Suggestion -“Beware of Plurals and genders in CAT 2014”- is not without substance as both the parts on English basics are all time favourite of examiners in MBA entrance tests. The easy and simple looking singular and plurals as well as syntax formation in gender usage could be as tricky for you as a typical Quant or DI question. Prof S K Agarwal, Expert on Verbal Ability shares the importance of usage and tips on how to prepare and solve the questions on Genders, Singular and Plural in forthcoming CAT 2014 examination.
Well, it’s an easy basic concept, isn’t it? So, why to forewarn on such a petty topic on usage of Plurals and genders? Everyone reads them in 5th standard and is fairly conversant with their usage. Is MBAUniverse.com trying to create fear psychosis among CAT 2014 aspirants by asking them to prepare such parts of fundamentals of English language that are so primary? Well said! but with no serious thought, why because those who are setting the CAT 2014 Verbal Ability test papers may not be so benevolent to listen to you and you might end up losing 6 core marks and a percentile of 14 due to ignoring the basics of usage in Singular-Plural and genders.
There is no point in arguing what you learnt in your childhood as it has probably never been put to practice usage and now when CAT 2014 is approaching in 100 days, all the forgotten stuff is being retrieved and new study material with a search for whole hearted guidance from everywhere is sought. The best part is that the same is available but you have to make some efforts for it.
The facts are contrary to general belief of high level of difficulty since it is a subjective thought. CAT wouldn’t like to place typical errors in sentences and paragraphs, vocabulary usage, which may be worthy of being attempted by a Professor of English language. On the contrary, you are expected to find petty errors in CAT 2014 that you are most likely going to skip in your frenzy of quick reading. These simple errors in usage of gender, singular and plural when clubbed to other parts of subject, predicate or object in the sentence, paragraph or vocabulary questions may create a good amount of confusion among the CAT aspirants. It happened in past CAT examinations when such questions couldn’t get the attention of number of the CAT examinees as the errors were petty ones.
Past CAT record
Spotting the Error in CAT questions with wrong usage of plurals like ‘Stimuli’, ‘criteria’, ‘data’ in place of singulars ‘stimulus’, ‘criterion’, ‘datum’ has always confused the aspirants. Numbers of such questions have marked their presence in CAT, session after session and year after year.
It is no doubt easy to catch the plurals ending with ‘s’ or ‘-es’ or genders in simple form- like ‘men’ to ‘women’ (Remember the catch in using singular or plural number of gender), Male to female but sometimes it is difficult to determine what gender should go with Child, should it be-his/her or its.
Besides, what should follow when two different genders are present in a single sentence or what should we place when two genders- one in singular and other in plural form are present in a single sentence. Should it follow according to the first subject or according to the latter one?
These are all mind boggling and error driving problems which are difficult to be solved unless we are clear on the concept.
It’s therefore of utmost importance to know, understand and practice the questions based on such concepts else be ready to lose a few marks
Noun Plurals
-The simple ‘s’ or ‘es’ can also be tricky
Most nouns change their form to indicate number by adding "-s" or "-es". Now pick out the correct number (Singular/plural) in following sentences:
Pair-1
When Matthew was small he rarely told the truth (A)/truths (B) if he thought he was going to be punished.
Many people do not believe that truth (A)/truths (B) are self-evident.
Pair-2
As they walked through the silent house, they were startled by an unexpected echoes (A)/echo (B).
I like to shout into the quarry and listen to the echoes (A)/echo (B) that return.
Pair-3
He tripped over a boxes (A)/box (B) left carelessly in the hallway.
Since we are moving, we will need many boxes (A)/box (B)
Pair-4
It's important to combine the musical stimuli (A)/stimulus (B) with imagery
Because when you do, you activate more areas in the brain.
I was flummoxed between do’s and don’ts and needed the approval of others to work as stimuli (A)/stimulus (B)
-Identify the plural by changing the last letter
There are other nouns which form the plural by changing the last letter before adding "s". Some words ending in "f" form the plural by deleting "f" and adding "ves," and words ending in "y" form the plural by deleting the "y" and adding "ies,". Now pick out the correct usage in the following pairs of sentences:
Pair-5
The harbor at Marble Mountain has one wharf (A)/wharves (B).
There are several wharf (A)/wharves (B) in Halifax Harbor.
Pair-6
The children circled around the headmaster and shouted, "Are you a mice (A)/mouse (B) or a man?"
The audience was shocked when all five men admitted that they were afraid of mice (A)/mouse (B).
-Irregular Plurals
It is time to revisit and remember the rules to form plurals of nouns which have irregular formation and mark the difference
Singular Plural
Desk Desks
Match Matches
Tax Taxes
Cargo cargoes
Commando Commondos
Child Children
Ox Oxen
Sheaf Sheaves
Elf elves
No singular of some plurals
Some nouns are used only in plural –certain articles of dress, names of instruments which have two parts forming a kind of pair e.g. Tongs, Scissors, spectacles, jeans, trousers, annals, assets.
Deceiving plural forms
Some nouns look plural but used in singular – e.g. Electronics, Physics, news, measles, innings, billiards.
Word ‘Means’ – while used in the meaning of wealth, is plural. Example-Despite having small means, he has not incurred any debt and has successfully floated the company.
Plural usage in singular form
Certain nouns are used in plurals although they are singular in form.- e.g. Poultry, cattle, gentry etc. while ‘People’ means a nation as a common noun and can be used in singular or plural both.
Example- Indians are hard working people. Many different peoples reside in Asia.
-Add ‘s’ to Principal word in compounds
Compound noun usually forms its plural by adding –s to the principal word. For example- Passer by – Passers by; Looker-on – Lookers on; Commander in Chief-Commanders in chief.
-No change
Some nouns have singular and plurals alike –Species, series, aircraft, swine, pair, dozen, fish, hair, cod, trout, salmon are a few of such examples. Hair, fish make plurals with –s/-es in special use only
Forming and using Genders
Many common nouns, like "engineer" or "teacher," “Manager”, “officer” can refer to men or women. Many English nouns would change form depending on their gender.
Formation of Gender- The rules for formation of gender from Masculine to feminine are of utmost use while using the correct vocabulary.
Three ways to form the Feminine of Nouns-
1.By using an entirely different word – from Drone to bee, Colt to filly, Monk to Nun etc.
ii. By adding suffix (-Ess, -ine, -trix,-a etc)- Baron to baroness, Count to Countess, Steward to Stewardess, Viscount to Viscountess. Duke to Duchess, Testator to testatrix, czar to czarina, fox to vixen.
iii. By placing a word before or after, as – from peacock to peahen, milkman to milk woman.
Tricky part
Now the trickiest situation is to know what objective word should follow when different genders, in different numbers –Singular and plural are present in a sentence.
Look at the following sentences on objective and possessive usage of genders
1. Neither my girl friend, who is out of station nor I am (A)/is (B) guilty
2. Either the Minister or the minister's wife will have to excuse themselves (A)/ himself (B)/herself(C) from the reception to speak to caterer
3. Either the team members or the team manager performed their (A)/his (B) duties in a perfunctory manner
4. Either the Prime Minister or a few of his cabinet members may not present himself (A)/ themselves (B) at the prestigious interview session.
CAT Replica questions
Direction-Q.1 to 4 In each question there are four sentences or parts of sentences that form a paragraph. Identify the sentence(s) or part(s) that is/are incorrect in terms of grammar including, spelling, punctuation and usage. Pick out the most appropriate option, out of the options that follow the question
Q.1
A.Either the parents or the child are going to talk
B. to the Principal on this issue and I find many a reasons
C. why I can't help the child; please excuse me now as the principal
D.accompanied by the teachers have to go to the auditorium.
1.A, B & D 2. B, C & D 3. A & D 4. B & C
Q2. A. Neither the high profile Manager nor the staff members was able
B. to calm the distressed customer. On the top of it the
C. working team at this FDI funded store is always
D. fighting among themselves.
1. A & C 2. B & D 3. A only 4. D only
Q.3.
A. His mastery of several sports and the social graces
B. make him a sought-after prom date but the
C. CEO has not been paying due attention to the affairs of
D. the company , therefore a majority of shareholders want the merger.
1. A & B 2. C & D 3. B & D 4. A & C
4. A. Either of us is capable of doing
B. this work; But neither of the rosebushes
C. are as pretty as it was last year; now look at
D. the flock of birds that are flying south.
1.A & B 2. C & D 3. B,C & D 4. A, B & C
Important Note
CAT during the last 10 years has asked number of questions based on the concept of genders, singular and Plural. Although they appear simple but the questions are tricky enough, so spend 30 minutes in all to study and equip yourself on the clarity of this concept.
Answers with explanation-
Pair-1
When Matthew was small he rarely told the truth(A)/truths(B) if he thought he was going to be punished.
Many people do not believe that truth(A)/truths(B) are self-evident.
Pair-2
As they walked through the silent house, they were startled by an unexpected echoes (A) / echo(B).
I like to shout into the quarry and listen to the echoes(A)/echo(B) that return.
Pair-3
He tripped over a boxes(A)/box(B) left carelessly in the hallway.
Since we are moving, we will need many boxes(A)/box(B)
Pair-4
It's important to combine the musical stimuli(A)/stimulus(B) with imagery
because when you do, you activate more areas in the brain.
I was flummoxed between do’s and don’ts and needed the approval of others to work as stimuli(A)/stimulus(B)
Pair-5
The harbour at Marble Mountain has one wharf(A)/wharves(B).
There are several wharf(A)/wharves(B) in Halifax Harbour.
Pair-6
The children circled around the headmaster and shouted, "Are you a mice(A)/mouse(B) or a man?"
The audience was shocked when all five men admitted that they were afraid of mice(A)/mouse(B).
Usage of objective and possessive gender pronouns-
1.Neither my girl friend, who is out of station nor I am(A)/is(B) guilty
2.Either the Minister or the minister's wife will have to excuse themselves(A)/ himself(B)/herself(C) from the reception to speak to caterer
3.Either the team members or the team manager performed their(A)/his(B) duties in a perfunctory manner
4.Either the Prime Minister or a few of his cabinet members may not present himself(A)/ themselves(B) at the prestigious interview session.
CAT Replica Questions
Direction-Q.1 to 4 In each question there are four sentences or parts of sentences that form a paragraph. Identify the sentence(s) or part(s) that is/are incorrect in terms of grammar including, spelling, punctuation and usage. Pick out the most appropriate option, out of the options that follow the question
Q.1
A.Either the parents or the child are going to talk
B. to the Principal on this issue and I find many a reasons
C. why I can't help the child; please excuse me now as the principal
D. accompanied by the teachers have to go to the auditorium.
1. A, B & D 2. B, C & D 3. A & D 4. B & C
Q2.A. Neither the high profile Manager nor the staff members was able
B. to calm the distressed customer. On the top of it the
C. working team at this FDI funded store is always
D. fighting among themselves.
1. A & C 2. B & D 3. A only 4. D only
Q.3.A. His mastery of several sports and the social graces
B. make him a sought-after prom date but the
C. CEO has not been paying due attention to the affairs of
D. the company , therefore a majority of shareholders want the merger.
1.A & B 2. C & D 3. B & D 4. A & C
4. A. Either of us is capable of doing
B. this work; But neither of the rosebushes
C. are as pretty as it was last year; now look at
D. the flock of birds that are flying south.
1.A& B 2. C & D 3. B,C & D 4. A, B & C
Answerstopaired sentences
Pair-1(A) Truth; (B) Truths
Pair-2 (B) Echo; (A) Echoes
Pair-3 (B) Box; (A) Boxes
Pair-4 (A)stimuli-Music with varying effects and imagery-should have plural;
(B) stimulus- Approval is singular and will work as stimulus
Pair-5 (A) Wharf; (B) Wharves
Pair-6 (B) Mouse; (A) Mice
Answers to Objective and Possessive gender pronoun usage
1.A (am); 2. C(herself) 3. (B) his 4. (B) themselves
Answers CAT replica questions
Q.1Ans. 1.A,B & D – A- Either the parents of the child is going to talk- verb will follow the latter noun(subject); B- Many a is followed by singular noun and verb; D-
accompanied/as well as/ along with do not make the plural or singular even if followed by the same. Verb therefore will have to be used in accordance with the first(former) subject.
Q.2 Ans. 1. A & C – A. ...Nor the staff members were able; C. Working team at this FDI funded store are always fighting among themselves.
Q.3Ans.3. B & D - B-makes him ( His mastery is singular); D-Majority of shareholders –singular ..wants the merger.
Q.4 Ans. 3. B,C & D – B. But –punctuation – it should have small ‘b’ as the colon is not a full stop, C- is as pretty; D-that is flying south – flock of birds is singular.
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