Plural Adjectives in the Cases
Outside the nominative and accusative, a plural adjective looks the same for every gender: bez nových topánok (without new shoes), k starým rodičom (to my grandparents), s dobrými priateľmi (with good friends).
How It Works
One set for all genders. In the nominative and accusative plural you choose between -í and -é (see -í and -é). In the other cases the gender no longer matters:
- Genitive and locative -ých: bez nových topánok, o nových filmoch
- Dative -ým: k novým susedom
- Instrumental -ými: s novými kamarátmi
Men in the accusative. For masculine people, the accusative plural uses the genitive form: Poznáš našich nových susedov? For everything else it is the same as the nominative: Kúpil som nové topánky.
Soft adjectives. Adjectives like cudzí, and all comparatives, have í where hard adjectives have ý: v cudzích krajinách, k najlepším priateľom, s mladšími súrodencami.
Short after a long syllable. Because of the rhythmic law, the ending is short after a long syllable: krásny → o krásnych mestách, s krásnymi fotkami; domáci → bez domácich úloh.
Singular or plural? The dative plural -ým looks like the masculine and neuter instrumental singular. Compare s novým autom (with a new car) and k novým autám (to the new cars). The instrumental plural always ends in -ými or -ími: s novými autami.
Examples (6)
- Nechcem ísť na svadbu bez nových topánok.
I don't want to go to the wedding without new shoes.
Word by Word: I-not-want go to wedding without new shoes.
Bez takes the genitive, so nový becomes nových.
- V nedeľu idem k starým rodičom.
On Sunday I'm going to my grandparents'.
Word by Word: On Sunday I-go to old parents.
K takes the dative: starým rodičom.
- Čítal som o krásnych mestách na Slovensku.
I read about beautiful towns in Slovakia.
Word by Word: I-read about beautiful towns in Slovakia.
Krá- is long, so the ending is short: krásnych.
- Večer sme boli s dobrými priateľmi v meste.
In the evening we were in town with good friends.
Word by Word: Evening we-were with good friends in town.
- Poznáš našich nových susedov?
Do you know our new neighbors?
Word by Word: You-know our new neighbors?
Masculine people take the genitive form in the accusative plural.
- V cudzích krajinách vždy ochutnám miestne jedlá.
In foreign countries I always taste the local dishes.
Word by Word: In foreign countries always I-taste local dishes.
Cudzí is soft, so the locative plural is cudzích.
Common Mistakes
Using the genitive ending in the dative.
Pomáham starých rodičom.Pomáham starým rodičom.Pomáhať takes the dative, and the dative plural of an adjective ends in -ým.
Using the singular ending with a plural noun.
Bol som tam s dobrým priateľmi.Bol som tam s dobrými priateľmi.Dobrým is singular. With a plural noun in the instrumental, the adjective ends in -ými.
Keeping a long ending after a long syllable.
Čítal som o krásných mestách.Čítal som o krásnych mestách.Krá- is already long, so the rhythmic law shortens -ých to -ych.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Plural Adjectives in the Cases, learn Dative, Locative and Instrumental Plural and Plural Adjectives for Men and Others. Plural adjectives take case endings alongside plural nouns. The nominative plural adjective forms come first.
Related Patterns
- Hard Adjectives Like pekný
The hard model whose plural forms are pekných, pekným and peknými.
Level 2 - Soft Adjectives Like cudzí
The soft model whose plural forms are cudzích, cudzím and cudzími.
Level 2 - Case Forms of ten, môj and náš
Demonstratives and possessives use similar plural endings: tých, mojim, našimi.
Level 3 - The Rhythmic Law
Explains the short endings in krásnych and domácich.
Level 1
Practice Plural Adjectives in the Cases in Bubblegum
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