One, two-to-four, and the count form
In nominative and many inanimate accusative quantity phrases, numeral shape controls the following noun form.
- Calling два стола́ simply 'genitive singular' is useful at first but incomplete. It is a counting construction, and a few masculine nouns have special count stress: два часа́ but нет ча́са; два шага́ but длина́ ша́га.
- Scope warning: The two-to-four shortcut is for nominative/accusative count phrases. In oblique cases the numeral and noun both change: к двум стола́м, с тремя́ кни́гами.
| Numeral ending | Noun pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (including 21, 31...) | singular agreement | оди́н стол; одна́ кни́га; одно́ окно́ |
| 2, 3, 4 | count form usually shaped like gen. sg. | два стола́; три кни́ги; четы́ре окна́ |
| 22, 23, 24 | same two-to-four pattern | два́дцать три кни́ги |
| 12, 13, 14 | teen block overrides last digit | двена́дцать книг |
Mini-check
1. Choose the noun form: 23 кни́га / кни́ги / книг. 2. Contrast two hours with absence of an hour.
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.