Plural-Only and Indeclinable Nouns — Russian Grammar

Two kinds of nouns break the usual patterns. Some exist only in the plural, even when they refer to one thing. Others, mostly borrowed words, never change their form at all.

Plural-Only Nouns

These nouns have no singular. They take plural adjectives and plural verbs even for a single object.

(dén'gidénʹgi) - money
(chasýčasý) - watch, clock
(bryúkibrjúki) - trousers
(ochkíočkí) - glasses
(dzhínsydžínsy) - jeans
(lyúdiljúdi) - people

Мои́ часы́, должно́ быть, сло́маны.
Moí chasý, dolzhnó byt', slómany.Moí časý, dolžnó bytʹ, slómany.
My watch must be broken.
Не могу́ найти́ свои́ очки́.
Ne mogú naytí svoí ochkí.Ne mogú najtí svoí očkí.
I can't find my glasses.
Мне нужны́ но́вые джи́нсы.
Mne nuzhný nóvyye dzhínsy.Mne nužný nóvyje džínsy.
I need new jeans.

They decline normally in the plural: (déneg), (den'gámidenʹgámi).

У меня́ нет де́нег.
U menyá net déneg.U menjá net déneg.
I have no money.

Counting Plural-Only Nouns

Because they have no singular, they cannot follow (dva), (tri) or (chetýrečetýre). Russian uses the collective numerals instead: (dvóye chasóvdvóje časóv), (tróye bryuktróje brjuk).

Indeclinable Nouns

Many nouns borrowed from other languages end in a vowel that does not fit any Russian declension: -о in (rádio), -и in (taksí), -у in (menyúmenjú), -е in (kófe). These nouns keep the same form in every case, singular and plural.

Такси́ ждёт.
Taksí zhdyot.Taksí ždjot.
The taxi is waiting.
Могу́ я посмотре́ть меню́?
Mogú ya posmotrét' menyú?Mogú ja posmotrétʹ menjú?
May I see the menu?
Она́ уме́ет игра́ть на пиани́но.
Oná uméyet igrát' na pianíno.Oná uméjet igrátʹ na pianíno.
She can play the piano.
Я пью ко́фе.
Ya p'yu kófe.Ja pʹju kófe.
I drink coffee.

Their Gender

Indeclinable nouns for things are usually neuter, so adjectives agree in the neuter. (Kófe) is masculine, and words for people follow their sex.

Э́то ста́рое ра́дио.
Éto stároye rádio.Éto stároje rádio.
It's an old radio.
Уважа́емая ми́ссис Смит.
Uvazháyemaya míssis Smit.Uvažájemaja míssis Smit.
Dear Mrs. Smith.

Comments

Loading comments…