Indeclinable nouns and external case marking
An indeclinable noun participates in case and number syntax even though its visible form does not change.
- Common indeclinables include пальто́, метро́, такси́, интервью́, кафе́, жюри́, кенгуру́. Gender depends on meaning and lexical convention: метро́ is neuter; кенгуру́ is normally masculine unless a female animal is contextually foregrounded.
- Norm note: ко́фе is masculine in the formal standard: го́рячий ко́фе. Neuter agreement occurs colloquially, but masculine is the learner target.
| Phrase | Case/number | Where the information appears |
|---|---|---|
| но́вое пальто́ | nom./acc. sg. | neuter singular agreement |
| без но́вого пальто́ | gen. sg. | adjective + preposition |
| с но́вым пальто́ | inst. sg. | adjective + preposition |
| но́вые пальто́ | nom./acc. pl. | plural agreement |
| в но́вых такси́ | prep. pl. | plural adjective and preposition |
Mini-check
1. Show genitive singular of пальто́ in a full phrase. 2. What gender target should a learner use for ко́фе?
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.