We learnt the Genitive case for singular nouns in Unit 4. Now, let's look at the basic rules for forming the Genitive case of plural nouns.
1. Masculine nouns
Rule | Example |
consonant → add -ов | актёр → актёров стол → столо́в |
ч, ж, ш, щ, ь → -ей | врач → враче́й рубль → рубле́й |
- Most of the masculine nouns in the genitive plural take the ‘-ов’ ending.
- If the noun ends in ‘ч’, ‘ж’, ‘ш’, ‘щ’ or ‘ь’, the ending is ‘-ей’.
2. Feminine nouns
Rule | Example |
а → zero ending | кни́га → книг актри́са → актрис |
two consonants + а → zero ending + insert ‘o’ | су́мка → су́мок студе́нтка → студе́нток |
ч, ж, ш + consonant + а → zero ending + insert ‘e’ | ру́чка → ру́чек ко́шка → ко́шек |
ь → ей | тетра́дь → тетра́дей |
- Most of the feminine nouns in the genitive plural drop the ending.
- If the noun’s stem ends in two consonants, you need to insert the vowels ‘о’ between them. But you insert ‘е’ after ч, ж, ш.
- If the noun ends in ‘-ь’, you need to replace it with ‘-ей’.
3. Neuter nouns (ending in -o)
Rule | Example |
о → zero ending | я́блоко → я́блок яйцо́ → яи́ц |
two consonants + о → zero ending + insert ‘о/е’ | окно́ → о́кон письмо́ → пи́сем кре́сло → кре́сел |
- The neuter noun ending in ‘-o’ drops the ending.
- If the noun’s stem ends in two consonants, you need to insert the vowels ‘о’ or ‘е’ between them.
The following table includes the rules for all genders altogether:
Rule | Example |
consonant → -ов | актёр → актёров стол → столо́в |
ч, ж, ш, щ, ь → ей | врач → враче́й тетра́дь → тетра́дей |
а, о → zero ending | кни́га → книг я́блоко → я́блок |
two consonants + a, o → | су́мка → су́мок ру́чка → ру́чек окно́ → о́кон письмо́ → пи́сем |
*NOTE!
- If the feminine noun’s stem ends in two consonants, you need to insert the vowel ‘о’ between them. But you insert ‘е’ after ‘ч’, ‘ж’, ‘ш’.
- If the neuter noun’s stem ends in two consonants, you need to insert the vowels ‘о’ or ‘е’ between them.
NOTE! Memorise the special Genitive plural forms of these nouns:
- де́ти → дете́й
- лю́ди → люде́й
- друзья́ → друзей
- де́ньги → де́нег
Listen to the audio & read the examples:
1. У детей нет ручек, тетрадей и карандашей.
The children don’t have any pens, notebooks or pencils.
2. В комнате нет окон.
There are no windows in the room.
3. Это квартира родителей.
This is my parents’ apartment.
4. Около шкафов стоят коробки.
The boxes are standing near the cupboards.
In expressions like “a lot of smth”, we also use the Genitive plural:
- много друзей – a lot of friends
- мало ресторанов – few restaurants
- несколько книг – several books
- сколько студентов – how many students
Listen to the audio & read the examples:
1. У него много друзей.
He has many friends.
2. Это маленький город. Здесь мало ресторанов.
It’s a small town. There aren’t many restaurants.
3. Сколько студентов учится здесь?
How many students study here?
Listen to the audio to hear the correct answers
Listen to the audio to hear the correct answers
Listen to the audio to hear the correct answers
Listen to the audio to hear the correct answers