The direct and oblique plural for every noun class
I can form the plural of any noun, direct or oblique
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
I have two brothers.
Call the girls.
The books are on the table.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
| Type | Singular | Plural | Oblique plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| m in -आ | लड़का | लड़के | लड़कों |
| m other | घर | घर | घरों |
| f in -ई | लड़की | लड़कियाँ | लड़कियों |
| f other | किताब | किताबें | किताबों |
The oblique plural is always -ओं, whatever the noun started as. That single fact covers half the paradigm.
Masculine nouns not ending in -आ look identical in the singular and the plural: एक घर, दो घर. The plural shows only in the words around them: मेरे घर अच्छे हैं.
कपड़े, जूते, लोग, पैसे and दर्शन are plural in form and take plural agreement even about one thing.
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises
Practice ExercisesAdding a plural ending to a masculine noun that does not take one.
Invented plural for an unchanging masculine noun
ghar stays ghar; only the agreement moves.
Direct plural used before a postposition
Every noun takes -on in the oblique plural.
I have two brothers.
bhai is unchanged; the plural shows in mere and hain.
Call the girls.
Oblique plural in -on before ko.
The books are on the table.
Feminine consonant-final nouns take -en.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises
Kamta Prasad Guru's grammar, the standard prescriptive reference for Hindi morphology and syntax.
R. S. McGregor's outline, the standard concise academic description of Hindi morphology.