Fractions and Collective Numerals in Russian

Fractions and Collective Numerals in Russian

In Russian, fractions and collective numerals play important roles in expressing quantities in more specialized contexts, such as measurements, proportions, and groups of objects. These numerals differ from cardinal and ordinal numbers, and they follow their own rules of declension and usage.

Let’s explore fractions and collective numerals in detail.


1. Fractions in Russian

Fractions in Russian express parts of a whole. They are used in contexts like mathematics, cooking, and measurements. Fractions are formed by combining whole numbers and parts, and they also decline based on the gender and case of the noun they modify.

1.1. Basic Fraction Forms

Here are some common fractions in Russian and their usage:

FractionRussian FormPronunciation
1/2половина (whole) / половина (fraction)pa-lo-vee-na
1/3третьtryet’
1/4четвертьchyet-vyert’
1/5пятая частьpya-ta-ya chas’
1/10десятая частьdye-syat-ya chas’
2/3две третиdve tre-tee
3/4три четвертиtree chyet-vyer-ty
1/2одна втораяod-na vto-ra-ya

1.2. Declension of Fractions

Fractions in Russian decline according to the gender of the noun they describe. Notice that fractions like половина (half), треть (third), and четверть (quarter) have feminine forms.

Case1/2 (половина)1/3 (треть)1/4 (четверть)
Nominativeполовинатретьчетверть
Genitiveполовинытретичетверти
Dativeполовинетретичетверти
Accusativeполовинутретьчетверть
Instrumentalполовинойтретьючетвертью
Prepositionalполовинетретьечетверти

Examples:

  • Одна половина книги (One half of the book – feminine).
  • Треть людей (A third of the people – feminine).
  • Четверть пирога (A quarter of the pie – feminine).

2. Collective Numerals in Russian

Collective numerals refer to a group or set of things, and they are used to express quantities that imply a collective or group nature. These numerals typically describe groups of people or things, such as «two pairs,» «three dozen,» or «four heads» (indicating people or animals).

Unlike regular cardinal numbers, collective numerals are used with singular nouns, and they also decline according to the gender and case of the noun.

2.1. Common Collective Numerals

Here are some examples of common collective numerals in Russian:

Collective NumeralMeaningRussian Form
2 (used with pairs)two (pairs of things)пара (pair)
3 (used with sets)three (sets of things)тройка (trio)
4 (used with sets)four (sets of things)четвёрка (four)
5 (used with sets)five (sets of things)пятёрка (five)
10 (used with sets)ten (sets of things)десятка (dozen)
100 (used with sets)hundred (sets of things)сотня (hundred)
1000 (used with groups)thousand (sets of things)тысяча (thousand)

2.2. Declension of Collective Numerals

Collective numerals decline with singular nouns because they refer to a group or set of things. Here’s how they decline in the nominative and genitive cases.

Case2 (пара)3 (тройка)4 (четвёрка)10 (десятка)
Nominativeпаратройкачетвёркадесятка
Genitiveпарытройкичетвёркидесятки
Dativeпаретройкечетвёркедесятке
Accusativeпарутройкучетвёркудесятку
Instrumentalпаройтройкойчетвёркойдесяткой
Prepositionalпаретройкечетвёркедесятке

Examples:

  • Две пары обуви (Two pairs of shoes – feminine).
  • Тройка лошадей (A trio of horses – feminine).
  • Четвёрка студентов (Four students – feminine).
  • Десятка яблок (A dozen apples – neuter).

3. Usage of Fractions and Collective Numerals

Both fractions and collective numerals are used in a variety of contexts:

3.1. Fractions

Fractions are commonly used in math, measurements, and when describing parts of something:

  • Полтора яблока (One and a half apples).
  • Треть времени (A third of the time).
  • Половина работы (Half of the work).

3.2. Collective Numerals

Collective numerals are used to indicate groups or sets of things:

  • Пара дней (A couple of days).
  • Тройка машин (Three cars – informal or group).
  • Десятка людей (A group of ten people).

4. Important Points about Fractions and Collective Numerals

  • Fractions: When expressing fractions, Russian uses the genitive case with the fraction. For example, половина (half) takes the genitive singular form when modifying a singular noun.
  • Collective numerals: These numerals work similarly to other group quantities, but they always modify the singular noun. For example, десятка (a dozen) takes a singular form of the noun it modifies, even though it refers to multiple things.

5. Conclusion

Fractions and collective numerals are important parts of the Russian numerical system, used to express parts of a whole or collective quantities. They follow specific patterns of declension and are used in various contexts such as measurements, quantities, and groupings. By mastering their usage and declension, you will be able to express complex quantities and groupings more accurately in Russian.


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