Question

write a story with opening sentence given below

i went to a stationery shop to buy some art materials. as I headed for home i saw a paint box lying in the middle ....... ​

Answer 1

Answer:

'Stationery' is a mass noun, i.e., it cannot be written in plural 'stationeries'.

A mass noun is a noun which cannot be counted or a noun which is counted only when it refers to a specific unit or type. Hence the underlined word must be changed and option D is incorrect.

Option A: 'Stationery' is the correct form of the noun, it refers to writing material, like pencils, pens, paper, etc. Hence A is correct.

'Stationery' and 'stationary' are words very easily confused with each other. The former refers to writing material whereas the latter refers to a state of being fixed in a position, not moving.

Option B: 'Stationary', being an abstract noun (i.e. a noun that refers to a state of being or a feeling) cannot be bought ("to buy some..."). Hence this isn't the correct option.

Option C: 'Stationaries' is an incorrect word itself. Abstract nouns, like stationary, do not have a plural form.

Note: You can remember the difference between stationery and stationary like this:

'e' in stationery relates to 'e' in paper

'a' in stationary relates with 'a' in standing (when you're stationary, imagine that you are standing in one place)