Adjective Noun Agreement Russian

Adjective-Noun Agreement in Russian: Understanding the Basics

The Russian language is known for its complex grammar rules, and one of the most important aspects of it is adjective-noun agreement. This refers to the way in which adjectives and nouns must agree in gender, number, and case.

In order to properly use adjectives in Russian, it is necessary to understand the rules governing noun-adjective agreement. Here are some basics to get you started.

Gender Agreement

Russian nouns are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. Adjectives must agree in gender with the noun they modify. This means that if the noun is masculine, the adjective must also be masculine. The same applies for feminine and neuter nouns.

For example, the word «book» (книга) is feminine. If we want to describe this book as «interesting,» we would use the masculine form of the adjective and say «интересная книга» (interestnaya kniga).

Number Agreement

In Russian, nouns and adjectives must also agree in number. This means that if the noun is plural, the adjective must be plural as well.

For example, if we want to describe a group of «friends» (друзья), we would use the plural form of the adjective «good» (хороший) and say «хорошие друзья» (horoshiye druz`ya).

Case Agreement

In addition to gender and number agreement, adjectives in Russian must also agree with the case of the noun they modify. Russian has six cases, and each case requires a different ending on the adjective.

For example, let`s say we want to describe a «beautiful house» (красивый дом) in the accusative case. The adjective «beautiful» must take on the accusative ending «-ый» (y-iy) to agree with the noun «house» in the accusative case.

In summary, adjective-noun agreement is a crucial aspect of Russian grammar that must be mastered in order to communicate effectively in the language. By understanding the rules of gender, number, and case agreement, you can confidently use adjectives in your writing and speaking in Russian.