rule 8
Use of Apostrophe with ‘s’
- The apostrophe with ‘s’ can not be used in case of non-living things. It can only be used in case of living things and personified nouns. Example:The table’s wood. (Incorrect) , Boy’s hand. (Correct)
- Apostrophe with ‘s’ should be used only with the last word in case of compound nouns.Example: Mother-in-law’s words.
- Pronouns are written without using apstrophe but ‘s’ is added. Example: Yours truly
- In case of possessive case, apostrophe without ‘s’ after Plural nouns or words ending with ‘s’. Example John Keats’ poems, Boys’ Hostel.
- Double apostrophe with ‘s’ can not be used. Don’t use like this: My wife’s friend’s mother died.
- Apostrophe with ‘s’ for anybody,nobody,somebody etc. Example: I can rely on your source of information, not somebody else’s
Rule 9
Singular and Plural form of some nouns
| Singular Form | Plural Form |
|---|---|
| Commander-in-chief | Commanders-in-chief |
| Major General | Major Generals |
| Attorney General | Attorneys General |
| Medium | Media |
| Stadium | Stadia |
| Maid servant | Maid servants |
| Mother-in-law | Mothers-in-law |
| Syllabus | Syllabi |
| Datum | Data |
| Alumnus | Alumni |
| Oasis | Oases |
Rule 10
If the same noun is repeated after preposition, the noun will be singular.
Examples:Town after town was devastated.
Rule 11
If a numeral adjective and a fraction are used with a noun, the noun is used with the numeral and will be in singular form.
Example: He gave me one rupee and a half.(Correct) He gave me one and half rupees.(incorrect)
Rule 12
Some nouns like Sheep,offspring, deer, fish are used as singular or plural only by the use of verb.
Example:
- Sheeps are economically useful. (Use ‘Sheep’ in place of “Sheeps’)
- A sheep is grazing in the field. (Correct)
- Brother, Brothers=sons of the same parents, Brethren=members of society
- Cloth, Cloths=Cloth that are not stitched, Clothes= stitched clothes (garments)
- Die,Dies= stamps for printing and coming, Dice= small cubes in games
- Index,Indexes= tables of contents in a book, Indices=sign used in algebra
Spotting Error Rules, Types, Practice Set in Noun
1.He acted not (a)/ as per my advice (b)/ but (c)/ somebody else.(d)
2.Pakistan’s problems (a)/ are also as (b)/ serious as (c)/ that of India.(d)
3.When I reached (a)/ at the gate of his (b)/ house I found his (c)/ locking up the gate.(d)
4. Many of the question (a)/ appeared in this question paper (b)/ are too difficult (3)/ to solve.(d)
5. I visited (a)/ Ram’s and Sita’s house (b)/ and found (c)/ the couple missing.(d)
6 All the girls students (a)/ are advised to (b)/ attend the (c)/ meeting positively.(d)
7.She gave me (a)/ two important informations (b)regarding the(c)/SSR death case.(d)
8.It is a big blunder(a)/ but we had (b) / to ignore it (c)/(d)No error
9.The police have received(a)/two important intormations (b)/ that can help them (c) /solving the triple murder case(d).
10.The sheafs (a)/ of the wheat plants were too heavy (b) / for the weak farmer to carry them on his head (c)/ (d) No error
11. The population of India (a)/is divided into two classes (b)/ Haves and Haves not (c)/ (d) No error
12.All his sister-in laws (a) / are extremely co- operative (b) /and she doesn’t miss her real sisters at all (c)/ (d) No error
13. Envy strikes a woman (a)/ when she sees her husband (b) / talking to another woman (c)./ (d) No error
14.Two summons have been issued by the court(a)/ but he has not (b) / yet appeared before the court (c)/ (d) No error
15.The Vaidya’s(a) / have been living here (b)/ for about a decade (c)./ (d) No error.
16.You are among those(a)/ man who earned name and fame not by (b)/ chance but by hard work (c)./ (d) No error
17.Children are playing(a)/ and making mischiefs (b)/ as their holidays have started (c)/ (d) No error.
18.Sheeps are economically useful(a)/ and so they are reared (b)/ for wool and 31. meat (c)/ (d) No error.
19.I read the letter(a)/ and made him aware (b)/ of its content (c)/ (d) No error.
20.I shall not go to the party tonight(a)/ since I have many works to complete (b)/ before I give presentation tomorrow (c)/ (d) No error.
Answer Key of the Noun Practice Set
1. (d) Write else’s. Use of apostrophe is necessary here.
2. (d) India’s should be written,it will make the comparison logical.
3. (c) Write him’ for his’. Use objective form pronoun before participle.
4. (a) ‘questions’ should be written in place of ‘question’
5. (b) Write Ham and Sita’s. One apostrophe will be used in
6. (a) Write girl students’ instead of ‘girls student’. such case.
7. (b) ‘two important informations’ should be replaced with ‘two important pieces of information.’
8. (a) Blunder means Big mistake.Hence big blunder is superfluous.
9.(b) Information’ is an uncountable noun.to make it countable and plural use ‘pieces of information’.
10. (a) Plural form of sheaf is ‘sheaves’ and not ‘sheafs.
11. (c) Have nots’ is a coined word which means ‘deprived class’.
12. (a) ‘Sisters-in-law’ is the correct plural form of ‘sister-in-law’.
13. (a) ‘Jealousy’ is the fear to lose the person/thing that we have. Envy means ‘resentful desire of something possessed by someone else’.
14.(a) ‘Summons’ is singular in form. Its plural is ‘summonses’.
15. (a) Use Vaidyas’ as we are talking about the members of the family with their last name vaidya’. Remove ‘apostrophe’.
16. (b) Those’ being plural will take plural noun ‘men’.
17. (b) “Mischief is an uncountable noun. It has no plural form.
18. (a) ‘Sheep’ has no plural form but can be used in plural sense.
19. (c) Change’content’ into ‘contents’. It means ‘that are contained in a piece of writing
20. (b) ‘Work’ is an uncountable noun hence ‘many works’ is replaced with ‘Many pieces of work’
Practice Set of English Language for Defence Exams (Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard etc)
Noun Quiz
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