This document provides an overview of parts of speech and types of nouns in English grammar. It defines eight parts of speech - nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. For nouns, it describes common and proper nouns, collective nouns, abstract nouns, and countable vs. uncountable nouns. It also provides examples for each part of speech and noun type. Exercises are included to identify parts of speech and classify different types of nouns.

1. BS-DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS
ENGLISH-111
PARTS OF SPEECH,TYPES OF NOUNS AND ITS
USES
Course Instructor: Ramish Nazir

2. EIGHT DIFFERENT
PARTS OF SPEECH

3. Nouns Pronouns
Verbs Adverbs
Adjectives Prepositions
Conjunctions Interjections
Determiners/Articles

4. Defining Parts of Speech: NOUN
• Noun: a word used as the name of a person, place or thing.
The word ‘thing’ includes 1)-anything that we can see, hear, touch, smell,
taste and 2)- something that we can think of, but cannot perceive by the
senses.
• Examples:
 Akbar was a great king.
 The rose smells sweet.
 The sun shines bright.
 The courage won him honour.
 Mary has a bloodhound guarding her castle in bad weather.
The noisy crowd in the park demanded justice.

5. Pronoun
•A word used instead of a noun or a word that replaces a
noun. A pronoun is used to avoid repetition of a noun.
John is absent, because he is ill.
 The books are where you left them.
 William is my fiancé. He’s extremely tall. He told me
that he wants to marry me.
 I want hand lotion because it is good for people whose
hands are red.

6. Verb
•A verb is a word used to express an action or a state.Words that
describe actions. Action verbs, Being verbs and Stative verbs are
the most common type of verbs used.
•For example:
 The girl wrote a letter to her cousin.
 Kolkata is a big city.
 Iron and copper are useful metals.
 It’s time to think and write. (stative and dynamic verb)

7. ACTIONVERBS & BEINGVERBS
• Action verbs are also called DynamicVerbs. Another name for BeingVerbs
is AuxiliaryVerbs or LinkingVerbs.
Spot the action verbs and being verbs from the following:
When Helen worked, she was always happy.
 She tried hard to pass the exam.
Tom is running after a dog.
 The little boy is being naughty.
 Children were playing in the garden.
 It has been raining since morning.
 She has to be there by midnight.

8. What are StativeVerbs?
• Stative verbs explain your ‘state of being’ rather than an action.
They aren't usually used in the present continuous form. For
example:
 I don't know the answer. I'm not knowing the answer.
 She really likes you. She's really liking you.
 He seems happy at the moment. He's seeming happy at the
moment.
 It costs me ten rupees. It is costing me ten rupees.

9. Types of StativeVerbs
Stative Verbs often relate to:
• Thoughts and opinions: agree, believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, mean,
recognise, remember, suspect, think, understand
 For example: I think that's a good idea
• Feelings and emotions: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish
 For example: I love this song!
• Senses/States and perceptions:
appear, be, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, taste
 For example: That coffee smells good.
• Possession and measurement: belong, have, measure, own, possess, weigh
 For example: Do you have a pen?

10. Sample Exercises:
That can’t be right. I __________ believe you! 1)- ‘m not believing you 2)- don’t believe
My holiday’s next week. I ________ myself on the beach
right now.
1)- imagine 2)- ‘m imagining
I’ve changed the design slightly.What __________ 1)- are you thinking 2)- do you think
She’s not answering. _________ her phone with her? 1)- Does she have 2)- Is she having
Fifty-three? Are you sure that’s the answer, or ______. 1)- do you guess 2)- are you guessing
The film’s on at 7 a.m. or 9 p.m.Which _______? 1)- do you prefer 2)- are you preferring
Where’s grandad? Oh, he _____ flowers in the garden. 1)- smells 2)- ‘s smelling
I don’t know, but I ____________ he’ll win the election. 1)- doubt 2)- ‘m doubting

11. Continued…
Are you making bread? It _______ amazing! 1)- smelling 2)- smells
I ----------- they’ll be here quite soon. 1)- imagine 2)- ‘m imagining
We ___________ coffee with Xavier late today. 1)- have 2)- ‘re having
I’m sorry, I ________________ 1)- don’t understand 2)- ‘m not understanding
Sam thinks it’s a good idea and Ben ___________ 1)- agrees 2) ‘s agreeing
The jar _________________ coffee. 1) is containing 2)- contains
She is ___________ the dentist at 4 p.m. today. 1)- sees 2)- seeing
Do you know what I ________ ? 1)- mean 2)- meaning

12. Exceptions
• Stative verbs that are used in a continuous or in an (ing-form). A number of stative verbs can
refer to states or actions, depending on the context. For example:
 Think e.g. I think we have our English class today. (stative) OR Wait a moment. I’m thinking! (action)
 doubt
 Have guess
 See remember
 Be smell
 feel appear
 Taste weigh
 Imagine wish
 hear come
Look
 measure

13. Adverb
• An adverb is a word used to add something to the meaning of a verb, an adjective, another
adverb or even a sentence.
• For example:
 He worked the sum quickly. (modifying verb)
 This flower is very beautiful. (----------)
 She pronounced the word quite correctly. (---------)
 I gently lifted him out of bed. (------------)
 He is more interesting than you. (----------)
 That is an unusually tall tree. (------------)
 Unfortunately, we had already left. (--------------)
 Radiantly beautiful Millicent dresses elegantly, but not very conservatively. (--------)
 Ali dances divinely, often and everywhere. (------)

14. Adjective
• An adjective is a word that adds to the quality or quantity of
a noun. A word used to add something to the meaning of a
noun.
• For example:
 He is a brave boy. ________ quality
 There are twenty boys in this class. ___________ quantity
 As a happy child, I enjoyed washing dirty dishes. Crazy me!

15. Correct Order of Adjectives
• We can use more than one adjective before a noun.There is usually one correct order that follows.
Remember the code word: OSPSACOMTP.
1. Opinion, (how good or bad?) _____ wonderful;, nice, great, terrible, good, beautiful awful etc.
2. Size,(how big or small?) ________ large, small, long, short, tall, fat, thin
3. Physical quality (or most other qualities), ______ quiet, famous, important, soft, wet, difficult, fast etc.
4. Shape, _____ square, rectangular, triangle, round, circle etc.
5. Age, (how old or new) ______ new, old, 7 year, 9 year etc.
6. Color, ________ red, blue, green, black etc.
7. Origin, (where from?) _______American, British, French, Japanese
8. Material, (made of what?)______ stone, plastic, steel, paper, wooden, iron, copper, metallic etc.
9. Type, (what kind?)_________ electric kettle, political matters, road transport.
10. Purpose. (what for?) ________ a bath towel, a bread knife

16. Examples of the Correct Order of Adjectives
Examples are:
It’s a beautiful sunny weather. _______________ Opinion, Most other qualities
 Nick has got a big black dog. ______________ opinion, colour
 Tina saw a small green insect in the lawn. ____________ size, colour
 Jessica has a beautiful wooden picture frame hanging on the wall of her room. ___ opinion,
material, purpose/ type
 It was a long, boring, train journey. ________ size, quality, type
 Alina applied a wonderful new anti-aging face cream._______ opinion, age, purpose/ type
purpose
 These were some nice easy quiz questions. _______ opinion, quality, purpose
 Japanese industrial designers ___________ origin, type
 Lahore is a busy, lively, exciting city ___________ opinion/ most other qualities Groups 1,3

17. Adjectives and Nouns
We sometimes use two nouns together where the first one functions as an
adjective.We can also add more than one word functioning as ‘adjectives’ before
the already existing adjective with a noun by following the correct order.
For example:
1. a glass door
 a heavy glass door OR a transparent glass door
2. a computer program
 a useful computer program OR a useful, technical computer program
3. A bread knife
 a sharp bread knife OR a sharp silver bread knife

18. Prepositions
• A word used with a noun or a pronoun to show how a person or thing denoted by a
noun or a pronoun stands in relation to something else.
• For example:
 There is a cow in the garden.
 The girl is fond of music.
 A fair little girl sat under a tree.
 I put my bag on the table.
 I sat beside the wall.
 My birthday is on Monday.
Remember you can also use preposition at the end of your sentence.
e.g.,Whom would you like to go with?

19. COMMON PREPOSITIONS
• About behind near up
• Above below of upon
• across between on with
• After by out without
• Against down outside
• Along during over
• Among for since
• Around from though
• As in through
• At inside to
• before into under

20. Conjunctions
•A word used to join or connect words, clauses and
sentences.
•For example:
 Rama and Hari are cousins.
 Two and two make four.
 I ran fast but missed the train.
 I had a terrible headache yesterday, but I still went to
school.

21. Subordinating Conjunctions
•Common subordinating conjunctions include:
After, since, although
When, before, unless
until, while, though
As, if, because

22. COORDINATING AND
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
• You or I will visit Ali now and then. CC
• I will see you when and if you arrive. CC
• Jane rested because she was tired. SC
• Take this and give that. CC
• Tell them that I will come. Result or Consequence
• She must weep, or she will die. CC
• Since you say so, I must believe it. SC
• Answer the first question before you proceed further. SC

23. Interjections
•A word used to express some sudden feeling.
• For example:
 Hurrah!We have won the game.
 Alas! She is dead.
 Wow!That house is so beautiful.
 Hey!You’ve got a beautiful dress.

24. EXAMPLES AND
EXERCISES

25. Identify the
different
parts of
speech in
the
following
sentences:
Our friends are sitting in the corner,
look.
I have an important conference at
work tomorrow, so I am rather busy.
Would you like to come to our party
on Saturday, Jessica?
This coffee is really good and it’s
cheap here!

26. Read this paragraph and identify which word
class each underlined word belongs to?
•Andrew didn’t go to the café with
the other students. Rachel told him
they were going there, but he
wanted to finish his work. Andrew
isn’t very sociable. He stays in his
room and concentrates totally on his
studies. He’s an excellent student,
but he doesn’t have much fun.

27. The SameWord
Used As Different
Parts of Speech
Some words belong
to different classes
depending on how
they are used in a
sentence. Let’s have
a look at the
following examples.
WORDS
FUNCTIONING AS
VERBS
WORDS
FUNCTIONING
AS NOUNS
• Can I look at your
photo?
• I like the look
of that coat.
• We work on
Saturday morning.
• I’ll be at work
tomorrow.
• Muslims fast in the
month of Ramadan.
• He kept the
fast for a
week.

28. Is the underlined word a verb, a noun or
an adjective?
•Shall we go for a walk? ________ noun
•Shall we walk into town? _______ verb
•Laura wanted to talk to Rita. ______ verb
•Laura wanted a talk with Rita. _______ noun
•The windows aren’t very clean. _____ adjective
•Doesn’t anyone clean the windows? ____ verb

29. Continued
We went to a
fabulous show in
NewYork?
Noun
Laura wanted to
show Rita her
photos.
Verb
Henry thought
Claire looked
beautiful.
Verb
A strange thought
came into Emma’s
mind.
Noun
Sarah is feeling quite
tired now.
Adjective
Studying all night
had tiredAndrew
out.
Verb

30. TYPES OF
NOUNS

31. Types of Nouns
• Common Nouns: A name given in common to every person or
thing of the same class or kind. e.g., king, girl, boy, city, country
etc.
• Proper Nouns: the name of some particular person or place. e.g.,
Akbar,Tina, Harry, Kolkata, India.
• Collective Nouns
• Abstract Nouns
• Countable Nouns
• Uncountable Nouns
• Gender-specific nouns (masculine and feminine)

32. • Collective Nouns:
The name of a number (or collection) of persons or things taken
together and spoken of as one whole. e.g., crowd, mob, team,
flock, herd, army, fleet, jury, family, nation, parliament,
committee.
For example:
 The police dispersed the crowd.
 The French army was defeated at Waterloo.
 The jury found the prisoner guilty.
 A herd of cattle is passing.

33. ABSTRACT NOUNS
 It is usually the name of a quality, action, or state considered apart from the
object to which it belongs; as,
Quality: goodness, kindness, whiteness, darkness, hardness, , brightness,
honesty, wisdom, bravery, thievery, truthfulness, laziness, calmness, skilfulness,
sharpness,
Action: Laughter, theft, movement, judgement, hatred.
State: Childhood, boyhood, youth, sisterhood, slavery, asleep, sickness, dryness
lifelessness, brokenness, death, poverty, birth.
The names of arts and sciences (e.g., grammar, music, chemistry etc.) are also
abstract nouns.
Abstract nouns can be formed from: adjectives, verbs and even from common
nouns.

34. Sample Exercise
Q.Write the Collective Nouns used to describe a number of:
1. Cattle ______________ Herd
2. Soldiers _______________ army
3. Sailors _______________ crew
4. Ships/Vessels ___________ fleet
Q. Write the qualities that belong to boys who are:
1. Lazy __________ laziness
2. Cruel ___________ cruelty
3. Brave __________ bravery
4. Foolish __________ foolishness

35. 2.1 COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE
NOUNS
• Countable nouns:
the names of objects, people, that we can count e.g., book, pen,
apple, boy, sister, doctor, horse.
• Uncountable Nouns:
the names of things which you cannot count.They mainly denote
substances and abstract things e.g., milk, sugar, oil, gold,
honesty.

36. Countable and Uncountable: What’s the Difference?
COUNTABLE:A countable noun (e.g., ship) can
be singular or plural. See the examples below:
UNCOUTABLE:An uncountable noun (e.g.,
water) is neither singular nor plural.
1.We could see a ship in the distance. 1. Can I have some water, please?
2. Claire has only one sister. 2. Shall we sit on the grass?
3. I’ve got a problem with the car. 3.The money is quite safe.
4. Do you like these photos? 4. I love music
5. I’m going out for five minutes. 5.Would you like some butter?
6. Can you count these onions please? 6.The stars shine bright today.
7. Can I bring you a glass of water? 7. Can you put some milk in my glass, please?

37. Countable and Uncountable Nouns after a/an/the
COUNTABLE
A / AN / or ONE goes only with a singular noun.
UNCOUNTABLE
We do not use a/ an with an uncountable noun.
For example:
I need a spoon. OR
I need the spoon. __Only if you are referring to a
particular spoon that is near you. OR you can also
say this spoon.
I need three spoons.
For example:
a water, an water OR
a music, an music Rather, we can say it like:
 Can I get some water, please?
 Can I get a glass of water, please?
 Can you play the music?
 Numbers above one go only with plural nouns.
For example:
 We eat three meals a day.
We do not use numbers with an uncountable noun.
 We eat three foods a day.
We can simply say:
 We eat food three times a day. OR
 The food was good today.

38. Countable and Uncountable Nouns after some/any/
many/ much, etc. Note: Some and any go with Plural and Uncountable Nouns.
We can also use them without some or any as exemplified below.
Plural Uncountable
Tom told some jokes. We had some fun.
Do you know any jokes? That won’t be any fun.
Tom usually tells jokes. (WITHOUT some or any)
But NOT He told joke.
We always have fun. (WITHOUT some or any)
Many and a few always go with plural nouns. For
example:
Much and a little go with uncountable nouns. For
example:
1.There weren’t many bottles. 1. I don’t drink much wine.
2. I made a few sandwiches. 2.There was only a little bread left.

39. Nouns that can be Countable or Uncountable
• Some nouns can either be countable or uncountable. For example, a potato is a separate
individual thing, but potato cannot be counted.
• Often the countable noun is specific, and the uncountable noun is more general.
COUNTABLE UNCOUNTABLE
• I’m peeling the potatoes. • Would you like some potato?
• Melanie baked a cake for David. • Have some cake/ (a piece of cake).
• Vicky was eating an apple. • Is there apple in this salad?
• Someone threw a stone at the police. • The house is built of stone/ bricks.
• There’s a hair on your shirt. • I must brush my hair. NOT hairs
• Rugby is a good sport. ___ C Do you like sport? _(a sport in general)
• That’s a nice painting over there. • Paul is good at painting.
• We heard a sudden noise outside. • Constant noise can make you ill.
• John Lennon had an interesting life. • Life is complicated sometimes.

40. • Some nouns can be countable or uncountable with different meanings. Identify:
Words for drink are usually uncountable. However, they be countable when we are talking about
kinds/ types.
• I bought a paper. • I need some paper to write on.
• I bought a piece of glass for the window. • I’ll have a glass of orange juice, please.
• Have you got an iron? • The bridge is made of iron.
• There’s more light by the window. • I switched all the lights on.
• I can’t stop. I haven’t got time. • I’ve been to France many times.
• The journey was a great experience. • He has enough experience for the job.
• I run a small business.
• We finally found a space in the car park.
• I enjoy doing business.
• There’s no space for a piano in here.
• There are hundreds of satellites out in space.
• Coffee is more expensive than tea. ______ Uncountable
• Two coffees, please. ________ Countable (two cups)
• Would you like a beer? _____ Countable (one beer)
• Chianti is an Italian wine. ______ Countable (a kind of Italian wine)
• The use of plastics has greatly increased. ______ Countable (use of different kinds)

41. How to speak of certain nouns which can NOT use
a or a number in front of them?
• For instance, milk, soup are uncountable nouns. We do not usually say a milk or
two soups. Many uncountable nouns have equivalent countable phrases or
expressions.
Tea ______ a cup of bits/ piece of Information
Milk ___ a glass of milk Wood ____ a piece of wood
Paint ____ a tin of paint Bread, meat ___ a slice of
Water ____ a bottle of water Paper _____ a piece/ sheet
Cereal_____ a box/ packet of Chocolate ___ a bar of
Jam ____ a jar of jam Bread ______ a loaf of
Coffee __ a cup of Cloth ______ a piece of
Cake _______ a piece of an item/ a bit of news, a piece/ a bit of advice

42. THE NOUN: GENDER
• We also have gender-specific nouns in English Language.
• All nouns that denote a male being, figure, creature or animal are said to be of the
masculine gender e.g., a boy, lion, hero, cock-sparrow, dog etc.
• All nouns that denote a female being, figure or animal are said to be of the feminine
gender e.g., girl, lioness, heroine, hen-sparrow, bitch.
• A noun that denotes either a male or a female is said to be of the Common gender e.g.,
parent, child, friend, pupil, servant, thief, relation, enemy, cousin, person, orphan,
student, baby, infant, monarch neighbour etc.
• A noun that denotes a thing that is neither a male or a female (the thing without life) is
said to be of the Neuter gender e.g., book, pen, room, tree.
• Objects without life that are often spoken of as if they were living beings are called
personified objects, and we call this as the personification of objects.

43. Examples of Personification
• The sun sheds his beams on rich and poor alike.
•The moon has hidden her face behind a cloud.
• Spring has spread her mantle of green over the earth.
•Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war.
•The ship lost all her boats in the storm.
• The book reads to me about future.

44. RULES: WAYS OF FORMINGTHE
FEMININE OF NOUNS
There are four rules of forming the feminine of masculine
nouns.
•By using an entirely different word
•By adding a syllable –ess, -ine, -trix, -a, etc.
•Adding –ess by dropping the vowel of the masculine
ending.
• By placing a word before or after.

45. The First Category of Feminine Nouns
• The first category involves using an entirely different word. For example.
Masculine Feminine
Boy girl
Brother sister
Dog Bitch
Father Mother
Gentleman lady
Bull (or ox) cow
Earl countess

46. The Second Category of Feminine Nouns
• The second category involves adding a syllable (-ess, -ine, -trix, -a, etc.). For
example:
Masculine Feminine Hero heroine
Author Authoress Testator Testatrix
Giant Giantess Czar Czarina
Heir Heiress Sultan Sultana
Jew Jewess Signor Signora
Mayor Mayoress Fox Vixen
Steward stewardess
Prophet Prophetess

47. TheThird Category of Feminine Nouns
• Note that in the following words, (-ess) is added after dropping the vowel of the
masculine ending.
Masculine Feminine
Actor Actress
Benefactor benefactress
Songster songstress
Hunter huntress
Negro instructress
Duke Duchess
Emperor empress

48. The Fourth Category of Feminine Nouns
• By placing a word before or after; as,
Masculine Feminine
Grandfather grandmother
Greatuncle greataunt
Manservant Maidservant
Landlord landlady
Milkman milkwoman
Peacock Peahen
Salesman
Washerman
Saleswoman
Washerwoman

49. The Noun: Number
• SOME GENERAL RULES
• The plural of nouns is generally formed by adding (s) to the singular such as; boys, girls, desks, cows,
pens, tables, chairs etc.
• Nouns ending in s, sh, ch, or x form the plural by adding (es) to the singular e.g., class, classes.
• Most nouns ending in o also form the plural by adding (es) to the singular e.g., mango, mangoes.
• A few nouns ending in o merely add (s) to the singular e.g., piano, pianos
• Nouns ending in y, preceded by a consonant form their plurals by changing y into (i) and adding (es)
to the singular e.g., baby, babies.
• Nouns ending if f or fe form their plural by changing f or fe into (v) and adding (es) to the singular
e.g., life, lives.
• Other words ending in f or fe only add (s) to the singular noun e.g., chief, chiefs
• A few nouns are formed by adding (en) to its singular e.g., ox, oxen; child, children

50. Form the plurals of the following nouns.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
catch tax volcano volcanoes
Brush match dynamo dynamos
buffalo buffaloes negro negroes Memento momentos
potato solo solos kilo kilos
Branch hero heroes lady
dish echo echoes Commando commandos
Watch cargo cargoes ratio ratios

51. Some Nouns become Plural by changing
the insideVowel
• Such nouns are also called Irregular Plural Nouns. For example:
Singular Plural
Man men
Goose geese
mouse mice
woman women
foot feet
Louse Lice t
Tooth teeth

52. Certain Collective Nouns used as Plural
• Certain collective nouns, though singular in form, are always used as plurals. For
example: Poultry, cattle, vermin, people, gentry, public, police, committee, people,
sheep, folk, clergy, audience.
• These poultry are mine.
• Whose are these cattle?
• Vermin destroy our property and carry disease.
• Who are those people?
• There are few gentry in this town.
Note: As a Common Noun, ‘people’ means ‘a nation’ and is used in both singular
and plural as;
• The Japanese are a hardworking people.
• There are many different peoples in Europe.

53. Collective Nouns/ Group Nouns used as Singular
and Plural: Important Note
• Some collective nouns like crew, family, team etc. can either take a singular or plural verb.
A collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as a whole and it takes a
plural verb when individuals are thought of separately. For example:
SINGULAR PLURAL
Our team is the best of all. Our teams were changing their new sport shirts.
The team was playing well. The team were playing well.
The government is in crisis. The government are in crisis.
The family is a very old and famous one. The family are delighted with their presents.
The orchestra consists of eight musicians. The orchestra don’t know what to play.
We use it and its with a singular noun. e.g., We use they, them, their with a plural noun.
The committee has made its decision. The class will miss their lessons because they are going
on a trip.

54. Nouns that are not used in the Singular Form
NOUNSTO KEEP IN MIND
•Plural/ Correct Singular/ Incorrect
1.The cattle are going to be sold with the farm. The cattle is going to be sold with the farm.
2. I bought new clothes for my birthday. I bought new clothe for my birthday.
3.The stairs in my house are very narrow. The stairs in my house is very narrow.
4. Wages were paid to the factory workers.
5.The police were chasing the robbers.
Wages was paid to the factory workers.
The police was chasing the robbers.
6.The people of this village are very cooperative. The people of this village is very cooperative.
7. People don’t know what the future will bring. People doesn’t know what the future will bring.

55. Pair Nouns
• We use pair noun for a thing made of two parts which are the same. Some pair nouns are
binoculars, glasses, jeans, pants, trousers, pyjamas, scissors, shorts, tights.
• We cannot use a/an or a number with a pair noun. But we can use pair of. For example:
A pair noun is plural and takes a plural verb
• My jeans need washing. NOT my jean needs
• These tights were quite expensive. NOT this tight was
• We’ve got some scissors somewhere. NOT a scissor
• I need some jeans OR I need a pair of
jeans.
NOT a jean
• Laura bought four pairs of tights. NOT four tights

56. Nouns with the same form in Singular and Plural
• There are some nouns which have the same form for the plural as for the singular.
Name of
animals
Singular Plural
Deer The deer is on the road. Those deer were grazing at the
forest’s edge.
Sheep The sheep is eating grass. The sheep are outside the fence.
Fish That fish is too delicious to eat. These fish have been brought
from Ali’s farm, nearby. OR
Ali has caught lots of fish/ fishes/
five big fish/fishes, today.

57. Fish: A Noun of Confusing Nature
• The noun ‘fish’ can be used in different ways depending on the context. It’s often considered of
having a confusing nature.
When you are talking about one
kind of fish
When you talking about more than
one kind or species of fish, both
fish and fishes are okay to use.
Fish as an uncountable noun.
I have one fish in my fish tank. There are many different fish/fishes
in our pond. (many kinds)
I had fish for dinner.
I have two fish in my fish tank. These three tropical fish/ fishes have
unique colouring.
I ate rice and fish.
I got a new fish for my birthday. She studies all the fish/ fishes of the
sea.
Is there fish in the casserole?
I have several fish now.

58. Nouns With/Without Numerical Quantity
NOTE:The following nouns are used singular when preceded by a Numerical quantity, but maybe used
plural when not preceded by a numerical quantity.
PLURAL SINGULAR
I have five herds of cattle. ____ INCORRECT I have five herd of cattle. CORRECT
He bought two dozens of eggs. He bought two dozen of eggs.CORRECT
He bought two pairs of shoes. He bought two pair of shoes. CORRECT
I saw two braces of pigeons. I saw two brace of pigeons.CORRECT
Hundred of people have gathered to see the match.
I have a few grey hairs.CORRECT (you’re talking
about separate strands of hair)
Hundreds of people have gathered to see the
match. CORRECT
My hair is black. CORRECT (talking generally)

59. Continued…
• Some nouns which can take the plural form at ordinary times retain the singular form to
express one specific quantity or number.
INCORRECT CORRECT
1. He gave me a ten rupees note. He gave me a ten rupee note.
2. I shall bring three feet ruler. I shall bring three-foot ruler.
3. He had forty heads of cattle. He had forty head of cattle.
4. I like six years old horse. I like six-year-old horse.

60. Nouns with ‘s’ functioning as Singular or Plural?
Some nouns only have a plural
form (with s) and take a plural
verb.
The clothes were in the dryer. NOT
The clothe was
The goods have been sent to you
direct from our factory. NOTThe good
has
My belongings are all packed up in
suitcases. NOT My belonging is.
Other Plural forms of Nouns that
occur with ‘s’ are shown in the
table.
Belongings Clothes congratulations
remains surroundings contents
Pains
Greens
Brains
Mains
Gains
Regards
Grounds
Guts, proceedings
Arms (weapons)
Outskirts
Thanks
Troops
Eatables
savings
Teens, credentials,
Dregs. Particulars,
Looks, riches, archives
Spectacles, stairs,
Valuables, premises
Customs. Earnings
goods

61.  Some nouns have both a singular and plural form with a difference in meaning.
 Some nouns have a plural form (with s) but take a singular verb. For example:
The Same Noun used as Singular The Same Noun used as Plural
• Our special price is 10 pounds cheaper than normal.
Don’t miss this saving of 10 pounds.
• My savings are in the bank. I’m going t take out all
the money and buy a new car.
• The storm did a lot of damage to buildings. • The newspaper had to pay two million dollars in
damages after printing untrue stories about a
politician.
• I’ve got a pain in my back. It really hurts. • I checked the figures carefully three times. I took
great pains to get them exactly right.
Correct Sentences Incorrect Sentences
• Aerobics is really popular these days, particularly
with older people.
NOT aerobics are
• Billiards is a very interesting game. NOT Billiards are
• The news was worse than I had expected. NOTThe news were
• Measles/ Mumps is an infectious disease. NOT Measles/Mumps are

62. How we useVerbs with uncountable nouns
ending with (s)?
• Some uncountable nouns end in s but are grammatically singular. For example:
School/
University/
Subject
Physical Activities Diseases Games
Civics Athletics shingles bowls
classics aerobics Measles billiards
economics gymnastics mumps darts
ethics draughts
Maths/
mathematics
Dominoes
mechanics
Politics/ physics/
statistics

63. CONTINUED…
How we useVerbs with uncountable nouns
ending with (s)? [EXCEPTIONS]
• These words generally take ‘singular verbs’, however exceptionally , plural verbs may occur
with such nouns when the noun phrase has a more specific reference. For example:
SINGULAR PLURAL
Politics is an interesting course to opt. Saleem’s politics keep getting him into
trouble. (political views)
Economics is a difficult subject. The rulers have been running the country for
two years because their economics are wrong.
(NOT economics is wrong) (economic policies)
Mathematics is a difficult subject His mathematics are weak. (not talking of
mathematics as a subject here)

64. Some Nouns are used in the Singular Only
rrect Sentences
ncorrect Sentences
 His hair has turned white. NOT his hair have
 I have lost my furniture NOT lost my furnitures.
 These five children are her offspring. NOT These five children are her offsprings.
 My luggage was left at the waiting room. NOT My luggage were
 The scenery of Kashmir is very beautiful. NOT The sceneries of Kashmir are
 I went to home during summer vacation. NOT during summer vacations
 He gave me many words of abuse. NOT many abuses
 Give me all pieces/items of information that you have received. NOT all informations
 This room has ten articles of furniture. NOT ten furnitures
 He did many acts of mischief. NOT many mischiefs
 Have you learnt the letters of alphabet? Not the alphabets
 He was fond of bad company/companion. NOT bad companies
Scenery, Information, vacation, poetry, Furniture, machinery, Offspring, equipment, bread, rice,
knowledge, jewellery, luggage, clothing, traffic,, corn, abuse, fruit, hair, alphabet, apparatus, advice,
mischief, dirt

65. Some nouns ending in s have the same Singular
and Plural form
• For example, means, species (kind, type), series (e.g., a series of documentaries, lectures), crossroads.
• Works (a factory) or headquarters (a main office) take either a singular or a plural verb. For example:
 The steel works has/have closed down.
 The headquarters of this company is/are located in Karachi.
Singular Plural
This means of transport saves energy. Both means of transport save energy.
This species of insect is quite rare.
A series of events occurred smoothly.
A series of lectures is scheduled.
A series ofTV documentaries was good.
A series of experiments was conducted.
All these species of insect are quite rare.
Two series of lectures are scheduled.
Two series of Earth documentaries were shown to
the students today.
Three series of experiments were conducted on a
copper metal.

66. THANKYOU!
Hope it helped.