Candidates preparing English for competitive exams take undue tension. English appears to be problematic for them. So some of them neglect English Grammar. Here they fail to get into the rank. By studying basic but unique grammar and vocabulary, the candidates can overcome this fear of English. The 5 groups of nouns, singular plural nouns and verb forms going with them will boost your confident. Students studying in high school and Jr. colleges also should study grammar not for the school exams but for the competitive exams.
English For Competitive Exams
English is made compulsory in almost all competitive Exams. Exams like Banking, NDA, BITS, MPSC, UPSC, Staff Selection Commissions and SBI Probationary, Police Recruitment, Teacher Recruitment have English paper. English in Competitive exams is tricky. Questions based on subject verb agreement and singular plural nouns confuse the students.
Nouns always in Plural Forms
The following nouns are always used in plural forms. Use of these nouns as singular by removing ‘s’ or ‘es’ is incorrect. While using the verbs with them, one should consider this fact. These nouns follow the verbs like are, were, have, do and base form of verbs in Simple Present Tense.
1. Riches – Riches have wings
2. Premises – Our school premises are clean and green.
3. Spectacles – My spectacles have been broken.
4.Socks – We wear a pair of socks.
5. Fetters
6. Bowels
7. Shorts
8. Valuables
9. Pantaloons
10. Proceeds
11. Tidings
12. Alms
13. Mumps
14. Eatables
15. Billiards
16. Movables
17. Scissors – Kindly give me a pair of scissors.
18. Wages
19. Thanks
20. Stockings
21. Surroundings
22. Annals
23. Breeches
24. Measles
25. Trousers
26. Arms
27. Tongs
28. Goods
Examples:
(a) Riches have wings.
Riches in the above sentence means “wealth’ and not
‘many rich men’. In other words “Riches’ is not the plural of “Rich’. The word has its independent existence and is always used in plural. So, we have used a plural verb (have) with it.
(b) Kindly give me a scissor.(Incorrect)
Kindly give me a pair of scissors.(Correct)
Nouns Plural in Forms But Used in Singular
The following nouns seems to be plural as they end with ‘s’ but they are singular in form. We should consider this fact while using these nouns in sentences. These nouns follow the verbs like is, was, has, does.
1. Mathematics
2. Innings
3. Athletics
4. Statistics
5. Economics
6. Politics
7. Gymnastics
8. Gallows
9. Summons
10. Mechanics
11. Classics
12. Physics
13. News
Examples:
(a) Mathematics are a difficult subject. (Incorrect)
Mathematics is a difficult subject.(Correct)
Note: Mathematics looks like plural but, in fact, it is singular. So, we cannot use plural verb with it.
(b)Politics are a game of compromise.(Incorrect)
Politics is a game of compromise.(Correct)
(c) These news were broadcast from All India Radio only yesterday.(Incorrect)
This news was broadcast from All India Radio only yesterday.(Correct)
Nouns singular in form but used as plural.
1. Police
2. Clergy
3. People
4. Gentry
5. Folk
6. Mankind
7. Vermin
8. Public
9. Cattle
10 Poultry
11 Peasantry
Examples
(a) The police is looking into the matter. The police are looking into the matter
(b) The cattle is grazing in the field. The cattle are grazing in the field.(Incorrect)
(c) Peoples should be loyal to their nation. People should be loyal to their nation.
Nouns Generally used in the singular form.
- Gram
- Infantry
- Poetry
- Scenery
- Offspring
- Abuse
- Stationery
- Furniture
- Advice
- Information
- Luggage
- Issue
- Machinery
- Cavalry
- Physics
- Rice
- Fuel
- Mischief
- Alphabet
- Bunting
- Hair
- Bedding
Examples:
(a) I do not like poetries of Keats.
I do not like the poetry of Keats.
(b) The old furnitures were disposed of.
The old furnitures was disposed of.
(c) The sceneries of the Himalayas are excellent
The sceneries of the Himalayas is excellent
Unchanged Singular Plural Nouns
- Sheep
- Deer
- Fish
- Rice
- Apparatus
- Corps
- Means
- Heathen
- Cod
- yoke
- species
- Pan
- Series
- Amends
- Cannon
- Swine
Examples:
(a) A series of lectures were delivered on the subject. (Incorrect)
A series of lectures was delivered on the subject. (Correct)
(b) The fishes cannot live without water. (Incorrect)
The fish cannot live without water. (Correct)
Nouns preceded by numeral
There are some nouns that express length, measure, money, weight, number or counting. These nouns when preceded by a numeral remain unchanged in form. Such nouns are listed below:
Examples:
- Hundred – Six Hundred miles is a long distance
- Foot – The boys caught a six-foot cobra
- Thousand
- Million
- Metre
- Year – It was a five-year project.
- Head
- Dozen
- Pair
- Score