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=====Number===== | =====Number===== | ||
Nouns can be inflected for three numbers: singular ({{sc|s}}), dual ({{sc|dual}}), and plural ({{sc|pl}}). The singular is the unmarked | Nouns can be inflected for three numbers: singular ({{sc|s}}), dual ({{sc|dual}}), and plural ({{sc|pl}}). The singular is the unmarked form. | ||
======Singular====== | |||
The singular is the default, unmarked form of the noun. It is worth noting that there are many nouns which cannot be pluralised in standard 17aug such as ''{{term|pää}}'' 'snow'. | |||
======Dual====== | |||
The dual is used only for things that naturally form pairs such as eyes, ears, legs and such. It is thus not very common outside a very specific semantic area. Nevertheless, it is often utilised when referring to a person's eyes. Care must be taken to remember that only the dual is correct here. The dual marker is -id something which may seem a bit strange at first. It is not too surprising when one takes into account that this is a relatively new development – the old dual was -idü – traces of which can be seen in certain set phrases such as "riimidüinä!" 'a physically or sexually attractive person'. | |||
:'''haavalid rangahaid''' | |||
:'''haaval-id rangaha-id''' | |||
:leg-{{sc|dual}} long-{{sc|dual}} | |||
======Plural====== | |||
The plural is formed by the addition of -in to the word, e.g. ''tormin'' 'fathers', ''vilyain'' 'clouds', ''siidin'' 'hopes'. | |||
Notice how the plural does trigger weakening of the plosive series (reflected in spelling). | |||
no | <!-- | ||
The dual is used only for things that naturally form pairs such as eyes, ears, legs and such. It is not used for describing two unpaired things. The plural covers the rest of all cases. Some nouns have no plural or dual form, e.g. ''pää'' 'snow' which only exists in the singular form. | |||
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=====Possession===== | =====Possession===== | ||