Language/Tigrinya/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Tigrinya learners!π
Learning Tigrinya Grammar can be a challenging task, but it is also an incredibly rewarding one. With the right approach and dedication, you can master the language in no time. In this lesson, we will focus on plurals in Tigrinya.
What are Plurals?
Plurals refer to words that indicate more than one person, place, thing, or idea. In Tigrinya, plurals are formed by adding suffixes to the end of nouns. The suffixes used depend on the gender and number of the noun.
Masculine Plurals
The most common suffix for masculine plurals is -αα΅. This suffix is added to the end of the noun to indicate that there is more than one male person or animal. For example:
- α£α₯α (man) β α£α₯ααα΅ (men)
- α£α₯αα (brother) β α£α₯αααα΅ (brothers)
- α£α₯αα©α (lion) β α£α₯αα©ααα΅ (lions)
Feminine Plurals
The most common suffix for feminine plurals is -αα΅. This suffix is added to the end of the noun to indicate that there is more than one female person or animal. For example:
- α£α₯α (woman) β α£α₯ααα΅ (women)
- α£α₯αα (sister) β α£α₯αααα΅ (sisters)
- α£α₯αα©α (tigress) β α£α₯αα©ααα΅ (tigresses)
Neuter Plurals
The most common suffix for neuter plurals is -αα΅. This suffix is added to the end of the noun to indicate that there is more than one thing or idea. For example:
- α£α₯α (house) β α£α₯ααα΅ (houses)
- α£α₯αα (book) β α£α₯αααα΅ (books)
- α£α₯αα©α (idea) β α£α₯αα©ααα΅ (ideas)
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to the rules for forming plurals in Tigrinya. For example, some nouns have irregular plurals that do not follow the standard rules. Additionally, some nouns have the same form in both singular and plural.
Irregular Plurals
Some nouns have irregular plurals that do not follow the standard rules. For example:
- α£α₯α (child) β α£α₯ααα΅ (children)
- α£α₯αα (foot) β α£α₯ααα΅ (feet)
- α£α₯αα©α (tooth) β α£α₯ααα΅ (teeth)
Same Form Plurals
Some nouns have the same form in both singular and plural. For example:
- α£α₯α (sheep) β α£α₯α (sheep)
- α£α₯αα (deer) β α£α₯αα (deer)
- α£α₯αα©α (fish) β α£α₯αα©α (fish)
Conclusion
In conclusion, plurals in Tigrinya are formed by adding suffixes to the end of nouns. The suffixes used depend on the gender and number of the noun. There are some exceptions to the rules for forming plurals, such as irregular plurals and nouns with the same form in both singular and plural.
If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
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