Inanimate nouns copy nominative plural
All genders use the already-known nominative plural form when the noun is grammatically inanimate.
- The form may still be accusative although it looks nominative. Мы посеща́ем города́ has a direct object; Города́ расту́т has a subject.
- Case from relation: Syncretism does not erase case. The verb and semantic role tell you which cell the shared form occupies.
| Gender / type | Nominative plural | Accusative phrase |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | столы́ | ви́жу столы́ |
| masculine lexical -а | города́ | посеща́ю города́ |
| feminine | кни́ги | покупа́ю кни́ги |
| neuter | о́кна | открыва́ю о́кна |
| irregular inanimate | де́ревья | ви́жу дере́вья |
Mini-check
1. Form: покупа́ть + кни́ги; открыва́ть + о́кна. 2. Identify the case of города́ in Мы лю́бим города́.
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.