Strong and Weak Plurals

Level 3

Strong plurals generally keep their plural form in the genitive; weak plurals have a distinct genitive plural pattern. Learn this distinction from actual paradigms.

How It Works

Strong plurals generally keep their plural form in the genitive; weak plurals have a distinct genitive plural pattern. Learn this distinction from actual paradigms.

A strong plural retains its ordinary plural form in the genitive, apart from any initial mutation. A weak plural has a distinct genitive plural pattern, often resembling the singular citation form. Compare cailíní with fear; neither pattern determines the noun's gender by itself.

Examples (3)

  1. Tá na cailíní anseo.

    The girls are here.

  2. Tá málaí na gcailíní anseo.

    The girls' bags are here.

  3. Tá cótaí na bhfear anseo.

    The men's coats are here.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Strong and Weak PluralsLevel 3

Learn This First

Separate plural-case behavior from singular declension patterns.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.