You collective numerals are those that indicate a set of beings or things within a category. Unlike the collective nouns, the collective numerals point out the exact number of beings or things. Collective numerals are variable in number (singular or plural) but not in gender (male or female).
Read too: Adjectives - word class responsible for assigning characteristics to names
Use of collective numerals
There is a difference between the numeral and the collective numeral. Let's look at some examples with only the collective numerals highlighted:
I bought one dozen of fruits, while João bought two dozens.
Due to the disease, she will have to rest for a quarantine.
Your farm had severalacre.
A sonnet consists of two quartets it's two triplets.
Quantity collective numerals
collective numeral |
Definition |
Pair |
2 units |
Pair |
2 people or things |
Crack |
3 units |
Trio |
3 people or things |
quinine |
5 units |
ten |
10 units |
Dozen |
12 units |
twenty |
20 units |
Hundred or Hundred |
100 units |
thousand or thousand |
1000 units |
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Collective numerals of days, months and years
collective numeral |
Definition |
biduo |
2 days |
triduum |
3 days |
Week |
7 days |
novena |
9 days |
Decennial |
10 days |
Fortnight |
15 days |
Month |
28-31 days |
Quarantine |
40 days |
Two months |
2 months |
Quarter |
3 months |
Quarter |
Four months |
Semester |
6 months |
Year |
12 months |
biennium |
2 years |
triennium |
3 years |
Quadrennium |
4 years |
quinquennium |
5 years |
Decade |
10 years |
vintenium |
20 years |
century or centenary |
100 years |
Millennium |
1000 years |
Collective numerals of weights and measures
collective numeral |
Definition |
at sign |
Approximately 15 kilos |
Tonne |
1000 kilos |
land mile |
1609 meters |
sea mile |
1852 meters |
Are |
100 square meters |
Hectare |
100 ares |
Collective numerals of literary verses
collective numeral |
Definition |
monastic |
1 verse |
couplet |
2 verses |
Triplet |
3 verses |
quartet or court |
4 verses |
Quintille |
5 verses |
sextile |
6 verses |
septile |
7 verses |
eighth |
8 verses |
ninth |
9 verses |
From above |
10 verses |
Agreement in collective numbers
It is important to emphasize that collective numbers vary in number, which may have its singular or plural form. Even if it is a word representing a set of something, it is possible to place it in the plural depending on the amount you want to express, keeping the agreement. Look:
Stayed two months waiting for the holidays.
Stayed atwo months waiting for the holidays.
Stayed four months waiting for the holidays.
Stayed twobimonths waiting for the holidays.
See too: How is nominal agreement achieved?
solved exercises
Question 1 - Correctly fill in the gaps using the information in parentheses:
a) We still have a _________ of this item in stock. (20 units)
b) My trip will last a ________. (Four months)
c) How many _______ does an elephant weigh? (1000 kilos)
d) I read a very short poem. There was only one ______. (6 verses)
Resolution
a) score
b) quarter
c) tons
d) sextile
Question 2 - Correct, when necessary, the information in parentheses to match the collective numeral of the statement.
a) There is an egg corner in the fridge. (15 units)
b) My trip will last a novena. (90 days)
c) The land is one hectare. (100 ares)
d) What a beautiful court in this stanza! (2 verses)
Resolution
a) Must be corrected to “5 units”.
b) Must be corrected to “9 days”.
c) It is correct.
d) Must be corrected to “4 verses”.
By Guilherme Viana
grammar teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
VIANA, William. "Collective numbers"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/numerais-coletivos.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.