Vietnamese Grammar Bank
VIETNAMESE PLURALS
In Vietnamese, forming plurals is not as straightforward as in other languages since nouns do not change form.
Instead, words like những and các are used to indicate plurality, along with context to understand whether a noun is singular or plural.
GENERAL PLURALS
To make words plurals simply add “những” or “các” next to the counter of a singular noun, then the word will become the plural:
PATTERN
Những / Các + counter + singular noun
NOTE || What is the difference between “những” and “các”?
• Những is commonly used for plural nouns when the context does not imply totality.
• Các is used when referring to the entire group or all members of a certain category.
Here is a reminder of the most common counters in Vietnamese:
| Counter | Used for |
|---|---|
| Cái | General non-living thíngs |
| Con | Animal |
| Cây | Pen/Tree/Pencil |
| Tờ | Paper/ Newspaper |
| Cuốn | Book/ Notebook |
| Bức | Letter/Picture/Photo |
| Chiếc | Car/Phone/Bike |
| Tấm | Cloth/ Photo |
| Viên | Ice/ Marble/ Meatball |
| Chai | Bottle |
| Ly | Glass |
| Lon | Can |
For example:
| vietnamese | english |
|---|---|
| Những cái bàn → Những cái bàn màu đỏ | Tables → The tables are red |
| Những con mèo → Những con mèo đang ăn những con cá | Cats → The cats are eating fishes |
| Các tấm ảnh → Các tấm ảnh cũ kỹ | Photos → The photos are old |
| Các viên đá → Các viên đá hình con cá | Ice cubes → The ice cubes are all shaped as fishes |
View More Examples:
| vietnamese | english |
|---|---|
| Những cây bút chì → Những cây bút chì màu đen | Pencils → The pencils are black |
| Những tờ báo → Những tờ báo đang bay | Newspapers → The newspapers are flying |
| Những cuốn sách → Những cuốn sách của ba tôi rất hay | Books → The books of my dad are good |
| Những bức tranh → Những bức tranh thật đẹp! | Paintigs → The paintings are beautiful |
| Những chiếc lá → Những chiếc lá đang rơi | Leaves → The leaves are falling |
| Các chai nước → Các chai nước ở trong tủ lạnh | Bottles of water → The bottles of water are in the fridge |
| Các ly rượu → Các ly rượu của mẹ đã hết | Glasses of wine → The glasses of wine of my mom are all finished |
| Các lon bia → Các lon bia đã được ướp lạnh | Cans of beer → The cans of beer are frozen |
FOR PEOPLE
When it concerns people, counters are not used to make the words become plural.
Just simply add “những/các” to the singular noun only.
PATTERN
Những / Các + singular noun
For example:
| vietnamese | english |
|---|---|
| Những cô gái → Những cô gái đang nói chuyện | Girls → The girls are talking |
| Các ca sỹ → Các ca sỹ đang hát | Singers → The singers are singing |
View More Examples:
| vietnamese | english |
|---|---|
| Những chàng trai → Những chàng trai đang hát | Boys → The boys are singing |
| Những diễn viên → Những diễn viên đang diễn | Actors → The actors are acting |
| Các bác sĩ → Các bác sĩ đang cười | Doctors → The doctors are laughing |
| Các ba mẹ → Các ba mẹ đang ngủ | Parents → The parents are sleeping |
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FAQs
How do you form plurals in Vietnamese?
Plurals in Vietnamese are often formed by adding những or các before the noun. For example, “những chiếc xe” (some cars) or “các con mèo” (all the cats).
What is the difference between những and các?
Both những and các are used to indicate plurals, but they have slightly different nuances:
• Những is commonly used for plural nouns when the context does not imply totality.
• Các is used when referring to the entire group or all members of a certain category.
Can nouns be plural without những or các?
Yes, Vietnamese nouns can often be plural based on context alone, without needing những or các.
For instance, “Tôi thích mèo” can mean “I like cats” without explicitly marking the plural.
Are there plural forms for pronouns?
Yes, personal pronouns in Vietnamese can be made plural by adding chúng or các before the pronoun.
For example, “chúng tôi” (we), “các bạn” (you all).
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