Nouns — Important Questions

-ity (generosity)

Step 1: We need to form an abstract noun from the adjective 'generous'. Step 2: The suffix -ity is used for many adjectives, but note that the spelling often changes when this suffix is added. Step 3: 'Generous' + -ity = the spelling changes to 'generosity' (the -ous is dropped and -ity replaces it). Step 4: Similarly, 'curious → curiosity', 'noble → nobility', 'moral → morality' follow similar spelling changes with -ity. Step 5: The other options — -ness, -hood, -ance — are not used with 'generous'. A common mistake is to say 'generousness', which sounds awkward and is not standard English.

board

Step 1: We need to find the correct collective noun for 'examiners'. Step 2: Let us check each option: 'fleet' is used for ships or cars — not for people. Step 3: 'Troupe' is used for artists, dancers, or acrobats — not examiners. Step 4: 'Bench' is used for judges specifically ('a bench of judges'), not examiners. Step 5: 'Board' is the correct collective noun — 'a board of examiners' or 'a board of directors'. This is a precise usage that must be memorised. Common mistake: confusing 'bench' (judges) with 'board' (examiners/directors).

Wise + -dom

Step 1: The word 'wisdom' is an abstract noun. We need to identify how it is formed. Step 2: The base adjective is 'wise'. The suffix -dom is added to form 'wisdom' (note the spelling change: wise → wisd + om). Step 3: The suffix -dom is used to form abstract nouns: free → freedom, wise → wisdom. Step 4: 'Wise + -ness' would give 'wiseness', which is not a standard word. Step 5: 'Wise + -ity' would give 'wiseity' (incorrect) and 'wise + -hood' gives 'wisehood' (also incorrect). The correct pairing from the textbook is wise → wisdom using the -dom suffix.

milk, kindness, India, tea

Step 1: Uncountable nouns include: (a) proper nouns like India (unique, cannot be counted), (b) material/substance nouns like milk and tea (liquids), and (c) abstract nouns like kindness. Step 2: 'milk' — material noun, uncountable. 'kindness' — abstract noun, uncountable. 'India' — proper noun, uncountable. 'tea' — material noun, uncountable. Step 3: Option B contains 'dog' and 'river' which are common nouns and countable. Step 4: Option C contains 'class' and 'army' which are collective nouns and countable. Step 5: Option D contains 'idea' and 'city' which are countable. So only Option A has