Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Q. : What is an Adjective?
Ans. : A word that describes or qualifies a Noun or a Pronoun or adds something to their meaning is called an Adjective.

Read the following sentences :-

John is a good boy.
(good describes the noun boy)
But today he (John) seems sad.
(sad describes the pronoun he)
She is a clever girl.
(clever describes the noun girl)
This is a blue pen.
(blue adds something to the meaning of the noun pen)

NOTE : Adjectives are used in the following two ways :-

1). Attributively (before a Noun)
As :-
a). An angry child is not liked.
b). I saw an angry child.

( In both the sentences above Adjective (angry) is used as an epithet or attribute to the Noun (boy). Here it doesn't matter whether it (the Adjective) is before the Verb or after the Verb. The important thing is that it (the Adjective) is with the Noun described by it (the Adjective). It is,therefore said to be used Attributively. )

2). Predicatively (after a Verb)
As :-
a). The boy whom I saw was angry.
b). He (boy) seemed angry.

( In both the sentences above Adjective (angry) is used to describe the Noun (boy) and the Pronoun (He). But here it (the Adjective) is not used along with the Noun (boy) and the Pronoun (He). Here it (the Adjective) is used after the Verb or we can say it (the Adjective) is used in the predicative part of the sentence. It is,therefore said to be used Predicatively. )

Kinds of Adjectives

Basically there are 8 (eight) kinds of Adjectives. They are :-

1). Adjective of Quality (or Descriptive Adjective)

2). Adjective of Quantity

3). Adjective of Number (or Numeral Adjective)

4). Demonstrative Adjective

5). Interrogative Adjective

6). Possessive Adjective

7). Emphasizing Adjective

8). Exclamatory Adjective

The detailed study of these eight kinds of Adjectives will help us to understand Adjective in a much better way.So to have a detailed study of these eight kinds click here........

Kinds of Pronoun

Pronoun - Uses

Pronoun - Cases

Pronoun

Q. : What is Pronoun?
Ans. : A Pronoun is a word which is used in place of a Noun.
Pronoun means for - a - Noun.
Pronouns are the substituting words.

It (Pronoun) must be of the same number, gender and person as the Noun instead of which it is used. So we should use Pronoun only when we have mentioned the Noun first.
As :-

But when the person/persons referred by First Person and Second Person Pronouns are known to each other and they are talking to each other, then for them there is no need to mention the Noun first. In such a condition the Pronouns (“I”, “We” and “You”) can be used without mentioning the Noun/Nouns (for which these Pronouns are used) first. But if they (the person/persons referred by the First Person and Second Person Pronouns) are unknown to each other we should mention the Noun first before using the Pronouns “I”, “We” and “You”.
As :-
A person named John wants to tell something to a person named Mohan. John can use the Pronouns without mentioning the Noun/Nouns as in the following sentence :-
“I am thankful to you for the act of kindness which you did to me.”

Pronouns are used to avoid the repetition of Nouns.
In reality they are the Nouns in disguise.

Kinds of Pronouns

Pronouns have the following kinds according to the context in which they come. They are :-

1). Personal Pronoun

Personal Pronoun is that which is used for the person/persons speaking or person/persons spoken to or person/persons or thing/things spoken of.

2). Interrogative Pronoun

Interrogative Pronoun is that which is used to ask a question.

3). Relative Pronoun

Relative Pronoun refers to (it's antecedent) a Noun and also joins two sentences.

4). Distributive Pronoun

Distributive Pronoun is the Pronoun that separates one person or thing from a group of persons or things.

5). Demonstrative Pronoun

Demonstrative Pronoun is used to point out the persons or things.

6). Indefinite Pronoun

Indefinite Pronoun is used to refer persons or things in a general way.

7). Reciprocal Pronoun

Reciprocal Pronoun is the Pronoun which is formed by two Pronouns which are treated as a single unit and express mutual or reciprocal relationship.

8). Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive Pronoun is the Pronoun which is formed by adding “self” to “my, him, her, your, and it” and “selves” to “our, them and your”.
They reflect the action done by the subject back to the subject itself.

9). Emphatic Pronoun

Just like Reflexive Pronoun the Emphatic Pronoun is also formed by adding “self” to “my, him, her, your, and it” and “selves” to “our, them and your”.
They are used with Nouns or Pronouns for the sake of emphasis only.

The detailed study of these nine kinds of Pronouns will help us to understand the Pronouns very well.So let us have a detailed study of these nine kinds one by one.

Noun - Cases

-----Noun-Case-----

Q. : What is Case?
Ans. : Case tells us the position and function of a noun in any sentence. Case of any noun depends entirely on the use of the noun. It means that according to the need we can use a noun in any case.
There are six cases of noun in English. They are:-

1). Nominative/Subjective Case :-

When a noun is used as a “SUBJECT” of a verb, it is said to be in the “NOMINATIVE/SUBJECTIVE” case.

As :-

1). Manjeet is playing.
2). Rajive hates cooking.
3). In the heart of every person lives God.
4). Manmeet and Priyansi are cousins.

Note :-

To find the SUBJECT put "WHO" or "WHAT" before the verb.

In the sentences above (Manjeet, Rajive, God and Manmeet and Priyansi) are the subjects of the verbs used in the sentences above.So these nouns are called to be in the NOMINATIVE/SUBJECTIVE case.

As :-

(In the first sentence)

Who is playing? The answer is Manjeet(subject).

(In the second sentence)

Who hates cooking? The answer is Rajive(subject).

(In the third sentence)

Who lives in the heart of every person? The answer is God(subject).

(In the fourth sentence)

Who are cousins? The answer is Manmeet and Priyansi(subject).

2). Accusative/Objective case :-

When a noun is used as an “OBJECT” it is said to be in the “ACCUSATIVE/OBJECTIVE” case.

As :-

1). Manjeet is playing football.
2). Rajive hates Raman.
3). People call me Ashok Kumar.
4). Manmeet and Priyansi are cousins.

Note :-

To find the OBJECT put "WHOM"OR"WHAT" with the subject and verb.

In the sentences above (football, Raman and Ashok Kumar) are the objects of the verbs used in the sentences above.So these nouns are called to be in the ACCUSATIVE/OBJECTIVE case.

Noun that comes after a preposition is also said to be in the ACCUSATIVE/OBJECTIVE case. But the preposition should occur after the VERB.

As :-

(In the first sentence)

Who is playing? The answer is Manjeet(subject).
What is Mnjeet playing? The answer is football(object).

(In the second sentence)

Who hates Raman? The answer is Rajive(subject).
Whom does Rajive hates? The answer is Raman(object).
Rajive hates whom? The answer is Raman(object).

(In the third sentence)

Who call me Ashok Kumar? The answer is People(subject).
What does people call me? The answer is Ashok Kumar(object).
People call me what? The answer is Ashok Kumar(object).

(In the fourth sentence)

Who are cousins? The answer is Manmeet and Priyansi(subject).
What are Manmeet and Priyansi? The answer is cousins.
But here the answer cousins is not an object. It is an extension.

To know more about the difference between OBJECT and EXTENSION you can read the definitions of some basic grammatical terms.

In some sentences we find two objects. We define them as :-
i) DIRECT OBJECT (comes in the answer of What)
ii)INDIRECT OBJECT (comes in the answer of Whom)

3). Dative case :-

When we have two objects in a sentence, noun used as an “INDIRECT OBJECT” is said to be in the “DATIVE” case.

As :-

Manmeet gave Priyansi a book.
Manmeet gave what? The answer is “book”(direct object)
Manmeet gave whom? The answer is “Priyansi”(indirect object)
Here in this sentence having two objects “Priyansi” is in the “Dative Case”

4). Genitive/Possessive case :-

When a noun denotes possession or ownership, it is said to be in the “GENITIVE/POSSESSIVE” case.

Note :-

It answers the question “whose?”.

As :-

Natthu Ram Godse's dream is still unfulfilled.
Whose dream = “Natthu Ram Godse's”.
Ashok's house is in India.
Whose house = “Ashok's”

Formation of Possessive Case of Noun

The following rules will tell you how the possessives of nouns are formed :-

Rule 1 :-

We add ('s) to the nouns that do not have /s/ sound at their end to form their possessive.

As :-

Ashok's, Minister's, Mother's, Dad's, etc.

Rule 2 :-

We add (' ) to the nouns that have /s/ sound at their end to form their possessive.

As :-

Horace', Jesus', Hostess', Homeless, etc.

Rule 3 :-

When a noun consists of several words, we add the possessive sign (' / 's ) to the last word.

As :-

1).The President of India's decision was good for the country.
2).The Captain of Indian cricket team's batting style is incomparable.

Rule 4 :-

When two nouns are in apposition, we add the possessive sign (' / 's ) to the last word.

As :-

1).Partibha Patil, The President of India's decision was good for the country.
2).M. S. Dhoni, the captain of Indian cricket team's batting style is incomparable.

Rule 5 :-

When two or more than two connected nouns have joint possession, we add the possessive sign (' / 's ) to the noun which comes latter in the sentence.

As :-

Manmeet and Priyansi's grandfather is the best grandfather in the world.

Rule 6 :-

But when two or more than two connected nouns have separate possession, we add the possessive sign (' / 's ) to all the nouns having the possessions in the sentence.

As :-

Manmeet's and Priyansi's fathers are brothers.

Rule 7(a) :-

The possessive case is chiefly used with the names of living things. We use a structure with “of” to show the possession of the lifeless things.

As :-

The leg of the table is broken.
I whitewashed the walls of this room yesterday.

Other Examples :-

Cap of the pen (Not the pen's cap)
Room of a hotel (Not a hotel's room)
Stage of a theater (Not a theater's stage)

Rule 7(b) :-

But we use the possessive of the non-living things if they are personified.

As :-

Death's bending sickle forgives nothing.

Other Examples :-

Nature’s laws
Fortune’s favourites
At duty’s call
At death's door
India's heroes
At the country's call

Rule 7(c) :-

But we use possessive of the non-living things if they denote time, space and weight.

As :-

He is sitting at an arm's length to me.

Other Examples :-

A pound’s weight
A day’s work
A week’s holiday
At a stone’s throw

Rule 7(d) :-

There are some possessive phrases which are in use though they don't fit the above rules. We can call them exceptions.

As :-

at his wit's end, for mercy's sake, to his heart's content, at his finger's end, etc.

Note :-

If the noun which we want to use in possessive case is used as an antecedent of the relative clause, we can't use the possessive sign (' / 's ). In such condition we use “of ” to show the possession. By doing so we can avoid the ambiguity.

As :-

1)This is the boy's notebook who is the monitor of this class.(×)
2)This is the notebook of the boy who is the monitor of this class.(√)

According to the first sentence the monitor of the class is (NOTEBOOK).
According to the second sentence the monitor of the class is (BOY).

Note :-

Sometimes however, a noun in the possessive case has a different meaning from a noun with the preposition “of”.

As :-

1. Anna Hazare's reception in Haryana was rapturous.
The above sentence shows a reception held by Anna Hazare's in Haryana.
2)Reception of Anna Hazare in Haryana was rapturous.
The above sentence shows the manner in which people welcomed Anna Hazare when he entered Haryana.

5). Vocative case :-

When nouns are used to address, they are said to be in the “VOCATIVE” case.

As :-

Priyansi, come here and sit down.

In the sentence above the proper noun “Priyansi” is used to address a girl named Priyansi. So the noun “Priyansi” is said to be in the VOCATIVE case.

6). Noun in Apposition :-

When one noun follows another to describe it, the noun that follows is said to be “in apposition” to the noun that comes before it. Noun in apposition remains in the case of the noun that comes before it.

As :-

Shakespeare,the dramatist, has written “The Tempest”.

In the sentence above the noun that comes before is “Shakespeare” and the noun that follows it to describe it is “the dramatist”. So the noun “the dramatist” is said to be in apposition to the noun “Shakespeare”. The noun “the dramatist” is in the SUBJECTIVE case because the noun “Shakespeare” that comes before is in the SUBJECTIVE case.

Noun - Gender

Noun-Number

-----Noun-Number-----

Q. : What is Number?
Ans. : Number is that form of a word that tell us whether person, place or thing denoted by the word is one or more than one.
In English numbers are divided into only two groups.

1). SINGULAR NUMBER :-

A Noun that denotes a single person, place or thing is called to be in the “SINGULAR NUMBER”.

2). PLURAL NUMBER :-

A Noun that denotes two or more than two persons, places or things is called to be in the “PLURAL NUMBER”.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Boy	Boys	Girl	Girls
Man	Men	Woman	Women
Pen	Pens	Book	Books
Goose	Geese	Mouse	Mice
Foot	Feet	Tooth	Teeth
Brother-in-law	Brothers-in-law	Sister-in-law	Sisters-in-law
Dictionary	Dictionaries	Baby	Babies
Photo	Photoes	Piano	Pianoes
Wife	Wives	Knife	Knives
Gulf	Gulfs	Chief	Chiefs

The table shows singular and plural.

Rules for Changing Singular to Plural :-

If you want to learn how to change the “Singular Noun” into “Plural Noun” the following rules will help you.

Rule 1 :-

Some Nouns form their “PLURAL” by having “s” at the end.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Boy	Boys	Girl	Girls
Pan	Pans	Pen	Pens
Hand	Hands	Book	Books
Computer	Computers	Blog	Blogs
Table	Tables	Chair	Chairs
Brother	Brothers	Sister	Sisters
Cat	Cats	Dog	Dogs
Animal	Animals	Mind	Minds
Owl	Owls	Hack	Hacks
Student	Students	School	Schools

Rule 2 :-

Nouns ending with “s”, “sh”, “ss”, “ch” and “x” form their “PLURAL” by having “es” at the end.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Gas	Gases	Bus	Buses
Ass	Asses	Class	Classes
Fox	Foxes	Box	Boxes
Watch	Watches	Church	Churches
Apex	Apexes	Index	Indexes
Canvas	Canvases	Yes	Yeses
Coach	Coaches	Switch	Switches
Fix	Fixes	Tax	Taxes
Dish	Dishes	Brush	Brushes
Match	Matches	Peach	Peaches

Rule 3 :-

Nouns in which the ending consonants “c & h” both are pronounced as “/ k /” instead of “/ tʃ /” form their “PLURAL” by having “s” at the end. Basically these words are added to English language from other languages such as “Scottish”, “Latin” and “French”.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Clarsach	Clarsachs	Cromlech	Cromlechs
Triptych	Triptychs	Diptych	Diptychs
Epoch	Epochs	Eunuch	Eunuchs
Hemistich	Hemistichs	Loch	Lochs
Matriarch	Matriarchs	Patriarch	Patriarchs
Czech	Czechs	Monarch	Monarchs
Oligarch	Oligarchs	Pibroch	Pibrochs
Sassenach	Sassenachs	Stomach	Stomachs
Tech	Techs

This table shows all the Nouns in which the ending consonants “c & h” both are pronounced as “/ k /” not as “/ tʃ /”.

Rule 4 :-

Nouns ending with “o” and the ending “o” is preceded by any consonant form their “PLURAL” by having “es” at the end.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Hero	Heroes	Go	Goes
Potato	Potatoes	Tomato	Tomatoes
Echo	Echoes	Embargo	Embargoes
Torpedoes	Torpedoes	Veto	Vetoes
Jingo	Jingoes	No	Noes
Bubo	Buboes	Dingo	Dingoes
Domino	Dominoes	Fatso	Fatsoes
Gusto	Gustoes	Stomach	Stomachs
Tech	Techs

Exception :Babygro Do(A party/A social event)
1 We add (S) to the common nouns ending
with (O).
2. We add (S) to the short forms
Nouns ending with (O).
3. We add (S) to the LOAN WORDS ending with (O).
(Loan words are those words that have come from another languages with no change of spelling.)
4. We add (S) to the words that are newer to English and end with (O).

Rule 5 :-

In the Nouns ending with “y” preceded by a consonant we replace “y” with “ies”to form their “PLURAL”.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Cry	Cries	Pony	Ponies
Family	Families	City	Cities
Country	Countries	Box	Boxes
Dictionary	Dictionaries	Reply	Replies
Fly	Flies	Lady	Ladies
Army	Armies	Enemy	Enemies
Baby	Babies	Story	Stories
Cherry	Cherries	Navy	Navies
Bevy	Bevies	Body	Bodies
Envy	Envies	Duty	Duties

Rule 6 :-

In the Nouns ending with “y” preceded by a vowel we add “s” to that Noun to form the “PLURAL”.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Boy	Boys	Toy	Toys
Way	Ways	Day	Days
Ray	Rays	Key	Keys
Monkey	Monkeys	Donkey	Donkeys
Journey	Journeys	Valley	Valleys
Army	Armies	Enemy	Enemies
Bay	Bays	Storey	Storeys
Prey	Preys	Tray	Trays
Buoy	Buoys	Guy	Guys

Note :-

In English there are three Nouns ending with “quy”. To make the “PLURAL” of these three words we remove the “y” in the end and add “ies”. These three words are :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Colloquy	Colloquies	Obloquy	Obloquies
Soliloquy	Soliloquies	-------	-------

Rule 7 :-

In the Nouns ending with “double vowel” we add “s” to that Noun to form the “PLURAL”.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Tree	Trees	Radio	Radios
Bee	Bees	Sea	Seas
Studio	Studios	Tattoo	Tattoos
Zoo	Zoos	Stereo	Stereos
Cuckoo	Cuckoos	Cameo	Cameos
Portfolio	Portfolios	Woe	Woes
Bamboo	Bamboos	Queue	Queues
Antique	Antiques	Cheque	Cheques
Canoe	Canoes	Flea	Fleas

Rule 8 :-

Nouns ending with “f” or “fe” are made “PLURAL” by adding “s” at the end of that Noun or by replacing “f” with “ves”. The next question is, “Where to use “s” and where to use “ves” to form the plural.” For this we can follow some helpful steps given below.

Rule 8 a :-

Nouns ending with “ff” are made “PLURAL” by adding “s” at the end of that Noun.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Bailiff	Bailiffs	Buff	Buffs
Cliff	Cliffs	Cuff	Cuffs
Rebuff	Rebuffs	Sniff	Sniffs
Tariff	Tariffs	Plaintiff	Plaintiffs

Rule 8 b :-

Nouns ending with “lf” are made “PLURAL” by replacing “f” at the end of that Noun with “ves”. The only exception to this rule is Gulf = Gulfs.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Bookshelf	Bookshelves	Calf	Calves
Elf	Elves	Half	Halves
Shelf	Shelves	Self	Selves
Werewolf	Werewolves	Wolf	Wolves

Rule 8 c :-

Nouns ending with “mf” are made “PLURAL” by adding “s” at the end of that Noun.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Bumf	Bumfs	------	------

Rule 8 d :-

Nouns ending with “of” or “oof” are made “PLURAL” by adding “s” at the end of that Noun. The only exceptions to this rule are :-
1).Hoof = Hoofs/Hooves
2). Yoof = Yooves

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Goof	Goofs	Hoof	Hoofs
Poof	Poofs	Prof	Profs
Proof	Proofs	Roof	Roofs
Spoof	Spoofs	Woof	Woofs

Rule 8 e :-

Nouns ending with “rf” are made “PLURAL” by adding either “s” or “ves” at the end of that Noun.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Plural Noun
Dwarf	Dwarfs	Dwarves
Scarf	Scarfs	Scarves
Turf	Turfs	Turves
Wharf	Wharfs	Wharves

The only exceptions to this rule are :-
1).Serf = Serfs
2). Surf = Surfs
3). Headscarf = Headscarves

Rule 9 :-

The following 8 Nouns form their “PLURAL” by a change of the inside vowel.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Man	Men	Woman	Women
Foot	Feet	Goose	Geeese
Mouse	mice	Louse	Lice
Dormouse	Dormice	Tooth	Teeth

Rule 10 :-

The following 4 Nouns form their “PLURAL” by adding “ren” “en” “ne”.

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Child	Children	Brother	Brotheren
Ox	Oxen	Cow	Kine

Rule 11 :-

Compound Nouns generally form their “PLURAL” by adding “s” to the head word (main word about which we are talking).

As :-

Singular Noun	Plural Noun	Singular Noun	Plural Noun
Brother-in-law	Brothers-in-law	Sister-in-law	Sisters-in-law
Step-mother	Step-mothers	Step-father	Step-fathers

Exceptions to this rule are :-
1).Man servant = Men servants
2). Woman servant = Women servants
3). Lord justice = Lords justices
4). Knight Templar = Knights Templars

But Compound Nouns written without a hyphen form their “PLURAL” by having “s” at the end.

As :-

1).Handful = Handfuls
2). Mouthful = Mouthfuls

Plural of Foreign Words

1). If the word ending in “a” is Latin in origin, the plural ending tends to be -ae.
Words that always take the Latin plural :-

Larva = Larvae
Alumna = Alumnae
Vertebra = Vertebrae

Some other Latin words ending in “a” take either Latin or English plurals:-

Amoeba = Amoebas / Amoebae
Formula = Formulas / Formulae
Cicada = Cicadas / Cicadae
Tibia = Tibias / Tibiae
Trachea = Tracheas / Tracheae
Verruca = Verrucas / Verrucae

2). Greek words ending in “es” do not change in the plural. To express their plural we use the following way :-

One Series = Two Series/Several Series
One Species = Two Species/ Several Species

3). If the word ending in “ix” or “ex” is Latin in origin, we change the ending “ix” or “ex” with “ices”.

Matrix = Matrices
Codex = Codices
Index= Indices

4). Some Greek words ending in “on” always take the English -s ending in the plural:-

Electron=Electrons
Lexicon=Lexicons
Neutron=Neutrons
Proton=Protons
Skeleton =Skeletons

5). Some take either the English “s” plural or the Greek “a” plural :-

Automaton = Automatons/Automata
Phenomenon = Phenomenons/Phenomena

6). Some can take only the Greek “a” plural :-

Criterion = Criteria
Ephemeron = Ephemera

7). Some words ending in “um” always take the Latin “a” ending in the plural :-

Addendum = Addenda
Erratum = Errata
Ovum = Ova
Bacterium =Bacteria

8). Other words ending in “um” take either English “s” or Latin “a” ending in the plural :-

Memorandum = Memorandums / Memoranda
Stratum = Stratums / Strata
Forum = Forums / Fora
Gymnasium = Gymnasiums / Gymnasia

9). Some words ending in “um” always take the English “s” ending in the plural :-

Album = Albums
Asylum = Asylums
Museum = Museums
Pendulum = Pendulums
Premium = Premiums

10). Many words ending in “us” always take the English “es” ending in the plural :-

Census = Censuses
Circus = Circuses
Hiatus = Hiatuses
Prospectus = Prospectuses
Sinus = Sinuses
Virus = Viruses
Apparatus = Apparatuses

11). While with some words ending in “us”, the Latin “i” is usually preferable in the plural:-

Cactus = Cacti
Narcissus = Narcissi
Radius = Radii
Alumnus = Alumni
Bacillus = Bacilli
Fungus = Fungi
Stimulus = Stimuli

MISCELLANEOUS

Axis = Axes
Crisis = Crises
Analysis = Analyses
Basis = Bases
Hypothesis = Hypotheses
Madame (Madam) = Mesdames
Curriculum = Curricula
Synopsis = Synopses
Thesis = Theses
Agenda = Agendas
Medium = Media
Datum = Data(Now a days DATUM is rarely used as singular.)

Some Other Rules

Rule 1 :-

Some nouns have two plural forms. Both the plural forms have a different meaning :-

As :-

Brother

1). Brothers = Sons of the same parents.
2). Brethren = Members of a society or community.

Cloth

1). Cloths = Kinds or pieces of cloth.
2). Clothes = Garments.

Die

1). Dies = Stamps for coins .
2). Dice = Small cubes used in a game.

Staff

1). Staves = Walking sticks or the lines used in music.
2). Staffs = Employees of an organization .

Penny

1). Pennies = Number of coins
2). Pence = Sum of money

Some nouns have different meanings in their singular and plural forms :-

As :-

Singular Meaning	Plural Meaning
Advice = Counsel	Advices = Information
Air = An invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth	Airs = Annoyingly affected and condescending manner