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
1. Cardinal numbers as adjectives must come first, before the noun they modify as well as any other adjectives.
| une jolie peinture | one pretty painting | |
| les cinq premiers étudiants | the first five students |
2, 3. Ordinals and multiplicatives as adjectives typically precede the noun they modify.
| 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 (lesson coming soon):
| un demi-tour | half a turn | |
| un demi-succèss | partial success |
4b, 5. Other fractions and all approximate numbers are used as expressions of quantity in the 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
1. Cardinal numbers are invariable with the exception of 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 it 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 |
Using numbers
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