Nouns - Common Errors / Mistakes

Rules:

COMMON ERRORS IN THE USE OF NOUNS

1. Genitive Case-Ending

The genitive case-ending is seldom used except in nouns denoting persons, other living things, or personified things.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. Climb up the house's roof.

2. Calcutta is Bengal's seaport.

3. Let us pick the garden's fruit.

4. Beware of life's shortness.

5. Look at this letter's signature.

6. I heard the multitude’s shout.

7. He is the flock's shepherd.

8. Go out by the house's door.

Corrected Sentences:

1. Climb up the roof of the house.

2. Calcutta is the seaport of Bengal.

3. Let us pick the fruit of the garden.

4. Beware of the shortness of life.

5. Look at the signature on this letter.

6. I heard the shout of the multitude.

7. He is the shepherd of the flock.

8. Go out by the door of the house.

2. Material Nouns

A material noun (unless it can be used as a common noun) has no plural number.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He had a bag of rises.

2. I picked up ten rises.

3. There are many dirts on the wall.

4. He sent me many foods.

5. We want more fuels than that.

6. He drank two milks.

7. Ten inks are needed for the class.

8. The cow eats grasses all day.

9. The rain has left many waters.

10. Many golds were found there.

Corrected Sentences:

1. He had a bag of rice.

2. I picked up ten grains of rice.

3. There are many spots of dirt on the wall.

4. He sent me many kinds of food.

5. We want more fuel than that.

6. He drank two cups of milk, or he drank milk twice.

7. Ten inkstands are needed for the class.

8. The cow eats grass all day.

9. The rain has left many pools of water.

10. Many nuggets (or lumps) of gold were found there.

3. Abstract Nouns

An abstract noun (unless it can be used as a common noun) has no plural number.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He did many mischiefs.

2. He gave me many advises.

3. Leave off such stupidities.

4. He did many foolish behaviors.

5. He learnt three poetries by heart.

6. He was fond of bad companies.

7. He has had two sleeps today.

8. He gave me a great deal of troubles.

9. You have many choices.

10. He possesses many skills.

Corrected Sentences:

1. He did many acts of mischief.

2. He gave me many pieces of advice.

3. Leave off such acts of stupidity.

4. He did many foolish actions.

5. He learnt three pieces of poetry by heart.

6. He was fond of bad company or bad companions.

7. He has slept twice today.

8. He gave me a great deal of trouble.

9. You have many things to choose from.

10. He possesses many kinds of skill.

4. Singular in Form, Plural in Sense

There are some nouns which are singular in form, but plural in sense.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. These tattles are mine.

2. This cattle is mine.

3. The vermin is swarming.

4. The swipes are lying down.

5. These peoples have gone.

Corrected Sentences:

1. These cattle are mine.

2. This cow is mine.

3. The vermin are swarming.

4. The swine are lying down.

5. These people have gone.

5. Nouns with No Plural or Special Plural Sense

There are some nouns which either have no plural, or use it in a special sense.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He gave me many abuses.

2. Give me all the informations that you have received.

3. This room has ten furnitures.

4. They had three offsprings.

5. Have you learnt the alphabets?

Corrected Sentences:

1. He gave me many words of abuse.

2. Give me all the items of information that you have received.

3. This room has ten pieces of furniture.

4. They had three children.

5. Have you learnt the letters of the alphabet?

6. Singular for Plural to Denote Specific Quantity

The singular number can sometimes be used for the plural to denote some specific quantity.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He gave me a ten-rupees note.

2. I shall bring a three feet rule.

3. He had forty heads of cattle.

4. This is an eight-days clock.

5. I like a six-years-old horse.

Corrected Sentences:

1. He gave me a ten-rupee note.

2. I shall bring a three-foot rule.

3. He had forty head of cattle.

4. This is an eight-day clock.

5. I like a six-year-old horse.

More Rules With Examples:

Exercise With Answer

Identify and correct the errors in each sentence.

40 sentences with errors in the use of nouns. Identify and correct the errors in each sentence.

1. Climb up the house's roof.

2. Calcutta is Bengal's seaport.

3. Let us pick the garden's fruit.

4. Beware of life's shortness.

5. Look at this letter's signature.

6. I heard the multitude’s shout.

7. He is the flock's shepherd.

8. Go out by the house's door.

9. He had a bag of rises.

10. I picked up ten rises.

11. There are many dirts on the wall.

12. He sent me many foods.

13. We want more fuels than that.

14. He drank two milks.

15. Ten inks are needed for the class.

16. The cow eats grasses all day.

17. The rain has left many waters.

18. Many golds were found there.

19. He did many mischiefs.

20. He gave me many advises.

21. Leave off such stupidities.

22. He did many foolish behaviors.

23. He learnt three poetries by heart.

24. He was fond of bad companies.

25. He has had two sleeps today.

26. He gave me a great deal of troubles.

27. You have many choices.

28. He possesses many skills.

29. These tattles are mine.

30. This cattle is mine.

31. The vermin is swarming.

32. The swipes are lying down.

33. These peoples have gone.

34. He gave me many abuses.

35. Give me all the informations that you have received.

36. This room has ten furnitures.

37. They had three offsprings.

38. Have you learnt the alphabets?

39. He gave me a ten-rupees note.

40. I shall bring a three feet rule.

Answers

1. Climb up the roof of the house.

2. Calcutta is the seaport of Bengal.

3. Let us pick the fruit of the garden.

4. Beware of the shortness of life.

5. Look at the signature on this letter.

6. I heard the shout of the multitude.

7. He is the shepherd of the flock.

8. Go out by the door of the house.

9. He had a bag of rice.

10. I picked up ten grains of rice.

11. There are many spots of dirt on the wall.

12. He sent me many kinds of food.

13. We want more fuel than that.

14. He drank two cups of milk, or he drank milk twice.

15. Ten inkstands are needed for the class.

16. The cow eats grass all day.

17. The rain has left many pools of water.

18. Many nuggets (or lumps) of gold were found there.

19. He did many acts of mischief.

20. He gave me many pieces of advice.

21. Leave off such acts of stupidity.

22. He did many foolish actions.

23. He learnt three pieces of poetry by heart.

24. He was fond of bad company or bad companions.

25. He has slept twice today.

26. He gave me a great deal of trouble.

27. You have many things to choose from.

28. He possesses many kinds of skill.

29. These cattle are mine.

30. This cow is mine.

31. The vermin are swarming.

32. The swine are lying down.

33. These people have gone.

34. He gave me many words of abuse.

35. Give me all the items of information that you have received.

36. This room has ten pieces of furniture.

37. They had three children.

38. Have you learnt the letters of the alphabet?

39. He gave me a ten-rupee note.

40. I shall bring a three-foot rule.

 Identify and correct the errors in each sentence.

Multiple Choice Exercise:

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