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Grammar Lesson 68:

Cardinal numerals

Cardinals are the numerals that indicate the precise amount of something.

They are invariable except for:

- Uno (one) which varies in gender (but not in number as the plural forms gli uni, le une are indefinite pronouns / adjectives not numerals)

- Mille (a thousand) which varies in number [plur. -mila (thousands) – you attach this suffix to any number to create the total: for example due-mila —> duemila (2000)]

- Milione, miliardo, etc. (million, billion) that have regular plural forms

Cardinals can be written both in digits (Arabic numerals) and letters.

1 = uno

2 = due

3 = tre

4 = quattro

5 = cinque

6 = sei

7 = sette

8 = otto

9 = nove

10 = dieci

11 = undici

12 = dodici

13 = tredici

14 = quattordici

15 = quindici

16 = sedici

17 = diciassette

18 = diciotto

19 = diciannove

20 = venti

21 = ventuno

23 = ventitré

28 = ventotto

30 = trenta

40 = quaranta

50 = cinquanta

60 = sessanta

70 = settanta

80 = ottanta

90 = novanta

100 = cento

500 = cinquecento

1000 = mille

1.000.000 = un milione

1.000.000.000 = un miliardo

Cardinals are generally adjectives.

They come before the noun when expressing a quantity and after the noun when expressing position or location (book page and chapter).

Examples:

- A Londra ho incontrato i tuoi due amici / In London I have met your two friends

- Il capitolo sei parla della poesia di Dante / Chapter six tackles Dante’s poetry

- Vai a pagina nove / Go to page nine

Cardinals can function as nouns when indicating:

- Objects carrying a certain number (transport)

- Money (you omit the currency)

- The time of the day, the day of a month, or a certain year

- The size of something

- A school grade

- A playing card

Examples:

- A che ora passa l’1? / When does the tram number 1 stops by?

- Mi daresti i cinque che mi devi / Can I have back the five (euros) that you owe me?

- Sono già le quattro / It’s already four o’clock

- Il dieci è il mio compleanno / My birthday is on the tenth (of this month)

- Mia nonna era del venticinque / My grandmother was born in ’25 (the year 1925)

- La mia fidanzata porta il (numero) 38 / My girlfriend wears a five shoe

- Anna ha un due di picche / Anna holds a two of clubs

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