Language/Armenian/Grammar/Noun-and-Pronoun

Armenian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Basic Sentence Structure → Noun and Pronoun

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the concepts of Noun and Pronoun in the Armenian language. Understanding these fundamental elements of sentence structure is crucial for building a strong foundation in Armenian grammar. We will explore the different types of nouns, their declension patterns, and their role in sentence construction. Additionally, we will examine the various types of pronouns and their usage in different contexts. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to use nouns and pronouns effectively in Armenian sentences.

Nouns

A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In Armenian, nouns are classified into different categories based on their gender, number, and case. Let's explore each of these aspects in detail.

Gender

Armenian nouns have two grammatical genders: masculine and feminine. The gender of a noun is determined by its ending. Masculine nouns typically end in a consonant, while feminine nouns end in a vowel. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and some nouns have irregular gender assignments.

To illustrate this, let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
տղա	tgha	boy (masculine)
գործ	gorts	work (masculine)
կին	kin	girl (feminine)
գնացած	gnatsats	gone (feminine)

As you can see, the gender of a noun can sometimes be unpredictable. It is important to learn the gender of each noun individually, as it affects the declension patterns and the formation of other parts of speech.

Number

Armenian nouns can be singular or plural. The plural form is usually formed by adding a suffix to the singular form. The specific suffix used depends on the noun's gender and declension pattern. Let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
գիտակ	gitak	cat (singular)
գիտակներ	gitakner	cats (plural)
անգլերեն	angleren	English (singular)
անգլերեններ	anglerennner	English (plural)

As you can see, the formation of the plural form is not always predictable. Some nouns undergo changes in their stem or ending when forming the plural.

Case

Armenian nouns have seven grammatical cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, instrumental, and locative. Each case has its own suffixes and is used to indicate the noun's role or relationship in a sentence. Let's explore each case in detail:

Nominative Case

The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence. In Armenian, the nominative case is usually the base form of the noun, without any suffixes. Let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
երբեք	yerbeq	bird
աղ	agh	fish
անգամ	angam	time
հայր	hayr	father

In these examples, the nouns remain in their base form as they function as the subject of the sentence.

Genitive Case

The genitive case is used to indicate possession or origin. In Armenian, the genitive case is formed by adding the suffix "-ի" to the singular form of the noun. Let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
անապատ	anapat	house
անապատի	anapati	of the house
գրության	grutyani	of the book
երաժշտական	erazhstakan	of the musician

In these examples, the suffix "-ի" is added to the singular form of the noun to indicate possession or origin.

Dative Case

The dative case is used to indicate the indirect object of a sentence. In Armenian, the dative case is formed by adding the suffix "-ին" to the singular form of the noun. Let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
երաժշտ	erazhst	musician
երաժշտին	erazhstin	to the musician
գրության	grutyani	to the book
մարտին	martin	to March

In these examples, the suffix "-ին" is added to the singular form of the noun to indicate the indirect object of the sentence.

Accusative Case

The accusative case is used to indicate the direct object of a sentence. In Armenian, the accusative case is formed by adding the suffix "-ն" to the singular form of the noun. Let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
մարդ	mard	person
մարդը	mardë	the person
մայր	mayr	mother
մայրը	mayrë	the mother

In these examples, the suffix "-ն" is added to the singular form of the noun to indicate the direct object of the sentence.

Ablative Case

The ablative case is used to indicate movement away from a location. In Armenian, the ablative case is formed by adding the suffix "-ից" to the singular form of the noun. Let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
մարտ	mart	March
մարտից	martits	from March
բաժակ	bazhak	glass
բաժակից	bazhakits	from the glass

In these examples, the suffix "-ից" is added to the singular form of the noun to indicate movement away from a location.

Instrumental Case

The instrumental case is used to indicate the means or instrument by which an action is performed. In Armenian, the instrumental case is formed by adding the suffix "-ով" to the singular form of the noun. Let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
ձեռք	dzherk	hand
ձեռքով	dzherkov	with the hand
բաժակ	bazhak	glass
բաժակով	bazhakov	with the glass

In these examples, the suffix "-ով" is added to the singular form of the noun to indicate the means or instrument.

Locative Case

The locative case is used to indicate location or place. In Armenian, the locative case is formed by adding the suffix "-ում" to the singular form of the noun. Let's look at some examples:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
բաժակ	bazhak	glass
բաժակում	bazhakum	in the glass
բույս	buis	garden
բույսում	buisum	in the garden

In these examples, the suffix "-ում" is added to the singular form of the noun to indicate location or place.

Declension Patterns

Armenian nouns can be classified into different declension patterns based on their gender, ending, and declension type. Each declension pattern has its own set of suffixes for the different cases. Let's explore the most common declension patterns for masculine and feminine nouns.

Masculine Nouns

Most masculine nouns in Armenian belong to one of three declension patterns: "աղբ," "սեռ," or "արագ." These patterns determine the suffixes used in the different cases. Let's look at some examples:

Feminine Nouns

Most feminine nouns in Armenian belong to one of four declension patterns: "այգ," "աղ," "ուս," or "այբ." These patterns determine the suffixes used in the different cases. Let's look at some examples:

Pronouns

Pronouns are words that are used to replace nouns in a sentence. They are used to avoid repetition and make sentences more concise. In Armenian, pronouns have different forms based on their function and the case they are used in. Let's explore the different types of pronouns in Armenian.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Armenian are used to refer to specific persons or things. They have different forms based on the person (first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural). Let's look at the personal pronouns in Armenian:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
ես	es	I
դու	du	you (singular)
նա	na	he/she/it
մենք	menk	we
դուք	duk	you (plural)
նրանք	nrank	they

These personal pronouns can be used as the subject or object of a sentence, depending on their function.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns in Armenian are used to indicate possession or ownership. They have different forms based on the gender and number of the noun being possessed. Let's look at the possessive pronouns in Armenian:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
իմ	im	my
քո	ko	your (singular)
նրա	nra	his/her/its
մեր	mer	our
ձեր	jer	your (plural)
նրանքից	nrankits	their

These possessive pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun being possessed.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns in Armenian are used to point out specific persons or things. They have different forms based on the distance from the speaker and the gender of the noun being referred to. Let's look at the demonstrative pronouns in Armenian:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
այս	ays	this (near)
այդ	ayd	that (far)
այն	ayn	that (distant)
սահմանափակ	sahmanapak	such
այդպես	aydpes	like that

These demonstrative pronouns agree in gender with the noun being referred to.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns in Armenian are used to ask questions about persons or things. They have different forms based on the gender and number of the noun being referred to. Let's look at the interrogative pronouns in Armenian:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
ո՞վ	ov	who
ի՞նչ	inch	what
որի՞նք	vorink	which
որտե՞ղ	vortegh	where
ի՞նչպե՞ս	inchpes	how

These interrogative pronouns can be used to ask questions about specific persons or things.

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in Armenian are used to indicate that the subject of the sentence is also the object of the action. They have different forms based on the person and number of the subject. Let's look at the reflexive pronouns in Armenian:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
ինչքա՞ն	inchk'an	oneself
ինչքե՞ս	inchkes	ourselves
ի՞նչն	inchn	yourself (singular)
ի՞նչնես	inchnes	yourselves (plural)

These reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of the sentence refer to the same person or thing.

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns in Armenian are used to introduce relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They have different forms based on the gender and number of the noun being referred to. Let's look at the relative pronouns in Armenian:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
որ	vor	who/that
որը	vore	whom/that
ինչպես	inchpes	which/that
որտեղ	vortegh	where
որով	vorov	with which

These relative pronouns introduce relative clauses and agree in gender with the noun being referred to.

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns in Armenian are used to refer to nonspecific persons or things. They have different forms based on the gender and number of the noun being referred to. Let's look at the indefinite pronouns in Armenian:

Armenian	Pronunciation	English
ում	um	someone
ովքեր	ovker	some
ո՞ւմ	um	anyone
որեւստե՞ղ	vorevstegh	anywhere
ո՞ւմնասիրել	umnasirel	to meet someone

These indefinite pronouns are used when the person or thing being referred to is not specified.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned about nouns and pronouns in Armenian, let's put your knowledge into practice. Complete the following exercises by choosing the correct noun or pronoun to complete each sentence.

1. Երբեք ես գնում ես [դու / գիտակներ]ից։ 2. Մեր բաժակը մնաց [տղա / անապատի] մեջ։ 3. Տղան տեսարանից դուրս գալուց այն պատվիրվեց [մարդ / բաժակ]ով։ 4. Երաժշտը խոսում էր ՝ ինձ հետ խոսելով [նրանց / ինչքան]։ 5. Գիտակները գրության մասին կարդան [իմ / նրանց]։

Solutions: 1. Երբեք ես գնում ես գիտակներից։ 2. Մեր բաժակը մնաց անապատի մեջ։ 3. Տղան տեսարանից դուրս գալուց այն պատվիրվեց բաժակով։ 4. Երաժշտը խոսում էր ՝ ինձ հետ խոսելով նրանց։ 5. Գիտակները գրության մասին կարդան իմ։

Conclusion

In this comprehensive lesson, we have explored the concepts of Noun and Pronoun in the Armenian language. We have learned about the different types of nouns, their declension patterns, and their role in sentence construction. Additionally, we have studied the various types of pronouns and their usage in different contexts. By understanding and practicing the usage of nouns and pronouns, you will be able to construct grammatically correct sentences and effectively communicate in Armenian. Keep practicing and building on this knowledge as you progress in your Armenian language journey.

Table of Contents - Armenian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Armenian Alphabet
• Pronunciation Rules

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Yes/No Questions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Plurals
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Time, Manner, and Place

  ---

Armenian Traditions and Customs

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

Sources

• Classical Armenian Online

Other Lessons

• The Dative and Accusative Cases
• Personal Pronouns
• Irregular Present Tense Verbs
• The Future Perfect Tense
• The Genitive Case
• Indefinite Article
• Plurals
• The Present Perfect Tense
• Apostrophes and Hyphens
• Participles