Plural Genitive/Dative -lor
The suffix -lor is the definite article for all plural nouns in the Genitive ('of the...') and Dative ('to/for the...') cases, regardless of gender.
How It Works
The definite genitive/dative plural article is -lor for all genders.
Forms: băieții → băieților, fetele → fetelor, scaunele → scaunelor. Start from the noun's plural base and use its genitive/dative article; do not stack -lor after the full nominative definite form.
Genitive: Cărțile elevilor means 'the students' books'. The possessor is plural; the number of the possessed thing does not determine the -lor ending.
Dative: Le-am dat elevilor cărțile means 'I gave the books to the students'. A human plural recipient normally has the clitic le in contemporary neutral usage. Inanimate dative phrases can behave differently.
Indefinite contrast: elevilor means 'of/to the students'; unor elevi means 'of/to some students'.
Examples (4)
- Le-am explicat studenților regula.
I explained the rule to the students.
Word by Word: Them-have explained to-students-the rule-the.
Here, 'studenților' is in the Dative case. The suffix -lor is added to the plural 'studenți'.
- Aceasta este casa părinților mei.
This is my parents' house.
Word by Word: This is house-the of-parents-the mine.
'Părinților' is in the Genitive case, showing possession. It is the plural 'părinți' + 'lor'.
- Le-am oferit fetelor niște flori.
I offered the girls some flowers.
Word by Word: To-them-have offered to-girls-the some flowers.
In the Dative plural, the clitic 'le-' must agree with the plural noun 'fetelor'. The suffix -lor is used for all genders.
- Rezultatul eforturilor noastre este vizibil.
The result of our efforts is visible.
Word by Word: Result-the of-efforts-the ours is visible.
'Eforturilor' shows the suffix attached to a neuter plural ending in -uri.
Common Mistakes
Using the Nominative plural instead of the Genitive/Dative form.
Mașinile fetele sunt acolo.Mașinile fetelor sunt acolo.You cannot use the simple definite plural 'fetele' (the girls) to show possession; you must use the -lor ending.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the plural genitive-dative ending -lor, you first need to know how to form basic plural nouns, as this ending is added to the plural stem. Additionally, familiarity with the definite article system and the singular genitive-dative case is required to understand how Romanian marks possession and indirect objects through noun endings.
- Noun Plurals
The -lor ending is attached to the plural form of the noun, so understanding how to form plurals is essential.
Level 1 - Plural Definite -i / -lePlural Definite Articles
The -lor ending functions as the genitive-dative equivalent of the plural definite article, following the same logic of enclitic attachment.
Level 1 - Genitive/Dative -uluiMasculine Genitive/Dative -ului
Understanding the concept of the genitive-dative case and how it is marked via enclitic articles in the singular provides the necessary conceptual framework for the plural forms.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- Feminine Genitive/Dative
This is the singular equivalent for feminine nouns, which uses a different pattern than the plural.
Level 2 - Dative Doubling
Human plural recipients normally take le in contemporary neutral usage; the ending -lor alone does not make doubling mandatory in every construction.
Level 4 - unui / unei / unorIndefinite Genitive/Dative Articles
The indefinite version ('of some...') which uses 'unor' for all plural genders.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Plural Genitive/Dative -lor in Bubblegum
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