Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'plural'

English Word: plural

Key Russian Translations:

• множественное число [mnɐʐɨˈstvennəje ˈtɕɪslə] - [Formal, Grammatical Term]

Frequency: Medium (Common in linguistic and educational contexts, especially in language learning materials)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding Russian grammatical concepts, suitable for learners beyond basic levels)

Pronunciation (Russian):

множественное число: [mnɐʐɨˈstvennəje ˈtɕɪslə]

Note on множественное число: The stress falls on the third syllable of "множественное" and the first syllable of "число." Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) in "число," which affects pronunciation by softening the preceding consonant. Variations in regional accents may alter vowel sounds slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Referring to the grammatical form indicating more than one item or entity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• множественное число - Used in formal grammar discussions, such as in textbooks or linguistic analyses, to describe nouns, pronouns, or verbs in their plural form.

Usage Examples:

• В русском языке существительные имеют множественное число. (V russkom yazyke sushchestvitel'nye imut mnozhestvennoe chislo.)

  In the Russian language, nouns have a plural form.

• Изучайте глаголы в множественном числе для правильного согласования. (Izuchayte glagoly v mnozhestvennom chisle dlya pravil'nogo soglasovaniya.)

  Study verbs in the plural form for correct agreement.

• В предложении "Дети играют" слово "дети" стоит в множественном числе. (V predlozhenii "Deti igrayut" slovo "deti" stoit v mnozhestvennom chisle.)

  In the sentence "Children are playing," the word "children" is in the plural form.

• Множественное число часто используется в описаниях коллекций или групп. (Mnozhestvennoe chislo chasto ispol'zuetsya v opisaniyakh kollektsiy ili grupp.)

  The plural form is often used in descriptions of collections or groups.

• В научных текстах важно различать единственное и множественное число. (V nauchnykh tekstakh vazhno razlichat' edinstvennoe i mnozhestvennoe chislo.)

  In scientific texts, it's important to distinguish between singular and plural forms.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Множественное число" is a noun phrase where "множественное" is an adjective and "число" is a neuter noun. As a compound term, it doesn't inflect as a single unit but follows standard Russian rules for its components:

• "Множественное" (adjective) changes based on gender, number, and case, e.g., nominative singular neuter as shown.
• "Число" (neuter noun) inflects for case and number. For example:

Note: The full phrase "множественное число" remains relatively stable but adjusts in context, e.g., "в множественном числе" for locative use.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • множественное (a shorter form, often used in informal or abbreviated contexts)
  • многочисленное (implying a larger quantity, with subtle emphasis on abundance)
• Antonyms:
  • единственное число (directly opposite, meaning "singular")

Related Phrases:

• В множественном числе - In the plural form; used to specify grammatical context.
• Множественное число существительных - Plural form of nouns; common in grammar lessons.
• Согласование в множественном числе - Agreement in the plural form; refers to verb-noun matching.

Usage Notes:

Russian "множественное число" directly corresponds to the English "plural" in grammatical contexts, but it's more explicitly tied to noun and verb inflections. Use it in formal or educational settings, as it's a technical term. When translating, choose "множественное число" for precise grammar discussions; avoid it in everyday conversation where simpler phrasing might suffice. Be aware of Russian's complex case system, which affects how plural forms interact with other elements in a sentence.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "множественное число" with "множество" (which means "a multitude" or "set," not specifically a grammatical form). Incorrect: Использовать "множество" для обозначения грамматического plural. Correct: Использовать "множественное число." Explanation: "Множество" refers to a collection, while "множественное число" is strictly grammatical.
• Overlooking case changes in plural forms, e.g., incorrectly using nominative in all contexts. Incorrect: "Книги в число" (wrong case). Correct: "Книги в числе" (prepositional case). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often miss.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian language education, "множественное число" is a fundamental concept taught early, reflecting the language's rich inflectional system influenced by Slavic roots. It underscores Russia's emphasis on precise grammatical structures in formal writing and education, which can differ from more flexible English usage.

Related Concepts:

• единственное число
• падеж
• глагол
• согласование