Nouns Used Only in the Plural
Vrata, hlače, naočale and novine are plural-only words with plural verbs and adjectives.
How It Works
English has the same thing: "scissors" and "trousers" are plural words. Bosnian has more.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| vrata | door, gate |
| hlače | trousers |
| naočale | glasses |
| novine | newspaper |
The verb and the adjective are plural, even for one door or one newspaper: Vrata su otvorena. Novine su na stolu.
Vrata ends in -a, so it looks like a feminine singular noun, which is why learners use vrata je by mistake. Speakers also use naočare instead of naočale, and pantalone as well as hlače, so all of these turn up in Bosnia.
To count them, use the special number words from the entry on collective numbers: dvoja vrata (two doors) and troja kola (three cars).
Examples (4)
- Vrata su otvorena.
The door is open.
Su is the plural verb.
- Moje naočale su na stolu.
My glasses are on the table.
Moje and su are plural.
- Hlače su mi male.
The trousers are too small for me.
Plural verb and plural adjective.
- Novine su na stolu.
The newspaper is on the table.
Novine is plural.
Common Mistakes
Learners use a singular verb with vrata.
Vrata je otvoreno.Vrata su otvorena.Vrata is a plural-only noun.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Some nouns are plural only.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Nouns Used Only in the Plural in Bubblegum
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