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{{Serbian-Page-Top}}
{{Serbian-Page-Top}}
<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Serbian|Serbian]]  → [[Language/Serbian/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Serbian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Nouns: Gender and Number</div>
Welcome to the lesson on '''Nouns: Gender and Number'''! Understanding the concepts of gender and number in Serbian nouns is crucial for mastering the language, as they play a significant role in sentence structure and communication. In Serbian, nouns are categorized into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Additionally, nouns can be singular or plural, which adds another layer to the language's grammatical system. This lesson will guide you through these essential aspects, providing you with the tools to identify and use nouns correctly in Serbian.
In this lesson, we will cover the following points:
* '''Understanding Gender in Serbian Nouns'''
* Masculine Nouns
* Feminine Nouns
* Neuter Nouns
* '''Understanding Number in Serbian Nouns'''
* Singular Nouns
* Plural Nouns
* '''Practical Exercises'''
By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid grasp of Serbian nouns, their genders, and how they change from singular to plural. Let's dive in!


<div class="pg_page_title">Serbian Grammar → Introduction to Serbian Grammar → Nouns: Gender and Number</div>
__TOC__
__TOC__


As a Serbian language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I know that learning Serbian grammar can seem daunting at first. However, understanding the basics of gender and number in Serbian nouns is important for developing a solid foundation in the language. In this lesson, I will explain the gender and number system in Serbian nouns.
=== Understanding Gender in Serbian Nouns ===
 
In Serbian, every noun is assigned a gender, which affects how it interacts with other words in a sentence, particularly adjectives and verbs. The three genders are:
 
* '''Masculine''': Typically nouns that end in a consonant.
 
* '''Feminine''': Nouns that usually end in -a.
 
* '''Neuter''': Nouns that commonly end in -o or -e.
 
==== Masculine Nouns ====
 
Masculine nouns often refer to male beings or are associated with male characteristics. Here are some key points and examples:
 
* Masculine nouns often end in a consonant.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Serbian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| стол (stol) || [stol] || table
 
|-
 
| учитељ (učitelj) || [ʊˈt͡ɪt͡ɕɛʎ] || teacher
 
|-
 
| пас (pas) || [pas] || dog
 
|-
 
| град (grad) || [ɡrad] || city
 
|-
 
| човек (čovek) || [t͡ʃɔʋɛk] || man
 
|}
 
==== Feminine Nouns ====
 
Feminine nouns are often associated with female beings or characteristics. Here are some characteristics and examples:
 
* Feminine nouns typically end in -a.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Serbian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| жена (žena) || [ʒɛna] || woman
 
|-
 
| кућа (kuća) || [ˈkʊt͡ɕa] || house
 
|-
 
| мачка (mačka) || [ˈmaːt͡ʃka] || cat
 
|-
 
| девојка (devojka) || [dɛˈʋɔjka] || girl
 
|-
 
| река (reka) || [rɛka] || river
 
|}
 
==== Neuter Nouns ====
 
Neuter nouns are generally inanimate objects or abstract concepts. They usually end in -o or -e.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Serbian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| дете (dete) || [ˈdɛtɛ] || child
 
|-
 
| море (more) || [ˈmɔrɛ] || sea
 
|-
 
| око (oko) || [ˈɔkɔ] || eye
 
|-
 
| име (ime) || [ˈimɛ] || name
 
|-
 
| дело (delo) || [ˈdɛlɔ] || work
 
|}
 
=== Understanding Number in Serbian Nouns ===
 
In Serbian, nouns can be either singular or plural. The way nouns change from singular to plural often depends on their gender.
 
==== Singular Nouns ====
 
Singular nouns refer to one item or being. Here are some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Serbian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| књига (knjiga) || [ˈkɲiɡa] || book
 
|-
 
| цвет (cvet) || [tsʋɛt] || flower
 
|-
 
| аутомобил (automobil) || [autɔˈmɔbiɫ] || car
 
|-
 
| телефон (telefon) || [tɛlɛˈfɔn] || telephone
 
|-
 
| компјутер (kompjuter) || [kɔmpˈjutɛr] || computer
 
|}
 
==== Plural Nouns ====
 
Plural nouns indicate more than one item or being. The formation of the plural can vary by gender:
 
* '''Masculine''' nouns typically add -i or -ovi.
 
* '''Feminine''' nouns usually add -e or -i.
 
* '''Neuter''' nouns often add -a.
 
Here are some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Serbian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| књиге (knjige) || [ˈkɲiɡɛ] || books
 
|-
 
| цветови (cvetovi) || [tsʋɛˈtɔʋi] || flowers
 
|-
 
| аутомобили (automobili) || [autɔˈmɔbiɫi] || cars
 
|-
 
| телефони (telefoni) || [tɛlɛˈfɔni] || telephones
 
|-
 
| компјутери (kompjuteri) || [kɔmpˈjutɛri] || computers
 
|}
 
=== Practical Exercises ===
 
Now that you have a solid understanding of gender and number in Serbian nouns, let's put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises to help you practice:
 
==== Exercise 1: Identify the Gender ====
 
Determine the gender of the following nouns:
 
1. старица (starica)
 
2. војник (vojnik)
 
3. дете (dete)
 
4. кућа (kuća)
 
5. река (reka)
 
'''Solution''':
 
1. Feminine
 
2. Masculine
 
3. Neuter
 
4. Feminine
 
5. Feminine
 
==== Exercise 2: Singular to Plural Transformation ====


Convert the following singular nouns to their plural forms:


<span link>Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: [[Language/Serbian/Grammar/Plurals|Plurals]] & [[Language/Serbian/Grammar/Verbs:-Present-Tense|Verbs: Present Tense]].</span>
1. мачка (mačka)
== Gender in Serbian Nouns ==
Like many other Slavic languages, Serbian uses a system of grammatical genders for its nouns. Unlike English, where gender is denoted by pronouns only, Serbian nouns are divided into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. In order to use proper grammar in Serbian, it is essential to know the gender of each noun.


=== Masculine Nouns ===
2. стол (stol)
Most masculine nouns in Serbian end in consonants or "o". For instance, "stol" (table) and "muškarac" (man) are two common masculine nouns. There are some exceptions to this, however, so it is important to learn the gender of each noun individually.


=== Feminine Nouns ===
3. девојка (devojka)
Feminine nouns in Serbian usually end in "a" or "ija". Some examples of feminine nouns include "kuća" (house) and "majka" (mother). Like masculine nouns, there are some exceptions to the general rule.


=== Neuter Nouns ===
4. ауто (auto)
The third gender in Serbian is neuter. Neuter nouns are usually denoted by the ending "-e" or "-o". For instance, "voće" (fruit) and "srce" (heart) are both neuter nouns.


== Number in Serbian Nouns ==
5. цвет (cvet)
In addition to gender, Serbian nouns also have a number - either singular or plural. This means that each noun can be either one object or more than one object.  


=== Singular Nouns ===
'''Solution''':
When talking about one object or person, we use the singular form of a noun. For example, "Knjiga" (book) and "mačka" (cat) are both singular nouns.


=== Plural Nouns ===
1. мачке (mačke)
To indicate more than one object or person, we use the plural form of a noun. In Serbian, most words add the suffix "-ovi" or "-evi" to form the plural, but some have different endings. For example, "knjige" (books) and "mačke" (cats) are both plural nouns.


== Exceptions and Special Cases ==
2. столови (stolovi)
As with any language, there are exceptions and special cases to the gender and number system in Serbian nouns. Some rules apply only to specific words, while others are particular to certain regions of Serbia.


One exception is that some Serbian nouns have the same form in the singular and the plural. For example, "ovoće" means both "fruit" and "fruits."
3. девојке (devojke)


Another special case occurs when a letter is omitted in the spelling of a plural noun. For example, "vatra" (fire) becomes "vatre" (fires) in the plural, while "nebo" (sky) becomes "nebesa" (skies).
4. аутомобили (automobili)


== Conclusion ==
5. цветови (cvetovi)
Understanding the gender and number system in Serbian nouns is essential for mastering the language. By learning the basic rules and paying attention to exceptions and special cases, you will be able to use proper grammar and communicate effectively in Serbian.


<div class="pg_source_title">Sources:</div>
==== Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks ====
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_grammar" title="Serbian grammar">Serbian grammar</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbo-Croatian_noun_types" title="Serbo-Croatian noun types">Serbo-Croatian noun types</a></li>
</ul>


Complete the sentences with the correct form of the noun in parentheses.
1. Она је _____ (девојка).
2. То је _____ (аутомобил).
3. Он има _____ (пас).
4. Они воле _____ (књига).
5. Ми видимо _____ (река).
'''Solution''':
1. девојка (devojka)
2. аутомобил (automobil)
3. пса (pasa)
4. књиге (knjige)
5. реку (reku)
==== Exercise 4: Gender Classification ====
Classify the following nouns by their gender:
1. кућа (kuća)
2. учитељ (učitelj)
3. око (oko)
4. пријатељ (prijatelj)
5. жена (žena)
'''Solution''':
* Feminine: кућа, жена
* Masculine: учитељ, пријатељ
* Neuter: око
==== Exercise 5: Match the Noun to Its Plural ====
Match the singular nouns to their plural forms:
1. цвет (cvet) → a. цветови (cvetovi)
2. стола (stol) → b. столови (stolovi)
3. књига (knjiga) → c. књиге (knjige)
4. девојка (devojka) → d. девојке (devojke)
5. аутомобил (automobil) → e. аутомобили (automobili)
'''Solution''':
1 → a
2 → b
3 → c
4 → d
5 → e
==== Exercise 6: Create Sentences ====
Using the following nouns, create sentences that show both singular and plural forms:
1. мачка (mačka)
2. пас (pas)
3. књига (knjiga)
4. дете (dete)
'''Solution''':
1. Имам једну мачку. (I have one cat.) / Имам две мачке. (I have two cats.)
2. Он има пса. (He has a dog.) / Они имају псе. (They have dogs.)
3. Читам књигу. (I am reading a book.) / Читам књиге. (I am reading books.)
4. То је дете. (That is a child.) / То су деца. (Those are children.)
==== Exercise 7: Gender Quiz ====
Choose the correct gender for each noun:
1. аутомобил (automobil) - a. masculine b. feminine c. neuter
2. жена (žena) - a. masculine b. feminine c. neuter
'''Solution''':
1. a. masculine
2. b. feminine
==== Exercise 8: Plural Identification ====
Identify whether the following nouns are singular or plural:
1. река (reka)
2. књиге (knjige)
3. телефони (telefoni)
4. човек (čovek)
5. столови (stolovi)
'''Solution''':
1. Singular
2. Plural
3. Plural
4. Singular
5. Plural
==== Exercise 9: Translate to Serbian ====
Translate the following English nouns into Serbian, noting their gender:
1. dog (masculine)
2. girl (feminine)
3. car (neuter)
'''Solution''':
1. пас (pas) - masculine
2. девојка (devojka) - feminine
3. ауто (auto) - neuter
==== Exercise 10: Sentence Correction ====
Correct the following sentences if necessary:
1. Он има две девојке. (He has two girls.)
2. Она види књигу. (She sees a book.)
3. Имам три аутомобила. (I have three cars.)
4. То су пса. (Those are dogs.)
'''Solution''':
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Correct
4. То су пси. (Those are dogs.)
Congratulations on completing this lesson on '''Nouns: Gender and Number'''! By now, you should feel more confident in identifying and using Serbian nouns correctly. Remember, practice makes perfect, so continue to engage with these concepts in your daily studies. Happy learning!


<span link>Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: [[Language/Serbian/Grammar/Negation|Negation]] & [[Language/Serbian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have|How to Use Have]].</span>
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Introduction to Serbian Grammar: Nouns Gender and Number
 
|keywords=Serbian, grammar, nouns, gender, number, masculine, feminine, neuter, singular, plural
|title=Serbian Grammar: Nouns, Gender, and Number
|description=In this lesson, you will learn about the fundamentals of Serbian language, specifically nouns: Gender and Numbers system.
 
|keywords=Serbian nouns, gender, number, Serbian grammar, language learning
 
|description=In this lesson, you will learn about the gender and number system in Serbian nouns, including practical exercises to enhance your understanding.
 
}}
}}


{{Serbian-0-to-A1-Course-TOC}}
{{Template:Serbian-0-to-A1-Course-TOC}}


[[Category:Course]]
[[Category:Course]]
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[[Category:0-to-A1-Course]]
[[Category:0-to-A1-Course]]
[[Category:Serbian-0-to-A1-Course]]
[[Category:Serbian-0-to-A1-Course]]
<span openai_correct_model></span> <span gpt></span> <span model=gpt-4o-mini></span> <span temperature=0.7></span>


==Videos==
==Videos==
Line 77: Line 472:
===Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Grammar: Declension of Nouns - YouTube===
===Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Grammar: Declension of Nouns - YouTube===
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziLK79jbcRg</youtube>
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziLK79jbcRg</youtube>
==Sources==
* [https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Serbian/Grammar Serbian/Grammar - Wikibooks, open books for an open world]
* [http://www.studyserbian.com/proba/grammar/Nouns.asp Serbian Nouns]
* [http://www.studyserbian.com/proba/grammar/nouns_pdf/serbian-gender.pdf Gender of Serbian Nouns]


==Other Lessons==
==Other Lessons==
Line 90: Line 494:
* [[Language/Serbian/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]]
* [[Language/Serbian/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]]


<span class='maj'></span>
 
==Sources==
* [https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Serbian/Grammar Serbian/Grammar - Wikibooks, open books for an open world]
* [http://www.studyserbian.com/proba/grammar/Nouns.asp Serbian Nouns]
* [http://www.studyserbian.com/proba/grammar/nouns_pdf/serbian-gender.pdf Gender of Serbian Nouns]


{{Serbian-Page-Bottom}}
{{Serbian-Page-Bottom}}
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Latest revision as of 01:36, 1 August 2024

Next Lesson — Cases: Nominative and Accusative ▶️

Serbian-Language-PolyglotClub.png
SerbianGrammar0 to A1 Course → Nouns: Gender and Number

Welcome to the lesson on Nouns: Gender and Number! Understanding the concepts of gender and number in Serbian nouns is crucial for mastering the language, as they play a significant role in sentence structure and communication. In Serbian, nouns are categorized into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Additionally, nouns can be singular or plural, which adds another layer to the language's grammatical system. This lesson will guide you through these essential aspects, providing you with the tools to identify and use nouns correctly in Serbian.

In this lesson, we will cover the following points:

  • Understanding Gender in Serbian Nouns
  • Masculine Nouns
  • Feminine Nouns
  • Neuter Nouns
  • Understanding Number in Serbian Nouns
  • Singular Nouns
  • Plural Nouns
  • Practical Exercises

By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid grasp of Serbian nouns, their genders, and how they change from singular to plural. Let's dive in!

Understanding Gender in Serbian Nouns[edit | edit source]

In Serbian, every noun is assigned a gender, which affects how it interacts with other words in a sentence, particularly adjectives and verbs. The three genders are:

  • Masculine: Typically nouns that end in a consonant.
  • Feminine: Nouns that usually end in -a.
  • Neuter: Nouns that commonly end in -o or -e.

Masculine Nouns[edit | edit source]

Masculine nouns often refer to male beings or are associated with male characteristics. Here are some key points and examples:

  • Masculine nouns often end in a consonant.
Serbian Pronunciation English
стол (stol) [stol] table
учитељ (učitelj) [ʊˈt͡ɪt͡ɕɛʎ] teacher
пас (pas) [pas] dog
град (grad) [ɡrad] city
човек (čovek) [t͡ʃɔʋɛk] man

Feminine Nouns[edit | edit source]

Feminine nouns are often associated with female beings or characteristics. Here are some characteristics and examples:

  • Feminine nouns typically end in -a.
Serbian Pronunciation English
жена (žena) [ʒɛna] woman
кућа (kuća) [ˈkʊt͡ɕa] house
мачка (mačka) [ˈmaːt͡ʃka] cat
девојка (devojka) [dɛˈʋɔjka] girl
река (reka) [rɛka] river

Neuter Nouns[edit | edit source]

Neuter nouns are generally inanimate objects or abstract concepts. They usually end in -o or -e.

Serbian Pronunciation English
дете (dete) [ˈdɛtɛ] child
море (more) [ˈmɔrɛ] sea
око (oko) [ˈɔkɔ] eye
име (ime) [ˈimɛ] name
дело (delo) [ˈdɛlɔ] work

Understanding Number in Serbian Nouns[edit | edit source]

In Serbian, nouns can be either singular or plural. The way nouns change from singular to plural often depends on their gender.

Singular Nouns[edit | edit source]

Singular nouns refer to one item or being. Here are some examples:

Serbian Pronunciation English
књига (knjiga) [ˈkɲiɡa] book
цвет (cvet) [tsʋɛt] flower
аутомобил (automobil) [autɔˈmɔbiɫ] car
телефон (telefon) [tɛlɛˈfɔn] telephone
компјутер (kompjuter) [kɔmpˈjutɛr] computer

Plural Nouns[edit | edit source]

Plural nouns indicate more than one item or being. The formation of the plural can vary by gender:

  • Masculine nouns typically add -i or -ovi.
  • Feminine nouns usually add -e or -i.
  • Neuter nouns often add -a.

Here are some examples:

Serbian Pronunciation English
књиге (knjige) [ˈkɲiɡɛ] books
цветови (cvetovi) [tsʋɛˈtɔʋi] flowers
аутомобили (automobili) [autɔˈmɔbiɫi] cars
телефони (telefoni) [tɛlɛˈfɔni] telephones
компјутери (kompjuteri) [kɔmpˈjutɛri] computers

Practical Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that you have a solid understanding of gender and number in Serbian nouns, let's put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises to help you practice:

Exercise 1: Identify the Gender[edit | edit source]

Determine the gender of the following nouns:

1. старица (starica)

2. војник (vojnik)

3. дете (dete)

4. кућа (kuća)

5. река (reka)

Solution:

1. Feminine

2. Masculine

3. Neuter

4. Feminine

5. Feminine

Exercise 2: Singular to Plural Transformation[edit | edit source]

Convert the following singular nouns to their plural forms:

1. мачка (mačka)

2. стол (stol)

3. девојка (devojka)

4. ауто (auto)

5. цвет (cvet)

Solution:

1. мачке (mačke)

2. столови (stolovi)

3. девојке (devojke)

4. аутомобили (automobili)

5. цветови (cvetovi)

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the noun in parentheses.

1. Она је _____ (девојка).

2. То је _____ (аутомобил).

3. Он има _____ (пас).

4. Они воле _____ (књига).

5. Ми видимо _____ (река).

Solution:

1. девојка (devojka)

2. аутомобил (automobil)

3. пса (pasa)

4. књиге (knjige)

5. реку (reku)

Exercise 4: Gender Classification[edit | edit source]

Classify the following nouns by their gender:

1. кућа (kuća)

2. учитељ (učitelj)

3. око (oko)

4. пријатељ (prijatelj)

5. жена (žena)

Solution:

  • Feminine: кућа, жена
  • Masculine: учитељ, пријатељ
  • Neuter: око

Exercise 5: Match the Noun to Its Plural[edit | edit source]

Match the singular nouns to their plural forms:

1. цвет (cvet) → a. цветови (cvetovi)

2. стола (stol) → b. столови (stolovi)

3. књига (knjiga) → c. књиге (knjige)

4. девојка (devojka) → d. девојке (devojke)

5. аутомобил (automobil) → e. аутомобили (automobili)

Solution:

1 → a

2 → b

3 → c

4 → d

5 → e

Exercise 6: Create Sentences[edit | edit source]

Using the following nouns, create sentences that show both singular and plural forms:

1. мачка (mačka)

2. пас (pas)

3. књига (knjiga)

4. дете (dete)

Solution:

1. Имам једну мачку. (I have one cat.) / Имам две мачке. (I have two cats.)

2. Он има пса. (He has a dog.) / Они имају псе. (They have dogs.)

3. Читам књигу. (I am reading a book.) / Читам књиге. (I am reading books.)

4. То је дете. (That is a child.) / То су деца. (Those are children.)

Exercise 7: Gender Quiz[edit | edit source]

Choose the correct gender for each noun:

1. аутомобил (automobil) - a. masculine b. feminine c. neuter

2. жена (žena) - a. masculine b. feminine c. neuter

Solution:

1. a. masculine

2. b. feminine

Exercise 8: Plural Identification[edit | edit source]

Identify whether the following nouns are singular or plural:

1. река (reka)

2. књиге (knjige)

3. телефони (telefoni)

4. човек (čovek)

5. столови (stolovi)

Solution:

1. Singular

2. Plural

3. Plural

4. Singular

5. Plural

Exercise 9: Translate to Serbian[edit | edit source]

Translate the following English nouns into Serbian, noting their gender:

1. dog (masculine)

2. girl (feminine)

3. car (neuter)

Solution:

1. пас (pas) - masculine

2. девојка (devojka) - feminine

3. ауто (auto) - neuter

Exercise 10: Sentence Correction[edit | edit source]

Correct the following sentences if necessary:

1. Он има две девојке. (He has two girls.)

2. Она види књигу. (She sees a book.)

3. Имам три аутомобила. (I have three cars.)

4. То су пса. (Those are dogs.)

Solution:

1. Correct

2. Correct

3. Correct

4. То су пси. (Those are dogs.)

Congratulations on completing this lesson on Nouns: Gender and Number! By now, you should feel more confident in identifying and using Serbian nouns correctly. Remember, practice makes perfect, so continue to engage with these concepts in your daily studies. Happy learning!

Videos[edit | edit source]

Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Grammar: Gender of Nouns - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Grammar: The Dative Singular of Nouns ...[edit | edit source]

Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Grammar: Declension of Nouns - YouTube[edit | edit source]


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



Next Lesson — Cases: Nominative and Accusative ▶️