26.02.24: numbers 1 - 10

26.02.24: numbers 1 - 10

We will look at numbers in more detail in later posts. Here, we will begin to use them to practise the singular and plural of nouns. Like English, the number 1 is followed by a singular noun, and, from two onwards, a plural noun. There are also a few small points to note with regard to gender agreement. If you have studied any of the languages derived from Latin, for example, French, Italian or Spanish, then you should be able to recognise the numbers immediately. Even in English, however, there are words derived from Latin numbers which will help you remember them.

Look at the first image posted

1,2,3

one: ūnus [masc.] ūna [fem.] ūnum [neut.]

two: duo [masc.] duae [fem.] duo [neut.] i.e. the masculine and neuter are the same

three trēs [masc.] trēs [fem.] tria [neut.] i.e. the masculine and feminine are the same

Look at the second image posted

4-10

After 1, 2 and 3 the numbers do not have separate genders

four: quattuor

five: quīnque

six: sex

seven: septem

eight: octō

nine: novem

ten: decem

[1] ūnus, ūna, ūnum agree with the gender of the noun, in the same way as meus, mea, meum:

masculine: ūnus fluvius

feminine: ūna fēmina

neuter: ūnum templum

Unlike French, Spanish or Italian, ūnus, ūna and ūnum are not used as an indefinite article to express ‘a(n)’; in Latin, it was only used as a number. As mentioned in a previous post, Latin has no indefinite or definite article i.e. no words for ‘a’ or ‘the’.

[2] duo is used with masculine and neuter nouns, and duae is used with feminine nouns; from now on, you will need the plural forms of nouns

masculine: duo fluviī

feminine: duae fēminae

neuter: duo templa

[3] trēs is used with masculine and feminine nouns, and tria is used with neuter nouns:

masculine: trēs fluviī

feminine: trēs feminae

neuter: tria templa

[4] From quattuor (4) to decem (10) the numbers do not agree with the gender of the noun. The number has one only one form.

The only short-hand method for numbers used by the Romans was through a combination of letters from the alphabet; the Roman system was only gradually replaced by the Arabic numerals in the thirteenth century.

I, II, III, IV (or IIII), V, VI, VII, VIII, IX (or VIIII), X

Some more information on Roman numerals is posted below.