1. In Russian, the form of a noun changes depending on the number before it:

• After 1 and numbers ending in 1 (except 11) – the noun is in the Nominative singular.

1 яблоко, 21 яблоко, 31 книга, 101 студент

• After 2, 3, 4 and numbers ending in 2, 3, 4 (except 12, 13, 14) – the noun is in the Genitive singular.

2 яблока, 22 яблока, 53 книги, 204 студента

• After 5-90 and numbers ending in 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 – the noun is in the Genitive plural.

11 яблок, 20 книг, 156 студентов

2. The numbers ‘один’ and ‘два’ change, depending on the gender of the noun:

• masculine → один банан, два банана
• feminine → одна ручка, две ручки
• neuter → одно яблоко, два яблока

3. After words like ‘много’ (many), ‘несколько’ (several), ‘мало’ (little, few) the noun is also in the Genitive plural.

• много яблок (many apples)
• несколько бананов (several bananas)
• мало книг (few books)

Listen to the audio & read the examples:

1. Я купила четыре тетради и две ручки.
I bought 4 notebooks and 2 pens.

2. У нас в группе 21 студент.
There are 21 students in our group.

3. А: Я хочу новое платье!
В: Но у тебя уже 5 платьев.

A: I want a new dress!
B: But, you already have five dresses.

4. Лена очень любит читать. У неё много книг. 
Lena loves reading. She has many books.

Listen to the audio to hear the correct answers

Listen to the audio to hear the correct answers