Lesson 3: Nouns, Countries & Numbers
Comprehensive Grammar & Vocabulary
Part 1: Nouns (Съществителни имена)
1.1 Singular & Plural (Единствено и множествено число)
In English, we change the word form to show if there is one (singular) or many (plural).
| Rule | Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| + s (Standard) |
Most nouns just add -s. |
Car → Cars Book → Books House → Houses |
| + es (Hissing sounds) |
If word ends in: -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o. |
Bus → Buses Watch → Watches Box → Boxes Tomato → Tomatoes |
| -y → ies (Consonant + y) |
If word ends in a consonant + y, remove 'y' add 'ies'. |
City → Cities Baby → Babies (But: Boy → Boys) |
| -f → ves (f/fe endings) |
Words ending in f or fe change to v + es. |
Leaf → Leaves Wife → Wives Life → Lives |
⚠️ Irregular Plurals (Must Memorize!)
Man → Men
Woman → Women
Child → Children
Person → People
Tooth → Teeth
Foot → Feet
Mouse → Mice
Fish → Fish
Sheep → Sheep
1.2 Countable vs. Uncountable
We will study this in detail later, but you must know the basics for now.
✅ Countable (Броими)
Things you can count with numbers.
- Can be Singular or Plural.
- Examples: One apple, two apples, three cars.
❌ Uncountable (Неброими)
Liquids, powders, materials, and abstract ideas.
- Always Singular grammar.
- Examples: Water, Rice, Money, Music, Information.
1.3 Types of Nouns
| Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Common Nouns | General things (not specific). | dog, city, teacher, phone |
| Proper Nouns | Specific names (Always Capitalized). | London, John, Bulgaria, Toyota |
| Abstract Nouns | Ideas or feelings (cannot touch). | love, happiness, time, freedom |
| Collective Nouns | Groups of people/things. | team, family, class, staff |
1.4 English vs. Bulgarian (Key Differences)
1. Gender (Род):
🇧🇬 BG: Every noun has a gender (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter). Table is female (маса).
🇬🇧 EN: Objects have NO gender. A table is "it". Only people/animals have gender (he/she).
2. The Article (Членуване):
🇧🇬 BG: The article is attached to the end of the word (Книгата).
🇬🇧 EN: The article is a separate word at the front (The book).
Part 2: Articles (a / an / the)
Articles define if a noun is specific or general.
2.1 Indefinite Articles: A / AN
When to use:
- With singular, countable nouns.
- When mentioning something for the first time.
- When talking about jobs.
| Article | Rule | Why? | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Before consonant sounds. | General / First time |
1. I have a car. 2. She is a doctor. 3. I saw a dog. 4. It is a university. (Sound 'You') |
| AN | Before vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u). | General / First time |
1. I want an apple. 2. He is an engineer. 3. It is an elephant. 4. Wait an hour. (Silent 'H') |
2.2 Definite Article: THE
When to use:
- When we know exactly which one we are talking about.
- When mentioning something for the second time.
- With unique things (only one in the world).
| Usage | Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Second Mention | We know it because we just said it. | "I bought a shirt. The shirt is blue." |
| Specific Context | Both speaker and listener know which one. | "Can you close the door?" (The door in this room). "Where is the remote?" |
| Unique Objects | There is only one in existence. | The Sun, The Moon, The Internet, The Sky. |
| Geographical | Oceans, Rivers, Deserts, Plural Countries. | The Amazon, The Black Sea, The USA. |
2.3 Zero Article (Ø)
❌ Do NOT use articles for:
- General Plurals: "I like dogs." (All dogs, generally).
- Names: "This is Peter." (Not 'The Peter').
- Cities/Most Countries: "I live in London." "I love Bulgaria."
- Meals: "I eat breakfast."
Part 3: Countries, Nationalities & Languages
⚠️ Important Grammar Rules
1. Capital Letters: In English, ALL Countries, Nationalities, and Languages start with a Capital Letter.
❌ i am from bulgaria. I speak bulgarian.
✅ I am from Bulgaria. I speak Bulgarian.
2. Using "THE": Most countries do NOT use "The".
❌ I am from The Bulgaria.
✅ I am from Bulgaria.
3. Exceptions (Plural names or Kingdoms/Republics):
✅ The USA, The UK, The Netherlands, The Philippines, The UAE.
3.1 Countries (Държави)
"I am from..." / "I live in..."
| English Word | IPA (Pronunciation) | Bulgarian |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | /bʌlˈɡeə.ri.ə/ | България |
| England | /ˈɪŋ.ɡlənd/ | Англия |
| The USA | /ðə ˌjuː.esˈeɪ/ | САЩ |
| Germany | /ˈdʒɜː.mə.ni/ | Германия |
| France | /frɑːns/ | Франция |
| Italy | /ˈɪt.ə.li/ | Италия |
| Spain | /speɪn/ | Испания |
| Turkey | /ˈtɜː.ki/ | Турция |
| Greece | /ɡriːs/ | Гърция |
| Russia | /ˈrʌʃ.ə/ | Русия |
| China | /ˈtʃaɪ.nə/ | Китай |
| Japan | /dʒəˈpæn/ | Япония |
| Brazil | /brəˈzɪl/ | Бразилия |
| Canada | /ˈkæn.ə.də/ | Канада |
| Australia | /ɒˈstreɪ.li.ə/ | Австралия |
| India | /ˈɪn.di.ə/ | Индия |
| Egypt | /ˈiː.dʒɪpt/ | Египет |
| Mexico | /ˈmek.sɪ.kəʊ/ | Мексико |
| The UK | /ðə ˌjuːˈkeɪ/ | Обединеното кралство |
| The Netherlands | /ðə ˈneð.ə.ləndz/ | Нидерландия |
3.2 Nationalities (Националности)
"I am..." / "He is..."
| English Word | IPA (Pronunciation) | Bulgarian |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian | /bʌlˈɡeə.ri.ən/ | Българин |
| English | /ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/ | Англичанин |
| American | /əˈmer.ɪ.kən/ | Американец |
| German | /ˈdʒɜː.mən/ | Германец |
| French | /frentʃ/ | Французин |
| Italian | /ɪˈtæl.jən/ | Италианец |
| Spanish | /ˈspæn.ɪʃ/ | Испанец |
| Turkish | /ˈtɜː.kɪʃ/ | Турчин |
| Greek | /ɡriːk/ | Грък |
| Russian | /ˈrʌʃ.ən/ | Руснак |
| Chinese | /tʃaɪˈniːz/ | Китаец |
| Japanese | /ˌdʒæp.ənˈiːz/ | Японец |
| Brazilian | /brəˈzɪl.jən/ | Бразилец |
| Canadian | /kəˈneɪ.di.ən/ | Канадец |
| Australian | /ɒˈstreɪ.li.ən/ | Австралиец |
| Indian | /ˈɪn.di.ən/ | Индиец |
| Egyptian | /iˈdʒɪp.ʃən/ | Египтянин |
| Mexican | /ˈmek.sɪ.kən/ | Мексиканец |
| British | /ˈbrɪt.ɪʃ/ | Британец |
| Dutch | /dʌtʃ/ | Нидерландец |
3.3 Languages (Езици)
"I speak..."
| English Word | IPA (Pronunciation) | Bulgarian |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian | /bʌlˈɡeə.ri.ən/ | Български |
| English | /ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/ | Английски |
| German | /ˈdʒɜː.mən/ | Немски |
| French | /frentʃ/ | Френски |
| Italian | /ɪˈtæl.jən/ | Италиански |
| Spanish | /ˈspæn.ɪʃ/ | Испански |
| Turkish | /ˈtɜː.kɪʃ/ | Турски |
| Greek | /ɡriːk/ | Гръцки |
| Russian | /ˈrʌʃ.ən/ | Руски |
| Chinese | /tʃaɪˈniːz/ | Китайски |
| Japanese | /ˌdʒæp.ənˈiːz/ | Японски |
| Portuguese | /ˌpɔː.tʃəˈɡiːz/ | Португалски |
| Hindi | /ˈhɪn.di/ | Хинди |
| Arabic | /ˈær.ə.bɪk/ | Арабски |
| Dutch | /dʌtʃ/ | Нидерландски |
Part 4: Numbers (1-100)
4.1 Numbers 1-20 (Full List)
You must memorize the spelling of these perfectly.
1
One
One
2
Two
Two
3
Three
Three
4
Four
Four
5
Five
Five
6
Six
Six
7
Seven
Seven
8
Eight
Eight
9
Nine
Nine
10
Ten
Ten
11
Eleven
Eleven
12
Twelve
Twelve
13
Thirteen
Thirteen
14
Fourteen
Fourteen
15
Fifteen
Fifteen
16
Sixteen
Sixteen
17
Seventeen
Seventeen
18
Eighteen
Eighteen
19
Nineteen
Nineteen
20
Twenty
Twenty
4.2 The Tens (20-100)
| Number | Spelling | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Twenty | |
| 30 | Thirty | Not 'Three-ty' |
| 40 | Forty | No 'u' (Different from Four) |
| 50 | Fifty | Not 'Five-ty' |
| 60 | Sixty | |
| 70 | Seventy | |
| 80 | Eighty | Ends in 't', add 'y' |
| 90 | Ninety | Keep the 'e' |
| 100 | One Hundred |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ❌ 14 = Forty
✅ 14 = Fourteen - ❌ 40 = Fourty
✅ 40 = Forty - ❌ 15 = Fiveteen
✅ 15 = Fifteen - ❌ 12 = Twenteen
✅ 12 = Twelve
4.3 Compound Numbers (21-99)
Rule: Always use a hyphen (-) between the tens and the units.
Example: 21 = Twenty-one
Example: 21 = Twenty-one
| 22 | Twenty-two |
| 35 | Thirty-five |
| 48 | Forty-eight |
| 99 | Ninety-nine |
Exercises (15 Sets)
Test your knowledge. Each set has 5 questions.
Light Novel: The Office Guests
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Jake
Boss
Mr. Sato
Japan
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Mini Games
Listen to the number and click the ball!