Numbers with nouns

The number changes with the noun

When you count on its own, the numbers do not change (see counting to ten). When you count something, the number takes a form that depends on the number itself and on the class of the noun. Chatelain sets out the pattern for people first, and then for other classes.

How to say it

1. Say the noun first, for one to six. Say the number after it.
2. For one, use the form that agrees with the noun. For two to six with people, use the numbers that start with ki-. Six follows the same rule, but its ki- form is kisamanu, while six counted on its own is samanu; Chatelain also writes six with no prefix after a noun of any class.
3. For eight, nine and ten, say the number first, then dia, then the noun.
4. For seven, choose either order: the number first with dia, or the noun first.

You should now be able to build the ten phrases below. They are Chatelain's own, for the word for people.

Counting people

One uses the word for a person. Two and above use the word for people.

Eight, nine and ten come first

These numbers always come before their noun, whatever its class. They are class 5 nouns themselves, so the word that joins them to the noun is the class 5 word for "of", dia. This is the genitive from the unit on possession. Seven is also a class 5 noun, and can follow its noun without dia.

Possession: the hunter's gun

A number can also come first

With people, the numbers from two to six can also go before the noun. Then they join it with kya, the class 7 word for "of", because a number that starts with ki- is itself a class 7 noun. The meaning is a group of that many.

Nouns of other classes

Other nouns do not use the ki- numbers. From two to six, the number takes the plain prefix of the noun's class, as the possessive does: i- for class 8, ji- for class 10, tu- for class 13. One agrees with the singular noun. Seven follows its noun with no prefix. Eight comes first, with dia. Chatelain prints this table for the three pairs of classes below, from one to eight.

Nine and ten follow the pattern of eight: the number, then dia, then the noun.

Points to watch

• In these phrases Chatelain prints nine without its first vowel. It is ivwa when you count on its own, and vwa before dia.
• The dictionary still lists the numbers two in class 10 and class 13 under older spellings, jiiadi and tuiadi. The modern forms jiyadi and tuyadi are written here without a link. The class 8 form iyadi has no entry at all.
• This unit stops at ten. Chatelain's pages for the numbers above ten are not part of it.

Earlier in the course

• Counting to ten
• Words for people
• Possession: the hunter's gun