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Subject: EnglishChapter: Common Error (Part-2)

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2. Noun (SUbjective Verb Agrteement)1. Nouns having the Same Form in Singular as well as in Plural

(a)Nouns expressing number: two hundred people; three dozen eggs; four score oranges.But note: scores of organes; hundreds of people.

(b) Nouns in expressions like a ten-rupee note; a five-year old child; a five-kilometre walk.

(c) Names of some animals: sheep, deer, swine.

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2. Nouns used as Singular

The following nouns are generally used in the singular: alphabet, bedding, clothing, furniture, information, luggage, machinery, offspring, poetry, scenery, physic etc.:

3. Nouns Plural in Form but used as Singular

(a) Branches of learning: Mathematics, Physics, Mechanics, Statistics(b) Diseases: Mumps, measles(c) Games and sports: Billiards, draughts, gymnastics.(d) News, summons, innings, wages:

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4. Nouns always used as Plural

(a) Articles of dress: shoes, socks, trousers, pyjamas, shorts.But a pair of shoes is singular:Leather shoes are very costly in Russia.A pair of shoes is all I need.

(b) Names of instruments: scissors, tongs, bellows, Spectacles, shears:These scissors are very sharp.My spectacles have been lost.

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(c) Other nouns like alms, annals, ashes, assets, intestines, thanks, proceeds, spirits, tidings, savings, belongings, contents, credentials, nuptials:The proceeds of this show are being donated to the National Defence Fund.

5. Nouns Singular in Form but used as Plural

Cattle, gentry, peasantry, poultry, clergy:The cattle are grazing in the field.If the peasantry flourish, the country prospers.The gentry were found uncooperative.

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Singular Plural

Brother Brothers (Sons of the same parents)b

Cloth Cloths (kinds or pieces of cloth)Clothes (garments)

Genius Geniuses (persons of great talent)Genii (spirits)

Index Indexes (tables of contents)

Indices (signs used in Algebra)

6. Nouns with Two Plural Forms which Differ in Meaning

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7. A pronoun must have the same gender, number and person as the noun it represents:

The girl has deposited her books at the counter. She is now coming to the library.

Mohan's son has lost his watch. He needs a new one.

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I accused him of theft. (objects of a Let me do it. verb)

How long did you wait for me? (object of a preposition)

Besides him,  many others voted in my favour (object of a preposition)

8. When a personal pronoun is used as the object of a verb or a preposition, it is placed in the objective case:

9. When a pronoun is used as the complement of the verb to be, it is placed in the nominative case:

It is I. In informal conversation, they often say it is me, but if the pronoun is followed by a clause, nominative case must be used: It is I who scored the goal.

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I love you more than he. (than he loves you)I love you more than him. (than I love him)You helped me as much as she. (as much as she helped me)You helped me as much as her. (as much as you helped her)

10. The pronouns governed by than and as can be placed either in the nominative case or in the objective case depending upon the meaning to be conveyed:

An Introductory

‘Verb-Subject’ agreement plays a very important role in English Grammar. Even those who enjoy a good command over the language, sometimes commit mistakes. In the following discussion, we have given sixteen rules that teach the verb-subject agreement.

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Subject Verb

He and I Were

[Two singular nouns joined by ‘and’] [a plural verb]

Ram and Mohan Are

[Two singular nouns joined by ‘and’] [a plural verb]

Examples (i) He and I were going to the market.(ii) Ram and Mohan are friends.

In the above sentences, ‘verb-subject’ agreement is as follows :

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(iii) Verbs which derive their 2nd and 3rd forms by the addition of -d, -ed, or -t and without a change in the vowel; as: First form Second form Third form

Walk Walked WalkedTalk Talked TalkedProve Proved ProvedShape Shaped ShapedWash Washed WashedWrithe Writhed WrithedClimb Climbed ClimbedDeal Dealt DealtMean Meant MeantSpoil* Spoilt or-spoiled Spoilt or spoiledHear Heard Heard

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Burn Burnt BurntDwell Dwelt Dwelt

First form Second form Third form

Feel Felt FeltKneel Knelt KneltBring Brought BroughtSell Sold SoldCan Could CouldBeseech Besought BesoughtSeek Sought SoughtTell Told ToldThink Thought Thought

(iv) Verbs that have a vowel change as well as the addition of a suffix; as

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(v) In some cases, the verbs retain their original identity in all the three forms. They end in -d or -t; as:

First form Second form Third form

Bet Bet BetBurst Burst BurstCast Cast CastCost Cost CostCut Cut CutHit Hit HitHurt Hurt HurtLet Let LetPut Put PutRid Rid RidSet Set Set

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Shed Shed Shed

Spread Spread Spread

Shut Shut Shut

Slot Slot Slot

Split Split Split

Thrust Thrust Thrust

Note: There are no hard and fast rules by which one can make out, by looking at a verb, how it is going to change its form. Therefore, in order to be able to use verbs correctly in all their forms, it is essential to develop familiarity with them. This can be done by reading and if possible memorising the list of verbs, with their different forms.

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Comparison of Adjective

1. The comparative degree of an adjective is used to compare two things, the superlative to compare more than two things. If no comparison is implied, we use positive degree:

Mayur is a tall boy. (No comparison, hence the positive degree of the adjective tall)

Mayur is taller than Shubham. (Comparison between two persons, hence the comparative degree of the adjective tall)Mayur is the tallest boy in the class. (Comparison among all the boys of the class, hence the superlative degree of the adjective tall)

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Incorrect. He is more cleverer than his cousin.

Correct. He is cleverer than his cousin.

Incorrect. Mount Everest is the most highest peak in the world.

Correct. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.

Note: Comparative degree is usually followed by than; superlative degree takes with it the definite article the. See the examples given above.

2. Double comparatives and superlatives must not be used.

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3. Other

Mercury is heavier than any other metal.Mercury is the heaviest of all metals.

In the first sentence, mercury is to be excluded from the metals, with which it is being compared. In the second sentence it is one of them. It would be incorrect to say:

Mercury is heavier than any metal.Mercury is the heaviest of all other metals.

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4. Comparatives ending in or, superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior, are followed by to and not by than. We do not use with them more also:

He is senior to me by three years.My pen is superior to yours.

5. Very, much

(i) Very qualifies adjectives or adverbs in the positive degree, much qualifies them inthe comparative degree:She is a very intelligent girl.Today she is looking much weaker than usual.She runs very fast.She runs much faster than Soumya.

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(ii) Very is used with present participles when they are used as adjective; much is used to modify past participles when they have their full verbal function:The scenery is very charming.

The foreign policy of the government was much criticised in Parliament.

However, if a past participle is used purly as an adjective, it is modified by very and not by much:

I felt very tired.I am very satisfied to see your work.

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Other such participle adjectives are: pleased, surprised, delighted, grieved, pained, annoyed, experienced, contented, concerned, disappointed, interested, worried, bored, shocked, astonished, excited, etc.

(iii) Very is used with an adjective in the superlative degree for emphasis:

He is the very best student in the class.

Much is used with an adjective in the superlative degree to intensify the meaning: You are much the brightest (by the brightest) student in the class.

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(ii) Too preceded by only has a positive sense:He is only too glad to meet his friends.(He is extremely glad to meet his friends.)

(iii) Too much is generally used before a noun:He take too much sugar in his tea.You take too much care of your health.

(iv) Too means also:Have you been to the party, too?This, too, is very important.In speech, we use too more often than also.

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7. Enough

Enough means sufficient and is always used in the positive sense. It is placed after the adjective or adverb but before the noun:He was tall enough to reach the shelf.I ran fast enough to overtake her.There isn't enough room to sit down.

9. That. That should not be used before interrogative adverbs or pronouns in indirect narration:

Incorrect. He asked me that when he could come to see me.Correct. He asked me when he could come to see me.

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10. Since. Since shows 'from which time'. It is preceded by present perfect tense (sometimes present indefinite tense) and followed by past indefinite tense:

Three months have passed since he last wrote to me.It is about a month since I met her.

11. Unless, if. Unless means if not. It should not be confused with if:

Incorrect. Unless he does not apologise, he should not be allowed to sit in the class.Correct. Unless he apologises, he should not be allowed to sit in the class.

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12. Lest. Lest means 'in order that ..... not'. It always takes should with it:

Cover your head properly lest you should catch cold.

Note. The clause beginning with lest should not be negative.

Incorrect. Let us catch a taxi lest we should not get late.Correct. Let us catch a taxi lest we should get late.

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Incorrect Correct

1. I hope you are keeping good health. I hope you are enjoying good health.

2. These days he is enjoying bad health. These days he is keeping bad health.

3. Many homes are lying vacant. Many houses are lying vacant.4. Are you going to your house straight from the office?

Are you going home straight from the office?

5. The roads of this town are narrow. The streets of this town are narrow.

6. Let us sit in the shadow of the tree. Let us in the shade of the tree.7. How many individuals were present in the meeting?

How many persons were present in the meeting?

8. He made an interesting lecture. He delivered an interesting lecture.

9. My leg is paining. I am feeling pain in my leg.10. The captain of our team made four goals.

The captain of our team scored four goals.

Miscellaneous Errors Including Ambiguities And Indianisms

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Incorrect The clock has struck five hours.

Correct The clock has struck five.Incorrect There is no place in the hall.Correct There is no room in the hall.Incorrect Little thing has been done.Correct Little has been done.Incorrect We have an urgent business.

Correct We have an urgent piece of business.

Incorrect He came by the 4:30 o’clock train.

Correct He came by the 4:30 train.

Incorrect He left the place with his belonging goods.

Correct He left the place with his goods.

Use of Noun 

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