Friday, 27 September 2013

Additional examples of Noun



 
  e. When the subject of a verb is a relative pronoun, we should ensure that the verb agrees in number and person with the antecedent of the relative.

Example:
This is one of the most encouraging achievements that has happened this quarter.
This is one of the most encouraging achievements that have happened this quarter.

She is one of the most talented girls that has enrolled in this course.
She is one of the most talented girls that have enrolled in this course.

f. When one noun is qualified by two possessive nouns both must have the possessive sign, unless joint possession is indicated.

Example:
Marks and Spencer's Cigars.
Ravi's and Shekhar's bags are lying in the balcony.

     g. While referring to 'anybody, everybody, everyone, anyone, each,' etc., the pronoun of the masculine or the feminine gender is used according to the context.

Example:
He is willing to assist everyone of the girls in the class with their homework.
He is willing to assist everyone of the girls in the class with her homework.

Note: When the gender is not specified, the pronoun of the masculine gender can be used as there is no singular person of the third person to represent both male and female.

Example:
If anyone can answer this question, let him raise his hand.
Anyone can solve this puzzle if he concentrates.
Each must try his best.
Everybody should put in his full effort.

     h. In conversation, the interrogative 'who' is often used for 'whom' even by educated people.
Example:
'Who did you meet?' instead of saying, 'Whom did you meet?' But in the written form, it is advisable to use the correct form.

Example:
He is the man whom they thought was dead.
He is the man who they thought was dead.

There are some whom I think are hardworking.
There are some who I think are hardworking.

Whom do you wish to meet?
Who do you wish to meet?

Whom do you believe her to be?
Who do you believe her to be?

i. When two nouns in the possessive case are in apposition, the apostrophe with 's' is added to the last noun only.
Example:
This is my brother, the doctor's office.
His cousin Ravinder's watch has been found here.
   
      j. A pronoun must agree with its Antecedent in person, number and gender.
Example:
All students must do his homework.
All students must do their homework.

Every boy must do their homework.
Every boy must do his homework.

Each of the women expressed their own beliefs.
Each of the women expressed her own beliefs.

k. Each, either, and neither are distributive pronouns calling attention to the individuals forming a collection, and must accordingly be followed by verbs in the singular.
Example:
Each of the boys have done well.
Each of the boys has done well.

Each of the women were paid a rupee.
Each of the women was paid a rupee.

Either of the methods help you to get the solution.
Either of the methods helps you to get the solution.

Neither of the brothers were found to be honest.
Neither of the brothers was found to be honest.

l. Possessive Case should be used only in the following situations:

a.    Names of living beings and personified things:

Example:
nature's principles, the minister's residence, the elephant's trunk.

b. A few commonly used phrases.

Example:
For god's sake; out of harm's way; for goodness' sake.

c.    Nouns of space or time denoting an amount of something.

Example: A week's wages; in a month's time.
   

      m. The case of a pronoun following 'than' or 'as' is determined by mentally supplying the verb; the verb is understood or implied.

Example:
She is cleverer than he ('is' is understood)
Geetha rides better than I ('do' is understood)
She loves me more than I ('love her' is understood)
They praise her as much as ('they praise' is understood) me.

n. Anyone should be used when more than two persons or things are spoken of.

Example:
He was more hardworking than either of his ten classmates.
He was more hardworking than anyone of his ten classmates.

o. The relative pronoun is sometimes wrongly omitted when it is the Subject of the clause.

Example:
She has a perseverance would carry her through anything.
She has a perseverance that would carry her through anything.

     p. The use of 'same' as a substitute for the personal pronoun should be avoided.

Example:   
After you have completed reading the book, please return the same to me.
After you have completed reading the book, please return it to me.

q. A pronoun is sometimes inserted where it is not required.

Example:
The candidate, being a former student of this college, he is eligible for additional benefits.
The candidate, being a former student of this college, is eligible for additional benefits.

Sharmila, being my friend, she shall be given better treatment.
Sharmila, being my friend, shall be given better treatment.

     r. A noun or pronoun in the Possessive case should not be used as the antecedent to a relative pronoun.

Example:
Do not neglect his efforts, who made this event possible.
Do not neglect the efforts of him who made this event possible.

s. When the antecedent is 'same' the consequent should be 'as' or 'that', when the antecedent is 'such', the consequent should be 'as'.

Example:
That is the same bus that (or as) they saw last week.
We went to the same movie that you did.
Her result was such as we expected it to be


Note: However, to express "Nouns Always Singular" in their plural forms, usually 'a piece', 'a bit', 'an item', 'word', 'a leaf', etc.  are used before them.

Example:
"Excuse me Sir, here is a piece of information for you", said the receptionist.
Today I had only two slices of bread for breakfast.

2. Certain nouns like foot, meter, pair, score, dozen, had, year, hundred, thousand, million remain unchanged in number though a numeral precedes them.
Example:
It is a five-kilo meter distance from here (not : meters)
We have agreed on a ten million project (not : millions)

3. Some nouns give one meaning in their singular forms and a different meaning in  their plural forms.

Example:   
1. (a) He holds you in the greatest respect (= regard).
    (b) If you go to see her, please offer my respects to her (= compliments).

2. (a) Many are looking for work (= job).
    (b) There has been an accident at the fireworks (= factories).



Note:- the following words do not change in to the plural number:
 
                Singular
       Plural
 
(i) advice, counsel advice, counsel  
(ii) air, atmosphere air, atmosphere  
(iii) authority, command authority, command  
(iv) good, wise good, wise  
(v)  iron, metal iron, metal  
(vi)  content, satisfaction content, satisfaction  
(vii) physics, medicine physics, medicine  
(viii) earning, income earning, income  
(ix) quarter, one fourth quarter, one fourth  
       
  4. Un English Nouns: The forms of certain nouns are often wrongly used as:
  Example:
1. Lectureship is the lowest teaching grade at a college or university.
2. The position of a Lecturer is the lowest teaching grade at a college or university.

2. Mr. George is not a French teacher.
    Mr. George is not a teacher of French.

Also say: 'free studentship', not 'free ship', 'boarding house', 'not boarding', 'members of the family', not 'family members', 'cousin', not 'cousin brother or sister', etc.

5. Mistakes are often made when the differences of some nouns are not clearly understood.

Example:
1. (cost, price)

Cost: the value of production
Price: the value paid or given by a customer

The margin is not high though the cost is low.
I could not afford it at such a price.
 
 

  Example:
2. (habit, custom)

Habit: an individual's usual practice of something.
Custom: if a group of individuals in the name of sect or society practices something.

Habit: I do not have the habit of smoking after meals.
Custom: It is not our custom to fast on Sunday.

And justify the following pairs of nouns with their meanings in your sentences.


  • (cause, reason)   = (produces a result, explains a result)
  • (man, gentleman) = (human being, a man of honour)
  • (men, people)      = (plural of man, persons)
  • (shade, shadow)  = (---- from the sun, the shade of a distinct object)
  • (house, home)     = (a building, a building to live in)
  • (customer, client) = (one who buys, one who receives service) 

6. Proper, material or abstract nouns do not by nature, have plural forms unless they are used as common nouns.

Example:
It takes a couple of hours to cross the woods (= forest).
Food for lunch can be carried in ten tins (= cans).

7. 'One of' means 'a part of' something which must always be plural.


Example:
'He is one of my cousins.' (not : cousin).
'This is one of the cities I have visited till now (not : city).

 

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