Adjectifs et noms numériques
French and English have five different types of numbers used for different purposes and with varying functions: they act like adjectives and / or nouns.
| Name | Purpose | Function | Par exemple… | ||
| 1 | Cardinal numbers | Counting | adj, noun | un, deux, trois | |
| 2 | Ordinal numbers | Ranking | adj, noun | premier, deuxième, troisième | |
| 3 | Multiplicative numbers | Multiplying | adj, noun | simple, double, triple | |
| 4 | a) | Fraction | Dividing | adj, noun | demi |
| b) | Fractions | Dividing | noun | un tiers, un quart | |
| 5 | Approximate numbers | Estimating | noun | une dizaine, une douzaine, une trentaine |
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Numerical word order
There are strict rules about the placement of the different types of numbers.
1. Cardinal numbers as adjectives must come first, before the noun they modify as well as any other adjectives.
Par exemple…
| une jolie peinture | one pretty painting | |
| les cinq premiers étudiants | the first five students |
Note the difference between French and English word order when cardinals and ordinals are used together, as in the second example.
2, 3. Ordinals and multiplicatives as adjectives typically precede the noun they modify.
Par exemple…
| C’est notre quatrième année ici. | It’s our fourth year here. | |
| un double whisky | a double whiskey |
4a. The fraction demi often acts as an adjective and creates a compound noun with the noun it modifies:
Par exemple…
| un demi-tour | half a turn | |
| un demi-succèss | partial success |
4b, 5. All other fractions and all approximate numbers are used as expressions of quantity in this construction:
| article (or) cardinal number (or) adverb of quantity |
+ | fraction (or) approximate number |
+ | de |
Par exemple…
| un quart d’heure | a quarter hour | |
| plusieurs dizaines de livres | several dozen books |
Numerical adjective agreement
Unlike most French adjectives, numerical adjectives are often invariable.
1. Cardinal numbers are invariable – except un:
| un café, j’en ai bu un | one coffee, I drank one | |
| une pomme, j’en ai mangé une | one apple, I ate one |
2. Ordinal numbers are also invariable with the exception of premier.
| le premier bâtiment | the first building | |
| les trois premières salles | the first three rooms |
3. Multiplicatives all agree with their nouns.
| deux triples doses | two triple doses | |
| trois doubles pages | three double pages |
4a. When demi creates a compound noun, it’s an invariable adjective:
| une demi-bouteille | a half bottle | |
| trois demi-journées | three half-days |
However, when demi follows the noun, it’s a noun and must agree:
| une bouteille et demie | a bottle and a half | |
| trois journées et demie | three and a half days |
Related lessons
Using numbers
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