Language/Armenian/Grammar/Noun-Gender-and-Plurals

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Armenian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Noun Gender and Plurals

Welcome to the lesson on Noun Gender and Plurals in the Armenian language! Understanding noun gender and the formation of plurals is essential for mastering Armenian, as it shapes the way we communicate and construct sentences. In this lesson, we will explore the two genders of Armenian nouns—masculine and feminine—how to correctly form plurals, and some common irregular plural forms.

This lesson is designed for complete beginners, so don't worry if you feel a bit overwhelmed at first. We'll take it step by step! By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to recognize and use noun genders and plurals in everyday conversation.

The Importance of Noun Gender in Armenian

In Armenian, nouns are classified into two genders: masculine and feminine. This classification influences how adjectives and verbs agree with these nouns. Knowing the gender of a noun will help you form correct sentences and avoid common mistakes.

When you encounter a new noun, it’s crucial to learn its gender alongside its meaning. For instance, the word տուն (tun - house) is feminine, while տղա (tgha - boy) is masculine. This gender distinction is not just a grammatical hurdle but a fundamental aspect of how the language functions.

Overview of the Lesson Structure

1. Understanding Noun Gender

• Masculine and Feminine Nouns

• How to Identify Gender

2. Forming Plurals in Armenian

• Regular Plural Formation

• Irregular Plural Forms

3. Practice Exercises

• Application of Concepts Learned

4. Answers and Explanations

Understanding Noun Gender

Masculine and Feminine Nouns

In Armenian, nouns are categorized based on gender, which can be identified through specific endings or common usage. Here’s a breakdown:

• Masculine nouns often end in a consonant or the vowel -o.

• Feminine nouns typically end in -a or the vowel -e.

To help you grasp these concepts, let’s look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
տղա	tgha	boy
աղջիկ	aghjik	girl
գրիչ	grich	pen
սեղան	seghan	table
մայր	mayr	mother
հայ	hay	Armenian (male)
հայուհի	hayuhi	Armenian (female)

As you can see, the masculine nouns such as տղա (boy) and գրիչ (pen) contrast with feminine nouns like աղջիկ (girl) and մայր (mother).

How to Identify Gender

Identifying the gender of a noun can sometimes be straightforward if you know the rules. However, there are exceptions. Here are some tips to help you determine the gender:

• Look at the ending: If it ends in -a or -e, it’s likely feminine. If it ends in a consonant or -o, it’s likely masculine.

• Common nouns: Some nouns, like հայր (hayr - father), are inherently masculine, while մայր (mayr - mother) is feminine.

• Practice with context: The more you read and listen to Armenian, the better you’ll become at recognizing gender.

Forming Plurals in Armenian

Now that we’ve covered noun gender, let’s move on to forming plurals. In Armenian, plural nouns are generally formed by adding specific endings to the singular form.

Regular Plural Formation

For most nouns, the plural is formed by adding -ner to the singular form. This is straightforward and applies to many masculine and feminine nouns alike.

Here’s how it works:

• For masculine nouns, we typically add -ner to the stem.

• For feminine nouns, the same rule applies.

Let’s take a look at some examples:

Singular Armenian	Plural Armenian	Pronunciation (Singular)	Pronunciation (Plural)	English
տուն	տներ	tun	tner	house - houses
տղա	տղաներ	tgha	tghaner	boy - boys
աղջիկ	աղջիկներ	aghjik	aghjikner	girl - girls
գրիչ	գրիչներ	grich	grichner	pen - pens
սեղան	սեղաններ	seghan	seghanner	table - tables

As you can see, the addition of -ner is quite regular and predictable.

Irregular Plural Forms

However, like many languages, Armenian has irregular plural forms that do not follow the standard rules. It’s essential to learn these exceptions as they often appear in daily conversation.

Here are some common irregular plural forms:

Singular Armenian	Plural Armenian	Pronunciation (Singular)	Pronunciation (Plural)	English
որդ	որդեր	vord	vorder	worm - worms
ոտք	ոտքեր	votk'	votker	foot - feet
մարդ	մարդիկ	mard	mardik	person - people
աչք	աչքեր	achk'	achker	eye - eyes
լույս	լույսեր	luys	luysner	light - lights

These irregular forms can be tricky, but with practice, you will start to recognize them more easily.

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding of noun gender and plurals, let’s move on to some practice exercises. These exercises will help you apply what you’ve learned about identifying gender and forming plurals.

Exercise 1: Identify the Gender

Below is a list of nouns. Determine whether each noun is masculine or feminine.

1. մայր

2. հայր

3. սեղան

4. աղջիկ

5. տղա

Answers:

1. մայր - Feminine

2. հայր - Masculine

3. սեղան - Masculine

4. աղջիկ - Feminine

5. տղա - Masculine

Exercise 2: Form the Plural

Convert the following singular nouns to their plural forms.

1. տուն

2. տղա

3. գրիչ

4. աղջիկ

5. մարդ

Answers:

1. տուն - տներ

2. տղա - տղաներ

3. գրիչ - գրիչներ

4. աղջիկ - աղջիկներ

5. մարդ - մարդիկ

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct plural form of the given nouns.

1. Ես ունեմ երկու ______ (տուն).

2. Նրանք ժպտում են երկու ______ (աղջիկ).

3. Մենք կարդում ենք երեք ______ (գրիչ).

4. Նա տեսնում է չորս ______ (մարդ).

5. Դուք ունեք հինգ ______ (տղա).

Answers:

1. տուն - տներ

2. աղջիկ - աղջիկներ

3. գրիչ - գրիչներ

4. մարդ - մարդիկ

5. տղա - տղաներ

Exercise 4: Match the Singular and Plural

Match the singular nouns with their correct plural forms.

1. տղա

2. տուն

3. աչք

4. սեղան

5. մարդ

A. տղաներ

B. տներ

C. աչքեր

D. սեղաններ

E. մարդիկ

Answers:

1 - A (տղա - տղաներ)

2 - B (տուն - տներ)

3 - C (աչք - աչքեր)

4 - D (սեղան - սեղաններ)

5 - E (մարդ - մարդիկ)

Exercise 5: Create Sentences

Use the following singular nouns to create sentences in the plural form.

1. մայր

2. տղա

3. աղջիկ

4. գրիչ

5. տուն

Sample Answers:

1. Մենք ունենք երեք մայրեր։ (We have three mothers.)

2. Նրանք խաղում են հինգ տղաների հետ։ (They are playing with five boys.)

3. Արդեն երկու աղջիկներ են եկել։ (Two girls have already come.)

4. Ես ունեմ շատ գրիչներ։ (I have many pens.)

5. Տները գեղեցիկ են։ (The houses are beautiful.)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully navigated the concepts of noun gender and plurals in Armenian. Remember that practice is key to mastering these rules. The more you engage with the language, the more natural it will become. Don’t hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher.

Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to use these grammatical structures with confidence in your conversations.

Table of Contents - Armenian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Armenian Alphabet
• Pronunciation Rules

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Yes/No Questions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Plurals
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Time, Manner, and Place

  ---

Armenian Traditions and Customs

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

Sources

• Armenian Grammar

Other Lessons

• The Past Perfect Tense
• The Future Subjunctive Mood
• Adverbs of Time, Manner, and Place
• To Like, To Want, To Wish
• Adjective Endings
• Indefinite Article
• The Verb to Have
• Present Tense
• The Nominative Case

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