I have one arrear paper in 2nd year

[kumar17]

Is the word "arrears" always in plural form?

Can I say "I have one arrear paper in 2nd year"(One paper I have failed. So, I have to reappear now)?

 

[5jj]

Yes.
No.

 

[5jj]

If you have failed an exam, you are not in arrears with anything. You simply have to resit/retake the exam.

 

[kumar17]

If you have failed an exam, you are not in arrears with anything. You simply have to resit/retake the exam.

In India, we use arrears to mean number of subjects to reappear for. It is usually used when we can go to the next academic year and have to write the failed papers along with the next academic year's papers.

 

[emsr2d2]

Can I say "I have one arrear paper in 2nd year"? (I have failed one paper I have failed. So, so I have to reappear now)? retake/resit it.)

Note my changes above. We don't use "appear" with exams.

 

[Tarheel]

In India, we use arrears to mean number of subjects to reappear for. It is usually used when we can go to the next academic year and have to write the failed papers along with the next academic year's papers.

Do you mean that you retake the exams that you previously failed?

 

[tedmc]

In India, we use arrears to mean number of subjects to reappear for. It is usually used when we can go to the next academic year and have to write the failed papers along with the next academic year's papers.

If you look up the word in a dictionary, "arrears" has to do with money, debt and accounting. The way it is used where you come from does not mean it is correct.

 

[5jj]

The way it is used where you come from does not mean it is correct.

if that is the way it is used in Indian English, then it is correct in that variety.

 

[Tdol]

But knowing that it is a form used in a variant rather than in international English can't be an entirely bad thing.

 

[kumar17]

Do you mean that you retake the exams that you previously failed?

Yes, along with other papers of the next academic year.