CLASS 5 · LEARNING KNOWLEDGE
Simple regular plural forms in Latvian
How it works
In Latvian, there are regular patterns for forming the nominative plural of nouns. Many masculine nouns in the nominative singular end in ‹-s›, ‹-š› or ‹-is› and form the plural with ‹-i›, for example ‹zēns› → ‹zēni› and ‹kaķis› → ‹kaķi›. Some words also show a stem change, for example ‹suns› → ‹suņi› and ‹dārzenis› → ‹dārzeņi›. Many feminine nouns end in ‹-a› or ‹-e› and form the plural with ‹-as› or ‹-es›, for example ‹skola› → ‹skolas› and ‹meitene› → ‹meitenes›. These forms are used when speaking about more than one person or thing.
Note
For the nominative plural, the simple basic rule is: masculine nouns ending in ‹-s›, ‹-š› or ‹-is› usually take ‹-i›, feminine nouns ending in ‹-a› take ‹-as›, and feminine nouns ending in ‹-e› take ‹-es›. In some masculine words, the stem also changes, for example ‹suns› → ‹suņi› and ‹dārzenis› → ‹dārzeņi›.
For the nominative plural, the simple basic rule is: masculine nouns ending in ‹-s›, ‹-š› or ‹-is› usually take ‹-i›, feminine nouns ending in ‹-a› take ‹-as›, and feminine nouns ending in ‹-e› take ‹-es›. In some masculine words, the stem also changes, for example ‹suns› → ‹suņi› and ‹dārzenis› → ‹dārzeņi›.
An example
What is the plural of ‹skola›?
The plural of ‹skola› is ‹skolas›, because ‹-a› in the singular becomes ‹-as› in the plural.
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50 Exercises
To the learning unit →Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: Latvian. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.