Language/Ukrainian/Grammar/Plurals
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the lesson on plurals in Ukrainian! In this lesson, we will explore the formation and use of plural nouns and adjectives in the Ukrainian language. Understanding plurals is an essential part of building your vocabulary and communicating effectively in Ukrainian. So let's dive in and discover the fascinating world of plurals in Ukrainian!
Plural Nouns[edit | edit source]
In Ukrainian, nouns can be either singular or plural. Plural nouns refer to more than one person, animal, thing, or concept. The formation of plural nouns in Ukrainian depends on various factors, such as the gender and ending of the singular noun. Let's explore these factors in more detail.
Masculine Nouns[edit | edit source]
Masculine nouns in Ukrainian can end in different letters, such as -о, -е, -є, -й, or a consonant. To form the plural of masculine nouns, we usually add -и to the singular form. Let's look at some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| дім (dom) | [dom] | house |
| хлопець (khlopets') | [ˈxɫɔpɛt͡sʲ] | boy |
| стілець (stilеts') | [ˈstiːlɛt͡sʲ] | chair |
Feminine Nouns[edit | edit source]
Feminine nouns in Ukrainian can end in different letters, such as -а, -я, -ість, or -ність. To form the plural of feminine nouns, we usually add -и or -і to the singular form. Let's look at some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| книга (knyha) | [ˈkniɦɑ] | book |
| дівчина (divchyna) | [ˈdɪwt͡ʃɪnɑ] | girl |
| думка (dumka) | [ˈdumkɑ] | thought |
Neuter Nouns[edit | edit source]
Neuter nouns in Ukrainian can end in different letters, such as -о, -е, -я, or -ець. To form the plural of neuter nouns, we usually add -а or -я to the singular form. Let's look at some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| вікно (vikno) | [ˈʋikno] | window |
| море (more) | [ˈmorɛ] | sea |
| дерево (derevo) | [dɛˈrɛʋɔ] | tree |
Plural Nouns with Softening[edit | edit source]
In some cases, the endings of singular nouns change when forming the plural. This change is called "softening." Let's look at some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| сонце (sontse) | [ˈsɔnt͡sɛ] | sun |
| день (den') | [dɛnʲ] | day |
| кінь (kin') | [kɪnʲ] | horse |
In the plural form, the endings -це, -ень, and -інь change to -ця, -еня, and -іня respectively. For example:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| сонце (sontse) | [ˈsɔnt͡sɛ] | sun |
| сонця (sontsya) | [ˈsɔnt͡sʲɑ] | suns |
| день (den') | [dɛnʲ] | day |
| дні (dni) | [dʲni] | days |
Plural Nouns with Irregular Forms[edit | edit source]
Some nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow the general rules mentioned above. It's important to remember these irregular forms as you continue to build your vocabulary. Here are some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| око (oko) | [ˈɔkɔ] | eye |
| очі (ochi) | [ˈɔt͡ʃi] | eyes |
| вухо (vukho) | [ˈʋuxɔ] | ear |
| вуха (vukha) | [ˈʋuxɑ] | ears |
Exceptions and Special Cases[edit | edit source]
As with any language, there are exceptions and special cases when it comes to forming plural nouns in Ukrainian. For example, some nouns have the same form in both singular and plural, while others have irregular plural forms that cannot be easily predicted. It's essential to encounter these exceptions and special cases as you continue your language learning journey.
Plural Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Adjectives in Ukrainian also have singular and plural forms, just like nouns. The formation of plural adjectives depends on the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. Let's explore how adjectives form their plural forms in Ukrainian.
Masculine Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Masculine adjectives in Ukrainian change their endings when forming the plural. The endings -ий, -ій, -ой, and -ий become -і, -і, -і, and -і respectively. For example:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| хороший хлопець (khoroshyy khlopets') | [xɔˈrɔʃɪj ˈxɫɔpɛt͡sʲ] | good boy |
| хороші хлопці (khoroshi khlopsti) | [xɔˈrɔʃi ˈxɫɔpʦi] | good boys |
Feminine Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Feminine adjectives in Ukrainian change their endings when forming the plural. The endings -а, -я, -я, and -ьа become -і, -і, -і, and -і respectively. For example:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| красива дівчина (krasyva divchyna) | [krɑˈsɪwɑ dɪwˈt͡ʃɪnɑ] | beautiful girl |
| красиві дівчата (krasyvi divchata) | [krɑˈsɪwi dɪwˈt͡ʃɑtɑ] | beautiful girls |
Neuter Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Neuter adjectives in Ukrainian do not change their endings when forming the plural. They remain the same for both singular and plural forms. For example:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| чисте вікно (chyste vikno) | [ˈt͡ʃɪstɛ ˈʋiknɔ] | clean window |
| чисте вікна (chyste vikna) | [ˈt͡ʃɪstɛ ˈʋiknɑ] | clean windows |
Plural Adjectives with Softening[edit | edit source]
Like plural nouns, some adjectives undergo softening when forming the plural. Let's take a look at some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| сокирка (sokyirka) | [sɔˈkɪrka] | axe |
| сокирки (sokyirky) | [sɔˈkɪrki] | axes |
| міць (mits') | [mit͡sʲ] | strength |
| міці (mitsi) | [ˈmit͡si] | strengths |
Exceptions and Special Cases[edit | edit source]
As with plural nouns, there are exceptions and special cases when it comes to forming plural adjectives in Ukrainian. Some adjectives have irregular plural forms, while others have the same form in both singular and plural. It's important to encounter these exceptions and special cases in your language learning journey.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on plurals in Ukrainian. In this lesson, you learned about the formation and use of plural nouns and adjectives in Ukrainian. Remember to practice using plurals in your everyday conversations and written exercises to reinforce your understanding. Keep up the good work, and soon you'll be speaking Ukrainian with confidence!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Adverbs of quality, quantity and manner
- Conditional Mood
- Possessive Pronouns
- Future Tense
- Present tense
- Adverbs of time, place, intention and cause
- Questions
- How to Use Be
- Adverbs of quantity: how many
- how to use numerals and nouns in pairs