Study notes on Noun for CLAT and Other Law Exams - 01

Dear Readers, 

Here we are providing you detailed Study Notes on Noun which will be helpful for Upcoming CLAT and other Law Entrance Exams.

A sentence is group of words arranged in a manner, which makes complete sense. Words are divided into, different kinds or classes called Parts of speech according to their use or according to the work they do in a sentence. A noun is one of these parts. A Noun, is a word used as the name of a person, place or thing. The word thing includes (i) all objects that we can see, touch, hear, smell or taste and (ii) something we can think of, but cannot perceive by senses. There are five different kinds of nouns. They are: (1) Proper Noun (2) Common Noun (3) Collective Noun (4) Material Noun and (5) Abstract Noun.

                                        THE FAMILY OF THE NOUNS 

                                    

1.Proper Noun  : It denotes one particular person, place or thing.  , 

Some examples   Chander, Calcutta,India,the Ganga etc                                                                        

2.Common Noun : Common Noun is the name given in common to every person or thing of the same class or kind.

Some examples : Table, glass, town, king, etc.

3.Collective Noun : It denotes a group or collection of similar individuals considered as one complete whole. 

Some examples :Army, Class, jury, etc.

4.Material Noun    : It denotes matter or substance of which a thing is made.

Some examples : Wood, clay, rubber, iron, silver, gold etc

                                                     

5.Abstract Noun    : It expresses quality, state or action. 

Some examples : Truth, love,  soul, mind, greatness etc

                                                  BEHAVIOUR OF THE NOUNS    

To study the behaviour of the Nouns, they may be put in the following ten groups:

Group I: This group includes those nouns which are always used in the plural. A list of such nouns is given below:                                                                                   

1. Riches                                16. Socks
2. Premises                         17. Fetters
3. Spectacles                       18. Shorts
4. Bowels                            19. Pantaloons
5. Valuables                        20. Tidings
6. Proceeds                         21. Mumps
7. Alms                               22. Eatables
8. Billiards                           23. Scissors
9. Movables                         24. Stockings
10. Wages                             25. Surroundings
11. Thanks                            26. Breeches
12. Annals                            27. Arms
13. Measles                           28. Tongs
14. Trousers

       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)    

Group II: This group includes those nouns that look like plural, but are used in the singular. A list of such nouns is given below:

1. Mathematics                    8. Physics
2. Statistics                         9. News
3. Economics                       10. Innings
4. Politics                            11. Athletics
5. Gymnastics                      12. Gallows
6. Mechanics                       13. Summons
7. Classics

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)                                                                     

Group III: This group is a family of collective nouns. These nouns are singular in form but are used as plural. Some such nouns are listed below

1. Gentry                              7. Cattle
2. People                              8. Peasantry
3. Police                               9. Folk .
4. Clergy                               10. Mankind
5. Vermin                             11. Poultry .
6. Public

Examples:

(a)   The police is looking into the matter.(Incorrect)

      The police are looking into the. matter(Correct)

(b)   The cattle is grazing in the field.(Incorrect)

      The cattle are grazing in the field.(Correct)

Group IV: This group is a family of those nouns which are generally used in the singular. Some such nouns*are listed below:

1. Poetry                               12. Scenery
2. Offspring                          13. Issue:
3. Abuse.                             14. Stationery
4. Advice                              15. Furniture
5. Information                        16. Luggage
6. Machinery                         17. Physics
7. Cavalry                             18. Rice
8. Fuel                                19. Mischief
9. Alphabet                          20. Bunting
10. Hair                                21. Infantry
11. Bedding                           22. Gram

  Examples:

(a)   I do not like poetries of keats.(Incorrect)

      I do not like poetry of Keats (Correct)

(b)   The old furnitures were disposed of(Incorrect)

      The old furniture was disposed of(Correct)

Group V: Some nouns have the same form in singular and plural. Such nouns are members of this group. Some members of this group are listed below:

1. Sheep                               9.   Deer
2. Fish                                 10. Rice
3. Apparatus                         11. Means
4. Crops                               12. Pan
5. Cod                                  13. Species
6. Yoke                                 14. Amends
7. Series                               15. Cannon
8. 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)

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