Saturday, March 29, 2008
Common Errors With Nouns And Noun Phrases
Expressions that return singular form form verbs
Some common looks take singular verbs even though they may incorporate a plural form noun. Examples are: bacon and eggs; cheese and biscuits; fish and bits etc.
Bacon and eggs was served for breakfast.
Where is the cheese and biscuits?
Fish and bits is popular in England.
Nouns that make not have got got got a plural word word form word form form
Not all nouns have a plural form: for example, furniture, wheat, dust, news, advice, information, luggage, bread, problem and scenery normally have only a singular form form.
The scenery here is good. (NOT The scenes here are good.)
I have got lost my furniture. (NOT ... my furnitures.)
We have got received no information. (NOT ... no informations)
He told his female parent this news. (NOT ... these news)
There is no breadstuff in this shop. Oregon There are no loaves in this shop. (NOT There are no breadstuffs in this shop.)
Please alibi me for the problem I have got caused. (NOT ... for the problems I have got caused.)
I am learning a new poem. (NOT ... a new poetry)
A plural form form noun that name calling a single subject
When a grouping of words containing a plural noun stands for a single subject, you must utilize a singular form verb.
The Adventures of Uncle Tom Sawyer is my front-runner novel.
The Crusades is a book that come ups in two volumes.
Memories of the War is deserving reading.
Henry Martin Robert Joe Louis Stevenson's books are always exciting.
Collective nouns
Corporate nouns take a singular form verb if you are talking of the grouping as a whole. They take a plural form verb if you are talking about people within the group.
Compare:
The squad is on the field.
The squad are changing.
The social class is a bright one.
The social class are a amalgamated lot.
His household is living in that house.
His household are living in assorted parts of Sydney.
The jury is in the courtroom.
The jury are still debating the case.
Pants and trousers
Trousers intends underwear covering the upper portion of the leg. Trousers intends outer garment for the legs, reaching from waistline to ankles.
Students should have on achromatic trousers. (NOT ... achromatic pants)
Theatre, drama and drama
A theatre is a edifice in which plays are acted, not the play itself. Play is rarely used nowadays in the sense in which foreign pupils are likely to utilize it, that is to state to intend a play, whether acted by people or amateurs.
We saw a play. (NOT We saw a theatre.)
We like acting plays. (NOT we like taking portion in drama)
Man and gentleman
Gentleman is a hard word to utilize correctly in colloquial English. Use the term when you are referring to a man's character.
He is a existent gentleman. (Praising him)
He is not a gentleman. (Criticizing him)
Use grownup male to denote an grownup of the male sex.
He is a tall man.
Lady and woman
Woman is the usual word to denote an adult of the female sex. It is quite polite. 'She is a lady' agency that she is a adult female of particularly good birth, breeding and taste.
I saw two women. (NOT Iodine saw two females)
Dress
The word frock is generally used with mention to women's attire.
He was wearing a new suit. (NOT He was wearing a new dress)
But short letter that we make state 'a adult male in full dress' or 'evening dress'.
Relations
The English linguistic communication utilizes relatively loose footing to show relationships. Aunt intends the sister of either father or mother. Uncle intends the blood brother of either father or mother. Cousin intends any kid of any auntie or uncle.
He is my cousin. (NOT He is my first cousin brother)
Labels: English grammar, ESL, Learn English, noun phrases, nouns