Grammar Usage : Uncountable Nouns

WORD OF THE DAY:

CALAMITY (noun)

A great misfortune, misery, adversity or disaster

Examples: 

Drough is a natural disaster but it can be exacerbated by human activity.

In the time of calamity, patience and perseverance helps us going.

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WRONG TO CORRECT :

WRONG: The employment agency couldn't provide us a detailed information on its services.  

CORRECT: The employment agency couldn't provide us any detailed information on its services. 

GRAMMAR : We do not use a/an before uncountable nouns. 

More on this :

1. An uncountable noun does not have a plural form. 

(e.g. furniture, homework, advice, equipment, information.)

2. Some nouns that are generally used uncountably, can also have countable meanings.

3. Some nouns in English are normally uncountable, in many other languages they are countable.

 

Examples of Uncountable Nouns:

I prefer tea to coffee. (General idea)

Three coffees, please. (recognised containers for things)

She has long shining hair.

There is a hair in my soup! 

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Grammar Usage : Singular Countable Nouns with A/An

WORD OF THE DAY:

CABOTAGE (noun)

The Government laws of a country to limit the transport or trade of goods or people in coastal waters or airspace by foreign vehicles, ships or aircraft.

Examples: 

The cabotage laws of the country has restricted international trade. 

The proposal regarding cabotage is utterly disappointing.

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WRONG TO CORRECT:

WRONG: We can get into the cabin only with key.

CORRECT: We can get into the cabin only with a key. 

GRAMMAR :We cannot use the singular noun alone. We need a/an.

More on this :

1. Countable nouns can be counted. 

2. Countable nouns can be singular or plural.

3. We can use one/two/three (etc.) with countable nouns.

Examples of Singular Countable Nouns:

• I have got an idea.
• Do you want a cup of tea?
• I am looking for a job.

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Grammar Usage : Nouns (Singular And Plural) (a new pair of jeans/ some new jeans)

WORD OF THE DAY:

CABARET (noun)

An entertainment show of music and dance performed in restaurants or clubs. 

Example : She made a successful career in the cabaret.

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WRONG TO CORRECT:

WRONG: I need a new jeans.

CORRECT: I need a new pair of jeans or I need some new jeans. (not a new jeans)

GRAMMAR : The noun 'Jeans' is plural in English. 

More on this :

Glasses, Scissors, Trousers, Jeans, Shorts,  etc. are always plural in English.

We can use a pair of scissors, a pair of shorts etc.

 

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Grammar Rules : Nouns (Singular And Plural) (A person, Two people)

WORD OF THE DAY:

CACOPHONY (noun)

a loud, harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds.

Example: Life has its own harmony and cacophony too.

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WRONG TO CORRECT:

WRONG: How many people lives in that house?

CORRECT: How many people live in that house?

GRAMMAR : People is plural (= they) in its form. So, we say 'people are'/ 'people have' etc. 

More on this :

We say 'a person', 'two people', 'some people', 'a lot of people' etc.

Examples:

 

1. He is a nice person.

2. They are nice people. (not 'nice persons')

2. A lot of people use social media for marketing every day. (not 'uses')

3. Some people are always late. (not 'is')

 
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Grammar Rules : Noun Phrases

WORD OF THE DAY:

CAMARADERIE (noun)

a feeling of friendliness towards people with whom you work or share experience.

Playing together in school would give them a feeling of camaraderie and a sense of belonging.

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WRONG TO CORRECT:

WRONG: Four metals cylinders were attached to the machine.

CORRECT: Four metal cylinders were attached to the machine.

GRAMMAR : Nouns which act as premodifiers are singular, even when the head is plural. 

More on this :

Nouns acting as premodifiers specify particular aspects or features of the noun, such as type, material, etc. 

eg.: a university education, a fur coat, the post-war economy, a recent government report.

2. Noun phrase indicating time or measurements are singular in form even when their meaning is plural.

eg.: an eight-hour flight Not an eight-hours flight.

3. In the modifying expression, hyphens are normally used.

 
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