A Handbook of the English Language

Chapter 100

Chapter 10075 wordsPublic domain

THE CARDINAL NUMBERS.

ยง 261. Generally speaking, the greater part of the cardinal numbers are undeclined. As far as _number_ goes, this is necessary.

_One_ is naturally and exclusively _singular_.

_Two_ is naturally _dual_.

The rest are naturally and exclusively _plural_.

As to the inflection of gender and case, there is no reason why all the numerals should not be as fully inflected as the Latin _unus, una, unum_, _unius_. It is a mere habit of our language that they are not so in English.

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