Noun & Pronoun - SSC CGL | Courage Library

1. What is a Noun?

A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea.

Example: teacher, India, book, honesty

Types of Nouns (with exam focus):

Type	Description	Examples
Proper Noun	Names of people/places	Rohit, Delhi, Ganga
Common Noun	General names	boy, city, river
Collective Noun	A group treated as one	jury, team, army
Abstract Noun	Ideas/qualities	honesty, beauty
Material Noun	Substances	gold, water, wood
Countable vs Uncountable	Can be counted or not	apples (countable), milk (uncountable)

2. Important SSC Rules – Noun Usage

Rule 1: Singular vs Plural Confusions

Plural form must be used with plural meaning.

The students are ready.

The students is ready.

Rule 2: Nouns Always Plural

Scissors, trousers, spectacles, clothes, riches, premises.

His trousers are new.

Rule 3: Singular Meaning Though Plural in Form

Mathematics, Physics, Politics, News → singular.

Mathematics is interesting.

Rule 4: Collective Nouns

Singular if group is one unit: The jury is unanimous.
Plural if individuals are separate: The jury are divided in opinion.

Rule 5: Possessive Case

With living beings → 's (Ravi's book)
With lifeless objects → of (the cover of the book)

3. What is a Pronoun?

A pronoun replaces a noun to avoid repetition.

Example: he, she, it, they, this, who, himself

4. Important SSC Rules – Pronoun Usage

Rule 1: Subject vs Object Form

I, we, he, she, they (subject)
Me, us, him, her, them (object)

She and I are going to the park.

Me and her is going to the park.

Rule 2: Reflexive Pronouns

Used when subject = object.

He hurt himself.

He hurt him.

Rule 3: Pronoun Agreement

Pronoun must agree with noun in number & gender.

Each student must bring his/her book.

Each student must bring their book.

Rule 4: Relative Pronouns

Who → for persons (subject)
Whom → for persons (object)
Which → for animals/things
That → for both persons & things

The man who came here is my friend.

The girl whom I met is a doctor.

Rule 5: Confusing Cases

Between you and me (not I)
It is I (formal English, not *It is me*)
Either of the boys is wrong. (singular verb)

5. SSC CGL Previous Year Questions

Q1. Mathematics ___ my favourite subject.

Options: (a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have

Answer: (c) is

Q2. Neither of the girls ___ present in the class.

Options: (a) are (b) is (c) have (d) were

Answer: (b) is

Q3. Choose the correct sentence:

(a) It is me who is to blame.
(b) It is I who am to blame.
(c) It is me who am to blame.
(d) It is I who is to blame.

Answer: (b)

6. Quick Recap

Nouns: Know singular/plural exceptions, collective nouns, uncountable nouns
Pronouns: Watch subject/object forms, agreement, reflexive use, relative pronouns
SSC traps you with number agreement & pronoun case

7. Practice Questions

(Attempt yourself – answers hidden below)

Q1. The jury ___ divided in their opinion.

Q2. The news ___ very good today.

Q3. Either Ravi or his friends ___ guilty.

Q4. Between you and ___, he is lazy.

Q5. Everyone should do ___ duty honestly.

Click for Answers

1. are

2. is

3. are

4. me

5. his/her

Noun & Pronoun Usage for SSC CGL