Chapter 15:
Numerals, Genitive of the Whole,
Genitive and Ablative with
Cardinal Numerals, Ablative of
Time
Numerals
The two most common types of numerals
are
- cardinal
(e.g. one, two, three, etc)
- ordinal
(e.g. first, second, third, etc)
Cardinal Numerals
In Latin, all the cardinal numbers through
100 are indeclinable adjectives except for
1, 2, and 3.
Unus, a, um is a special –ius adj we’ve
already encountered. (See Ch 9)
Cardinal Numerals
Two, duo, is declined as follows. (NB there is no
singular, as two is obviously plural)
Masc.
Nom duo
Gen duorum
Dat duobus
Acc duos
Abl
duobus
Fem.
duae
duarum
duabus
duas
duabus
Neut.
duo
duorum
duobus
duo
duobus
Cardinal Numerals
Three, tres, is declined as follows.
Note that it has an i in the genitive and an i in the
neuter nominative and accusative, like 3rd Decl.
i-stems.
M&F
Nom tres
Gen trium
Dat tribus
Acc tres
Abl
tribus
N
tria
trium
tribus
tria
tribus
Cardinal Numerals
The numbers for the hundreds from 200-900
are declined like plural 1st/2nd declension
adjectives.
ex: ducenti, ae, a
trecenti, ae, a
Cardinal Numerals
Mille (1,000) is an
indeclinable adjective
in the singular.
However, in the plural
(i.e. thousands) it is a
neuter 3rd declension
i-stem noun, milia,
and declines as such.
M/F/N
N
Nom
mille
milia
Gen
mille
milium
Dat
mille milibus
Acc
mille
Abl
mille milibus
milia
Ordinal Numerals
Ordinal numbers indicate sequence (first,
second, third, etc).
They are regular 1st/2nd declension
adjectives.
Ex: primus, a, um
Genitive of the Whole
Words that denote a part of something (e.g.
much, more, many, part, enough) can be
followed by a dependent genitive, which
names the whole of which it is a part.
This genitive is also frequently known as the
Partitive Genitive.
Genitive of the Whole
Latin frequently uses this genitive after the
neuter nominative and accusatives of
certain pronouns and adjectives, including
aliquid
multum
minus
nihil
quantum
quid
plus
satis
tantum
nimis
Genitive of the Whole
It can also be the neuter singular of a
second declension adjective
multum boni
quid novi
nihil spei
Genitive and Ablative with
Cardinal Numerals
Milia uses the partitive genitive
(e.g. milia virorum – thousands of men)
With all the other cardinal numbers, the
idea of part from whole is expressed by
using ex or de and the ablative.
(e.g. duo ex fratribus)
Genitive and Ablative with
Cardinal Numerals
Note the difference between
duo fratres
duo ex fratribus
mille feminae
milia feminarum
Ablative of Time When or Within
Which
To express time when or within which, Latin
uses the ablative case without a
preposition.
In English translation, we usually use a
preposition such as on, in, at, or within.
Ablative of Time When or Within
Which
Let’s look at a few examples:
Eodem tempore non valebant.
Paucīs horīs id faciet.
Aestate otium habemus.
Secundo diē in urbem vēnit.
Ablative of Time When or Within
Which
Note that the idea of duration of time
(e.g. I read the book for four hours)
is NOT conveyed by the use of the ablative
case!