Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Tree/Trees (Дерево/Деревья)

  1. #1
    Новичок
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    2
    Rep Power
    0

    Tree/Trees (Дерево/Деревья)

    Is there a rule that results in the plural of "Дерево" being "Деревья"? Or is it just one of those quirks that you need to memorise?

  2. #2
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    My Time & Space
    Posts
    6,555
    Rep Power
    19

    Re: Tree/Trees (Дерево/Деревья)

    There’s no rule. The plural number of nouns ending with “-jа” is the old collective form, which is archaic in it’s direct usage. Now, the old collective plural ending functions mainly as simple plural (i. e. opposed to singular). You can find exceptions also. I would recommend to make a list of this non-standrad plural and just learn it.

    For example,

    Singular --> Regular Plural --> Collective Plural
    ================================================
    гроздь (bunch) --> грозди (clusters) --> гроздья (bunches)
    дерево (tree) --> N/A --> деревья (trees)
    зуб (tooth) --> зубы (teeth) --> зубья (teeth = cogs)
    кол (stake) --> колы (bad marks at school) --> колья (stakes)
    колос (ear of a plant) --> N/A --> колосья (ears of plants)
    корень (root) --> корни (roots) --> коренья (edible roots)
    лист (leaf) --> листы (sheets) --> листья (leaves)
    сын (son) --> сыны (sons, high flown style) --> сыновья (sons)
    «И всё, что сейчас происходит внутре — тоже является частью вселенной».

  3. #3
    Новичок
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    2
    Rep Power
    0

    Re: Tree/Trees (Дерево/Деревья)

    Very helpful! It did occur to me that it might have something to with collective nouns.

    Thanks again.

  4. #4
    Подающий надежды оратор
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Somewhere only we know
    Posts
    11
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: Tree/Trees (Дерево/Деревья)

    Quote Originally Posted by Rtyom
    old collective form
    Thank you for explaining but I still don't get it..
    what's 'old collective form'?

  5. #5
    Завсегдатай chaika's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Чапелхилловка, NC USA
    Posts
    1,986
    Rep Power
    19

    Re: Tree/Trees (Дерево/Деревья)

    Just think of this:
    Why do we say a herd of elephants but a flock of birds? we have special words for collectives. Old Russian (for ex. fifteenth century) had lots of things that are odd nowadays, and some leftovers still can be found in modern Russian. Why is the genitive singular used after numerals 2,3,4 but gen. plural after other numbers, aren't 2,3,4 plurals? These are things left over from a formerly much more complex Russian language.

  6. #6
    Подающий надежды оратор
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Somewhere only we know
    Posts
    11
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: Tree/Trees (Дерево/Деревья)

    Спасибо большое!

Similar Threads

  1. Если в лесу упало дерево
    By doninphxaz in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: March 6th, 2009, 02:48 PM
  2. The red snowball tree
    By astronomer in forum Learn English - Грамматика, переводы, словарный запас
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: December 1st, 2007, 09:06 AM
  3. Replies: 10
    Last Post: November 30th, 2007, 09:06 AM
  4. watering Christmas tree?
    By gRomoZeka in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: September 8th, 2006, 04:56 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary