Word
На столе лежат четыре красивых тюльпана, две синие орхидеи и три зелёных растения.
Meaning
Four beautiful tulips, two blue orchids, and three green plants are lying on the table.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of На столе лежат четыре красивых тюльпана, две синие орхидеи и три зелёных растения.
и
and
стол
table / desk
красивый
beautiful
синий
dark blue
Questions & Answers about На столе лежат четыре красивых тюльпана, две синие орхидеи и три зелёных растения.
Why is the adjective красивых in the plural, but the noun тюльпана in the singular?
This is the special rule for adjectives with the numbers 2, 3, and 4! After these numbers, the noun takes the genitive singular (like тюльпана). However, for masculine nouns, the adjectives describing them must take the genitive plural (красивых).
If adjectives take the genitive plural after these numbers, why is it синие (nominative plural) for the orchids?
Because орхидея is a feminine noun, and the rule changes based on gender. For feminine nouns after 2, 3, and 4, the adjective goes into the nominative plural (which is синие for this word). The noun itself (орхидеи) is still in the genitive singular.
Why do we use зелёных (genitive plural) for the plants?
Why does the sentence use две instead of два for the orchids?
The number 2 is unique because it changes its form based on gender in the nominative and inanimate accusative cases. You use два for masculine and neuter nouns, but you must use две for feminine nouns like орхидея.