Chapter 15

Numerals

There are several kinds of numerals in Latin, just as in English. Think about how many diferent ways we use numerals. 'She is two years old.' 'He is the second president of the company.' 'She has done this twice.' Notice that though each of these sentences is using the numeral 2, the words that express that number are different.

In Latin, these different uses are marked by different kids of numerals too. The two kinds that you will run across most often in reading are (1) cardinals, and (2) ordinals. Notice that numerals are just another kind of adjective, and so they should act just like adjectives do.

Cardinals
Cardinal numerals are 'counting numbers': one, two, three, etc. Fortunately for you, because they have only one form in Latin, most of these are indeclinable (i.e., no case/number/gender agreement).

ten boys, decem puerī
ten girls, decem puellae

A couple of them do decline: one, ūnus a um; two, duo duae duo; three, trēs tria; thousands, mīlia. See p. 97 for their declensions.

Here are the cardinal numerals you need to know (see p. 451):

1, ūnus a um
2, duo duae duo
3, trēs tria
4, quattuor
5, quīnque
6, sex (no giggling)
7, septem
8, octō
9, novem
10, decem
100, centum
1000, mīlle

Notice on p. 98 the pattern for 200 through 900, and the peculiarities of mīlle in the plural.)

Ordinals
Ordinal numerals (from ōrdō, -inis, m.: rank, order) are used to put things in order. These are 'finish line numbers.' These all act like normal 1st/2nd declension adjectives. Here are the ordinals you need to know (look again at p. 451):

1st, prīmus a um
2nd, secundus a um (alter is used when there are only two items)
3rd, tertius a um
4th, quārtus a um
5th, quīntus a um
6th, sextus a um
7th, septimus a um
8th, octāvus a um
9th, nōnus a um
10th, decimus a um

Ablatives of time

You have learned that the ablative case can be used to express different things. Chapter 14 introduced the ablatives of means and instrument and accompaniment and manner. The ablative can also be used to express ideas of time, specifically at which and within which. (Notice that again the ablative case is doing the job of an English preposition.) Some examples of these two ablatives:

Ablative of time at which:

illō tempore illa tria perīcula timuit.
At that time he was afraid of those three dangers.

Italia eō tempore erat plēna artium.
Italy at the time was full of the arts.

Ablative of time within which:

ūnā hōrā veniet.
He'll come in an hour (within an hour, inside of an hour).

paucīs annīs multī Rōmānī hās artēs amābunt.
Within a few years many Romans will love these arts.