Number, Case, and Types of Declension

Urdu nouns are declined, meaning that they change their forms for number and case. There are two numbers: singular and plural. The plural is formed in different ways depending on the type of declension.

There are two cases: direct and oblique. The direct case is usually used for a noun functioning as the subject of a sentence. This rule applies to all types of sentences, except those where the predicate is expressed by a transitive verb in one of the perfect tenses. In such sentences, the subject would be in the oblique case, and the direct object would very often be in the direct case.

The oblique case is always used for nouns that appear before postpositions. The marker for the oblique singular form of masculine nouns ending in ا aa is usually ے e, while feminine nouns frequently use the same form for both the direct case and the oblique case.

Nouns in Urdu are declined in different ways. There are four basic types of declension in Urdu: two for masculine nouns and two for feminine nouns. The declension type for a particular noun depends on its gender and ending.

Masculine nouns that end in ا aa in the direct singular belong to the first type of declension.

An example of a noun that uses this type of declension is گھوڑا ghoRaa 'a horse'.

	Singular	Plural
Direct	گھوڑا ghoRaa	گھوڑے ghoRe
Oblique	گھوڑے ghoRe	گھوڑوں ghoRoN

The second type of declension includes mainly masculine nouns that end in a consonant or a vowel other than ا aa. An example of a noun that uses this type of declension is گھر ghar 'a house'.

	Singular	Plural
Direct	گھر ghar	گھر ghar
Oblique	گھر ghar	گھروں gharoN

Several masculine nouns ending in ا aa also belong to the second type of declension. Most of them are kinship terms or borrowed words. An example is چاچا caacaa 'a paternal uncle'.

	Singular	Plural
Direct	چاچا caacaa	چاچا caacaa
Oblique	چاچا caacaa	چاچاؤں caacaaoN

The third type of declension is used for feminine nouns that end in ی ii in the direct case. An example of a noun that uses this type of declension is گھوڑی ghoRii 'a mare'.

	Singular	Plural
Direct	گھوڑی ghoRii	گھوڑیاں ghoRiyaaN
Oblique	گھوڑی ghoRii	گھوڑیوں ghoRiyoN

Other feminine nouns belong to the fourth declension. An example of a noun that uses this type of declension is بات baat

'a word, a fact'.

	Singular	Plural
Direct	بات baat	باتیں baateN
Oblique	بات baat	باتوں baatoN