Top Grammar Tricks and Tips on Nouns by IBPS Coaching

Nouns are perhaps the most significant words in English language. Without nouns, we would have a hard time expressing our thoughts. In our attempt to name everything that exists, we use nouns. Nouns are the naming words. A noun is the name of a person, place, animal, idea or thing. As children, many of us have played the game: name, place animal and thing. All the words that we wrote in that game were nouns. However, there is still a lot to be learnt regarding nouns.

Thus, experts from the Best Bank Coaching Center in Delhi have put together all the important concepts that will assist you in exam preparation. So, let us begin with the classification of nouns.

Types of Nouns

(I) Common Nouns

Common nouns are the names given to persons and things that are of the same type. These nouns refer to general things rather than particular examples. There is something similar among the things that are named using common nouns.

(a) A country must remain united at all points of time.

(b) Living in a metropolitan city has its own benefits.

(c) The 21^st century man is under a lot of stress.

(d) The birth of a girl is the best thing that can happen in any family.

(e) Any student who wishes to crack banking exams must be willing to work hard.

(II) Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are the names given to particular persons or things. These nouns are used to name specific items that are generally one-of-a-kind. Think of a common noun as the name given to a group of similar items and a proper noun as the specific name given to an item belonging to that group.

(a) At present, India is one of the most influential countries in the world economy.

(b) Alice is a bright and spirited girl.

(c) Kanpur is a heavily populated city.

(d) Apple and Samsung are currently engaged in stiff competition.

(e) Delhi has not been granted full statehood as yet.

(III) Abstract Nouns

An abstract noun is the name of a quality, idea, action, emotion, state or a similar “thing” that cannot be physically interacted with. Basically, abstract nouns are used to name intangible things, rather than concrete objects.

(a) Bravery on the battlefield is different from bravery in real life.

(b) Success is not sweet, if one has not worked hard for it.

(c) Teenage is the journey that transforms a child into an adult.

(d) The love for your country should not translate into hostility towards others.

(e) Suicide should not be regarded as a solution to personal problems.

(IV) Collective Nouns

Collective nouns are the names that refer to a group of people or things seen as a single unit. You can see these nouns as the names of collections. Although collective nouns can be both singular and plural, but generally they are used in the singular form.

(a) The jury is of the view that the accused is guilty as charged.

(b) Our class is not interested in participating in any extracurricular activities.

(c) A herd of cows has been spotted near the river.

(d) The team is confident of performing well in the upcoming matches.

(e) Musicians must be conscious of what their target audience wants.

Countable & Uncountable Nouns

Nouns can also be classified as countable nouns and uncountable nouns. It is important to note that countable nouns can be singular as well as plural. However, uncountable nouns don’t have any plural form. They are used only in the singular form. Examples of countable and uncountable nouns are:

(a) Singular Countable Nouns – a pen, a cup, a pencil, a ball, an eraser etc.

(b) Plural Countable Nouns – pens, cups, pencils, balls, erasers etc.

(c) Uncountable Nouns – knowledge, furniture, advice, luggage, baggage, equipment, scenery, poetry, money, news, traffic, information, machinery  etc.

Important Rules

(I) Usually (-s) is added at the end to make a plural noun: cup > cups; maps > maps; button > buttons.

(II) The nouns that end in (-ss; -s; -ch; -sh) can be converted into plural nouns by adding (-es): boss > bosses; patch > patches; bus > buses; lash > lashes.

(III) The plural is made in (-ies), if a noun ends in a consonant and (-y): city > cities; party > parties. However, the plural is made in (-s), if a noun ends in a vowel and (-y): toy > toys; tray > trays.

(IV) In case of some common nouns, the plural forms are irregular. Examples are: child > children; woman > women; person > people; foot > feet; tooth > teeth.

(V) Certain nouns have both: a countable form and an uncountable form.

• We should never lose hope. (uncountable)
• Surbhi had high hopes of getting promoted. (countable)
• You don’t seem to have enough experience. (uncountable)
• I have had many life changing experiences. (countable)

(VI) Certain nouns have 2 meanings, one countable & the other uncountable.

• She only had a few coppers in her purse. (countable: coins that don’t have much value)
• Copper is a good conductor of heat and electricity. (uncountable: a type of metal)
• Tin is frequently used in forming alloys. (uncountable: a type of metal)
• An average family of four can consume a biscuit tin in 2 months. (countable: a metallic container)

(VII) Some uncountable nouns are such that they end in (-s) and it may seem as if they were plural. Yet they are singular in nature. Examples are: politics, rabies, economics, civics, physics, gymnastics, billiards etc.

(VIII) A few plural nouns are such that they refer to a pair of things. They actually denote things that have 2 parts. Examples are: trousers, pants, scissors, shorts, binoculars, spectacles, jeans etc.

(IX) Certain nouns are such that they are usually used in the plural form. Examples are: belongings, congratulations, particulars, premises, stairs, surroundings, thanks etc.

(X) Compound nouns are made up of 2 or more words. If a compound noun has the form: hyphens between the words or when there are spaces between the words, the plural is made by adding (-s) to the Principal word. Examples are: mother-in-law > mothers-in-law; brother-in-law > brothers-in-law & water bottle > water bottles; lieutenant general > lieutenant generals. However, when the compound noun is a single word, the plural is made by following the usual rules. Examples are: paperclip > paperclips; toothbrush > toothbrushes.

Having gone through this content provided by Top Bank Exam Coaching in Delhi, you now require some quality practice. It is suggested that you pick up model test papers or past year exam papers for the same. This will give you further understanding regarding the kind of questions asked in Bank PO / Clerk and SSC exams.

Summary

The contents of this article will benefit anyone looking to learn the fundamentals of English grammar from the perspective of competitive exams conducted by IBPS, SBI and SSC. To learn more or to seek guidance from Vidya Guru Institute, you can write to vidyagurudelhi@gmail.com.