The high-frequency -ьми group
A small lexical set uses a short instrumental plural ending with ь; some nouns also have a regular variant.
| Nominative plural | Instrumental plural | Note |
|---|---|---|
| лю́ди | людьми́ | obligatory common form |
| де́ти | детьми́ | obligatory common form |
| ло́шади | лошадьми́ | common lexical form |
| две́ри | дверьми́ / дверя́ми | both standard; distribution/style varies |
| до́чери | дочерьми́ | irregular high-frequency form |
Mini-check
1. Form: с + лю́ди; с + де́ти; между + две́ри. 2. Can every feminine -ь plural take -ьми?
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.