Week 7, Lesson 14, Thursday
Compare places, and talk about more than one
Most plurals end in -ы or -и, and neuter nouns switch to -а or -я. One spelling rule decides between ы and и.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Monday, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can make the plural of common nouns and link two ideas with и, а or но.
3The lesson 20 minutes
Plural endings
Watch only the coloured endings as each word becomes plural. Can you guess the rule before the table states it?
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| студе́нт, ла́мпа | студе́нты, ла́мпы |
| кни́га, парк, врач | кни́ги, па́рки, врачи́ |
| музе́й, неде́ля | музе́и, неде́ли |
| окно́, мо́ре | о́кна, моря́ |
After г к х ж ш щ ч write -и. Watch the stress mark: it often moves in the plural.
Irregular pairs
A few common words do their own thing. They are worth learning as pairs because you will use them every week.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| челове́к | лю́ди |
| ребёнок | де́ти |
| го́род | города́ |
| дом | дома́ |
| брат | бра́тья |
и, а, но
Three small words link ideas, and each has its own job.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Я говорю́ по-испа́нски и по-англи́йски. | и adds: I speak Spanish and English. |
| Москва́ больша́я, а Ту́ла ма́ленькая. | а contrasts: Moscow is big, while Tula is small. |
| Го́род ма́ленький, но краси́вый. | но surprises: the city is small but beautiful. |
This and these: э́тот
| он | она́ | оно́ | они́ |
|---|---|---|---|
| э́тот го́род | э́та у́лица | э́то окно́ | э́ти дома́ |
Don't mix up э́то окно́, this window, with Э́то окно́., it is a window.
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: The stress jumps in plurals
Many plurals move the stress, so read the mark every time.
- окно́ → о́кна [ak-NO, OK-na]
- го́род → города́ [GO-rat, ga-ra-DA]
Listen to the textbook
The book's own recordings for this topic, free on the publisher's site. Listen once for the gist, then again with the book open.
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Го́род ма́ленький, но краси́вый.The city is small but beautiful.
- Э́ти дома́ но́вые.These houses are new.
- и я то́жеme too
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
студе́нты
кни́га, кни́ги
book, books
о́кна
города́
лю́ди
де́ти
неде́ля
и
and (adds)
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)а
and, while (contrasts)
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)э́тот, э́та, э́то, э́ти
this, these
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Compare two places, once with а and once with но.
See a model answer
Ме́хико большо́й, а Пуэ́бла ма́ленькая. Пуэ́бла ма́ленькая, но краси́вая.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатерина together with Homework 14.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Homework
Homework 14 on Friday: make plurals and compare two cities in a few sentences.
I can make the plural of common nouns and link two ideas with и, а or но.