Neuter Across the Phrase
Neuter nouns share masculine agreement forms in the singular and feminine agreement forms in the plural. Their grammatical gender remains neuter.
How It Works
A Romanian neuter noun stays neuter in both numbers. Its agreement forms coincide with masculine singular and feminine plural forms.
Articles and numerals: un scaun / două scaune.
Adjectives: un hotel frumos / două hoteluri frumoase.
Demonstratives: acest proiect / aceste proiecte.
Superlatives: cel mai bun hotel / cele mai bune hoteluri.
Participles: A passive or adjectival participle agrees: proiectul este terminat / proiectele sunt terminate. An active compound-perfect participle stays unchanged: Am terminat proiectele.
Scope: Apply this pattern to words that mark gender, such as adjectives and demonstratives. Finite verbs agree in person and number, not gender. The noun does not literally change from masculine to feminine.
Examples (4)
- Am cumpărat un scaun nou, dar aș vrea două scaune noi.
I bought one new chair, but I would like two new chairs.
Word by Word: I-have bought a chair new, but I-would want two chairs new.
Notice 'un' and 'nou' (masc. sg.) switch to 'două' and 'noi' (fem. pl.) for the neuter noun 'scaun'.
- Acest proiect este terminat, însă aceste proiecte sunt terminate.
This project is finished, but these projects are finished.
Word by Word: This project is finished, but these projects are finished.
The demonstrative 'acest' and participle 'terminat' switch to feminine plural 'aceste' and 'terminate'.
- Un hotel frumos este scump, dar două hoteluri frumoase sunt și mai scumpe.
One beautiful hotel is expensive, but two beautiful hotels are even more expensive.
Word by Word: A hotel beautiful is expensive, but two hotels beautiful are and more expensive.
The adjective 'frumos' (masc. sg.) becomes 'frumoase' (fem. pl.) to match the neuter plural 'hoteluri'.
- Am văzut un exercițiu greu și niște exerciții grele.
I saw a difficult exercise and some difficult exercises.
Word by Word: I-have seen an exercise difficult and some exercises difficult.
The neuter noun 'exercițiu' takes the masculine adjective 'greu' in singular and feminine 'grele' in plural.
Common Mistakes
Using the masculine numeral 'doi' with neuter nouns.
Am doi scaune.Am două scaune.Neuter nouns must use the feminine numeral 'două' in the plural, never the masculine 'doi'.
Keeping the adjective in the masculine plural form.
Două hoteluri frumoși.Două hoteluri frumoase.Adjectives modifying neuter plurals must take the feminine plural ending (-e or -i), not the masculine plural (-i).
How It Connects
Learn This First
Apply feminine-type plural agreement to articles, adjectives and passive or adjectival participles referring to neuter plural nouns. Active compound-perfect participles remain invariable.
- Neuter Agreement
Understanding the basic rule that neuter nouns behave like masculine in the singular and feminine in the plural is the foundation for advanced agreement across the phrase.
Level 1 - Participle Agreement
Passive and adjectival participles agree with neuter subjects; active compound-perfect participles remain unchanged.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- One and Two Agreement
Crucial for neuter nouns, as they use 'un' (masc) in singular and 'două' (fem) in plural.
Level 1 - Adjective Agreement
Explains the specific endings adjectives take when matching masculine or feminine nouns.
Level 1 - acesta / aceasta / acela / aceeaThis and That
Demonstratives must also follow the masculine-to-feminine switch for neuter nouns.
Level 2
Practice Neuter Across the Phrase in Bubblegum
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