For sure how to say - “stocking” or “stockings”, everyone thought for sure at least once in his life. Indeed, the formation of the genitive case from plural nouns often causes difficulty. However, there are hinting methods, thanks to which you can forever remember which option is correct - “stocking” or “stockings”.
Nouns ending in the genitive plural
Although the selection rules in this position exist, the laws are so inconsistent and numerous that it is rather difficult to understand them. It is only known that the endings in this case for nouns are as follows: -ey, -ov, -ev or zero. The school often gives such a comic example of choosing phrases: “Fish have no teeth,” “Fish have no teeth,” or “Fish have no teeth.” Naturally, it will be correct to say, “Fish have no teeth,” but the joke usually succeeds. After all, the guys laugh out loud at these proposals and understand that to be literate is to find the right options and not be funny for others.
Zero ending in the genitive plural
The difficulty in declining is caused by the word “stocking” for many. Choosing the genitive case in the plural - “stocking” or “stockings”, you should remember the rule. It consists in the fact that words with a zero ending in the initial form, denoting objects of shoes or clothing worn on the feet, also have a zero ending in the genitive plural. “A lot of people sat around the bonfire in wide-brimmed hats, gray overalls and high boots. "There were no stockings on men emphasizing their affiliation with high society."
Make a suit - do not attack, but how to write?
It would seem so simple! But there are exceptions to all the rules. Such in the present case is the word "sock", which in the position of interest to us has the same ending. This is what confuses people, because socks and stockings are very similar in something! For example: “I decided to build for myself a carnival outfit of a nobleman of the Renaissance period, but I could not buy a stocking - there were simply no male sizes in the store. Then, from my socks, I built an imitation of stockings. " The last sentence clearly made a mistake, because you should write "imitation stockings", choosing the zero option for ending!
Hint for choosing an option ("stocking" or "stockings")
Most people try not to go into the understanding of complex patterns, but try to just remember the correct options. In order not to confuse the endings of the words “sock” and “stocking”, a hint was invented - “the shorter, the longer.” That is, socks are clothes worn on the legs, with short tights, and stockings are almost to the thigh length. Based on the presented hint, for the “long robe” - stocking - the “short version” is selected, that is, the zero ending. But for “short clothes” - socks - you should choose the option with the end of s.
Why do you need to write correctly?
Faced with spelling difficulties, many are trying to find the easiest way out. And such is the assertion that the ability to write correctly is not at all necessary for those who are not by profession related to science, culture or leading other people. Like, sellers or janitors rules of the Russian language to anything! However, one can argue here. You need to be cultural regardless of your position - this time. And to show your ignorance is easy in any profession. For example, the seller may write an erroneous announcement and thereby cause ridicule of buyers. And to become a laughing stock is easy if a person does not know how to write: “sale of stockings” or “stockings”, “coat” or “polt”, “apples” or “apples”. And do not assume that an ad with errors will attract more buyers than beautifully and correctly composed.
Five stockings - how much?
Another difficulty the seller may encounter when compiling a discount advertisement. For example, you need to write that when buying five pairs of stockings, the sixth pair will go as a gift. How, then, would it be correct if you do not use the word “pair”: “five stockings” or “five stockings”? It is known that collective numerals, which is the word "five," are combined with paired inanimate nouns. Therefore, the expression "five stockings" is quite acceptable. Those who read this announcement will understand that we are talking about ten items, which in total are five pairs. Indeed, collective numerals indicate the paired nouns. But the explanation of the expression "five stockings" will be from the series "Around the laughter." Or it can be attributed to an almost detective story called: "Five stockings, or Look for one-legged!"
The expression “five stockings” will be perceived with laughter. And that is understandable. Indeed, if out of four stockings with sufficient luck it is still purely theoretically possible to make two pairs, then who needs a fifth solitary item? Only a one-legged person. Although, if the sixth stocking is added as a gift, then perhaps it makes sense to participate in the action ... But after all, piece stockings are still not for sale with us! Or is it just that case when there will be a sale of items one at a time, and the second will have to be bought on their own, looking for it in the general heap? They say that socks and stockings have an uncanny ability to hide from their pair!
Although for a girl named Dlinniychulok, who constantly went in different stockings, it will probably be nice to make a purchase. What? It is at such a point of sale that Peppy will be able to pick up a stocking that will stand out from the rest. So it turns out that due to the misspelling of the advertisement, the seller can even mislead his customers who do not understand how many stockings you need to buy in order to receive a gift. Or, turning a stock into “market humor”, such a seller will not derive any material benefit from it. Indeed, today many fighters for the purity of the Russian language and literacy boycott organizations and outlets, where mistakes were made in ads, names or on billboards in tests and words.
So, after reading this article, hardly anyone will get confused and say: “Sell me five stockings!” or, even more ridiculous, "Sell me five stockings!"