French Numerical Adjectives
Adjectifs numéraux
Numerical adjectives aren't as complicated as they might sound - numerical adjective is simply the grammatical term for numbers. There are three types of numerical adjectives, each of which is used for a different purpose.
| Name | Used for | Examples | |
| 1. | Cardinal numbers | Counting | un, deux, trois |
| 2. | Ordinal numbers | Ranking | premier, deuxième, troisième |
| 3. | Multiplicative numbers | Multiplying | simple, double, triple |
| * | Fractions | Dividing | demi, tiers, quart |
*Fractions, with the exception of demi, are actually nouns, but it makes sense to include them with the other types of numbers.
Technically, numerical adjectives are not adjectives at all - they are a
mathematical feature which, grammatically, act more or less like adjectives.
Placement
- Cardinal numerical adjectives precede the noun they modify
- Ordinal numerical adjectives and multiplicatives usually precede the noun they modify
- Fractions, other than demi, are in the following format: article + fraction + de
| J'ai deux livres. | I have two books. |
| C'est le deuxième jour. | It's the second day. |
| Il veut un double whisky. | He wants a double whiskey. |
| J'y vais dans une demie heure. | I'm going in half an hour. |
| J'ai vu un tiers du film. | I saw a third of the movie. |
Agreement
Numerical adjectives are invariable, with three exceptions:
1. un/une (one)
2. premier/première (first)
3. demi/demie (half)
| Cardinal numbers Ordinal numbers and Fractions |
| The free, twice-weekly About French newsletter keeps you informed about changes
to this site, including new lessons, articles, and forum discussions. Subscribe today!
|
