Chapter one

Question 1

The plural form of “life” is:

Answer 1

Lives

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a correct plural form?
a) Knives
b) Wolves
c) Shelfs
d) Loaves

Answer 2

c) Shelfs

Question 3

Pick out the incorrect singular - plural group from among the following
(a) medium - media
(c) Basis - bases
(b) Radius - radii
(d) Shelf-shelfs

Answer 3

(d) Shelf-shelfs

Question 4

What is the plural of ‘medium’?
(a) medium
(b) mediums
(c) media
(d) mediator
(Field Asst. (TSR, WYD)-2017)

Answer 4

2. (b) & (c)
   Plural of Medium - Media, Mediums

Question 5

The plural form of the word ‘datum’ is:
(a) data
(b) datums
(c) datei
(d) dati
(LDC Various Kannada & Malayalam-2016)

Answer 5

(a) data
Alumnus (male) Alumni (male/mixed)
Alumna (female) Alumnae (female)
Stimulus Stimuli
Medium Media
Criterion Criteria
Phenomenon Phenomena

Question 6

The plural of ‘rhinoceros’ is:
(a) rhinoceroses
(b) rhinoceros
(c) rhinocerosis
(d) rhinocerosess
(Women Police Constable (NCA) - 2015

Answer 6

(a) rhinoceroses

Question 7

The pluarl form of ‘series’ is:
(a) series
(b) serieses
(c) seriesus
(d) serees
(LDC Bill Collector-2015)

Answer 7

5. (a) series
   Here’s a list of words in English where the singular and plural forms are the same:

Animals:

Fish (Can also be “fishes” when referring to multiple species)
Deer
Sheep
Moose
Bison
Elk
Swine
Shrimp
Series (a type of fish)
Squid (sometimes used as a plural)
Other:

Aircraft
Spacecraft
Hovercraft
Offspring
Series (a set of related things)
Species
Corps
Barracks
Headquarters
Crossroads
Words Ending in “s” (Often Treated as Singular or Plural):

Means (a method or way)
News
Other Words with Identical Singular and Plural:

Dice (singular die is rarely used)

Question 8

The plural form of ‘sister-in-law’ is:
(a) sister-in-laws
(b) sisters-in-law
(c) sister-in-law
(d) none of these
(LDC By transfer-2014)

Answer 8

(b) sisters-in-law
on-in-law: sons-in-law
sister-in-law: sisters-in-law
father-in-law: fathers-in-law
brother-in-law: brothers-in-law
commander-in-chief: commanders-in-chief
governor-general: governors-general
Explanation:

These words are all compound nouns, meaning they are formed by combining two or more words. To form the plural, the main noun (the one being described) is pluralized, while the other words in the compound remain singular.

In the case of “son-in-law,” “son” is the main noun, so it becomes plural (“sons”). The other words, “in” and “law,” remain singular. The same pattern applies to the other compound nouns in the list.

Question 9

The incorrect match from the following is:
(a) Masseur-Masseurs
(b) Fiance-Fiances
(c) Wizard-Wizards
(d) Alumna-Alumnoe
(Asst.Gr-II. Kerala Veterinary-2014)

Answer 9

(d) Alumna-Alumnoe

alumna A female graduate or former student of a particular school, college or university
➤ Alumnus is a singular male graduate
➤ Alumni - Plural for a group of male or female’
graduates
➤ Alumna (Feminine) × Alumnus (Masculine)
Alumnae (plural) female graduates.
.

Question 10

Pick out the singular form from the given words
(a) stadia
(b) data
(c) criteria
(d) radius
(LDC KLM-2013)

Answer 10

(d) radius

Memorandum memoranda
Bacterium bacteria
Stratum strata
Curriculum curricula (also curriculums)
P