Number in Russian: Singular and Plural Forms

In Russian grammar, the concept of number refers to whether a word is singular (indicating one object) or plural (indicating two or more objects). While this may seem straightforward, the rules for forming plural nouns and the grammatical agreements that follow can be complex. Let’s dive into the details.
1. Singular and Plural: The Basics
- Singular refers to one person, thing, or concept.
- Example: стол (table), книга (book), окно (window).
- Plural refers to two or more of the same.
- Example: столы́ (tables), кни́ги (books), о́кна (windows).
In Russian, pluralization involves changing the ending of a noun, and the exact change depends on the noun’s gender and ending in the singular form.
2. Rules for Forming Plurals
Masculine Nouns
- Ending in a consonant: Add -ы.
- стол → столы́ (table → tables).
- **Ending in -й or -ь: Replace with -и.
- геро́й → геро́и (hero → heroes).
- учитель → учителя́ (teacher → teachers).
Feminine Nouns
- **Ending in -а: Replace with -ы (after hard consonants) or -и (after soft consonants, к, г, х, ж, ч, ш, щ).
- книга → кни́ги (book → books).
- рука́ → ру́ки (hand → hands).
- **Ending in -я or -ь: Replace with -и.
- неде́ля → неде́ли (week → weeks).
- дверь → две́ри (door → doors).
Neuter Nouns
- **Ending in -о: Replace with -а.
- окно́ → о́кна (window → windows).
- **Ending in -е: Replace with -я.
- мо́ре → моря́ (sea → seas).
- **Ending in -мя: Replace with -мена.
- время → времена́ (time → times).
3. Irregular Plurals
Some Russian nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow standard rules. These must be memorized individually.
Singular | Plural | Translation |
---|---|---|
Человек | Лю́ди | Person → People |
Ребёнок | Де́ти | Child → Children |
Брат | Бра́тья | Brother → Brothers |
Сын | Сыновья́ | Son → Sons |
4. Special Cases
1. Nouns Ending in -г, -к, -х, -ж, -ч, -ш, -щ
These nouns require -и instead of -ы in the plural form, even if the standard rule would suggest otherwise.
- друг → друзья́ (friend → friends).
- плащ → плащи́ (coat → coats).
2. Foreign Words
Borrowed words often form plurals irregularly or do not change at all.
- кафе (café) → кафе (cafés).
- меню́ (menu) → меню́ (menus).
5. Plural-Only Words
Some Russian nouns exist only in the plural form. These include items made of two parts, collective nouns, and abstract concepts.
Plural-Only Noun | Translation |
---|---|
Брю́ки | Pants |
Ножни́цы | Scissors |
Деньги́ | Money |
Часы́ | Clock/Watches |
6. Singular-Only Words
Similarly, some nouns are used only in the singular form, even if they refer to a general or collective idea.
Singular-Only Noun | Translation |
---|---|
Мо́локо | Milk |
Счастье | Happiness |
Любовь | Love |
7. Agreement in Number
In Russian, singular and plural nouns affect the forms of other words in the sentence, such as:
- Adjectives:
- Красивая книга (Beautiful book – singular).
- Красивые книги (Beautiful books – plural).
- Verbs in the Past Tense:
- Он читал книгу (He read a book – singular).
- Они читали книги (They read books – plural).
8. Practice Table
Here’s a quick reference table for practicing singular and plural forms:
Singular Noun | Plural Noun | Translation |
---|---|---|
Стол | Столы́ | Table → Tables |
Девочка | Девочки | Girl → Girls |
Окно | О́кна | Window → Windows |
Друг | Друзья́ | Friend → Friends |
Море | Моря́ | Sea → Seas |
Conclusion
Understanding singular and plural forms in Russian is crucial for forming grammatically correct sentences. While many nouns follow clear rules, irregularities and exceptions can pose challenges. With practice and attention to patterns, learners can master this fundamental aspect of Russian grammar.
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