86
Lexical forms of nouns. Number forms
Textbook: p. 130
GoalKnow noun number forms and the extra meanings of the plural.
New words
singular · birlikplural · ko‘plik-lar (plural) · -lar
Explanation
A noun can be singular or plural. The singular has no special suffix: kitob, bola. The plural takes -lar: kitoblar, bolalar. The suffix is always written -lar and does not change with the stem vowel. -lar expresses more than plurality. Respect: Ustozlar keldilar (the teacher, one person, came — said respectfully). Generalization: Navoiylar yetishgan yurt (a land that raised people like Navoiy). Approximate time: soat beshlarda (around five o’clock). After a number the plural suffix is not added: uchta kitob, besh bola.
Worked examples
The books are on the shelf.
We will meet at about five o’clock.
Class activity
“Which meaning?”: the teacher reads sentences; children say whether -lar shows plurality, respect, generalization or approximation.
Practice
1
How is the plural suffix written?
Always -lar: kitoblar, bolalar.
2
Which is correct: uchta kitob or uchta kitoblar?
Uchta kitob: no plural suffix after a number.
3
What does -lar mean in soat to‘rtlarda?
Approximate time, around four o’clock.
4
Why can the plural in Ustozlar keldilar refer to one person?
Because -lar here expresses respect.