Language/Russian/Grammar/Plurals
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we will focus on forming plurals of Russian nouns and recognizing the different plural endings for each gender. Understanding how to form plurals is an essential aspect of learning Russian grammar. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently form and use plural nouns in your Russian conversations.
Basic Rules for Forming Plurals[edit | edit source]
In Russian, forming plurals involves changing the endings of nouns. The specific ending that a noun takes in its plural form depends on its gender. There are three genders in Russian: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Let's explore the plural endings for each gender.
Plural Endings for Masculine Nouns[edit | edit source]
Masculine nouns usually end in a consonant or a soft sign (ь) in their singular form. When forming the plural, the ending -ы is added to masculine nouns that end in a consonant, while the soft sign is removed before adding -и.
Here are some examples:
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| стол | stol | table |
| дом | dom | house |
| парк | park | park |
| папа | papa | dad |
Note that some masculine nouns may have irregular plural forms. It is important to learn these irregularities as you progress in your Russian studies.
Plural Endings for Feminine Nouns[edit | edit source]
Feminine nouns usually end in -а or -я in their singular form. When forming the plural, the ending -ы is added to feminine nouns that end in -а, and the ending -и is added to feminine nouns that end in -я.
Here are some examples:
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| машина | mashina | car |
| семья | sem'ya | family |
| улица | ulitsa | street |
| книга | kniga | book |
Similarly to masculine nouns, some feminine nouns may have irregular plural forms.
Plural Endings for Neuter Nouns[edit | edit source]
Neuter nouns usually end in -о or -е in their singular form. When forming the plural, the ending -а is added to neuter nouns that end in -о, and the ending -я is added to neuter nouns that end in -е.
Here are some examples:
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| окно | okno | window |
| море | more | sea |
| письмо | pismo | letter |
| время | vremya | time |
As with masculine and feminine nouns, irregular plural forms exist for some neuter nouns.
Plural Forms of Nouns with Soft and Hard Stems[edit | edit source]
In addition to the gender-based plural endings, Russian nouns can also have soft or hard stems, which affect how the plural forms are constructed. A noun stem is the root form of a noun without any endings.
When a noun has a hard stem, the plural endings are added directly to the stem. For example, the noun "стол" (table) has a hard stem, so the plural form is "столы" (tables).
On the other hand, when a noun has a soft stem, the plural endings are added after a soft sign (ь). For example, the noun "день" (day) has a soft stem, so the plural form is "дни" (days).
It is important to pay attention to the stems of nouns when forming plurals, as they can affect the endings that are added.
Plural Forms of Nouns Ending in -ь[edit | edit source]
Nouns that end in a soft sign (ь) in their singular forms have a unique pattern for forming plurals. In these cases, the soft sign is replaced by the ending -и in the plural form.
Here are some examples:
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ночь | noch' | night |
| дверь | dver' | door |
| мышь | mysh' | mouse |
| дочь | doch' | daughter |
Plural Forms of Nouns Ending in -й[edit | edit source]
Nouns that end in -й in their singular forms also have a specific pattern for forming plurals. In these cases, the -й is replaced by -и in the plural form.
Here are some examples:
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| путь | put' | path |
| край | kray | region |
| рубль | rubl' | ruble |
| лай | lay | bark (noun) |
Plural Forms of Nouns with Irregular Plural Endings[edit | edit source]
In addition to the regular plural endings we have discussed, there are several nouns in Russian that have irregular plural forms. These irregularities must be learned individually, as there are no specific rules governing them.
Here are some examples of nouns with irregular plurals:
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| человек | chelovek | person |
| глаз | glaz | eye |
| зуб | zub | tooth |
| нож | nozh | knife |
Take note of these irregular plural forms and practice using them in context to familiarize yourself with their usage.
Summary[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we have learned how to form plurals of Russian nouns based on their gender and endings. We explored the plural endings for masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns, as well as the plurals of nouns with soft and hard stems. We also discussed the plurals of nouns ending in -ь and -й, as well as irregular plural forms.
It is important to practice forming and using plural nouns in order to internalize these grammar rules. As you continue your Russian language journey, you will encounter more nouns with unique plural forms. Keep exploring and expanding your knowledge to become proficient in Russian grammar.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Russian lessons – Lesson 7 – Russian plurals - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Russian Grammar: Singular and Plural Nouns - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Beginning Russian: Plural Forms of Nouns - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Russian Cases - Accusative Plural - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Russian Plurals - Russian Language Lesson 11
- How to Express Plurality in Russian
- Russian grammar: Nouns in Nominative (plural) - Learn Russian for ...
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Gender
- How to Use be
- Present Tense
- Future Tense
- Tricky Adverbs
- Give your Opinion
- Personal Pronouns
- Порядок слов в русском предложении
- Imperative give an order
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