how to resolve npm install issue i am getting

Question

I am trying to install npm using npm install but I am getting an error as below.

  //after  npm install command
                                internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:892
                                throw err;
                                ^

                                Error: Cannot find module 'semver'
                                Require stack:
                                - /usr/share/npm/lib/utils/unsupported.js
                                - /usr/share/npm/bin/npm-cli.js
                                    at Function.Module._resolveFilename (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:889:15)
                                    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:745:27)
                                    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:961:19)
                                    at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:92:18)
                                    at Object.<anonymous> (/usr/share/npm/lib/utils/unsupported.js:2:14)
                                    at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1072:14)
                                    at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1101:10)
                                    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:937:32)
                                    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:778:12)
                                    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:961:19) {
                                code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
                                requireStack: [
                                    '/usr/share/npm/lib/utils/unsupported.js',
                                    '/usr/share/npm/bin/npm-cli.js'
                                ]
                                }

/// i have pasted the exact copy shown after the npm install command...