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Grammar rules for numbers in different languages
Did you know that numbers are constructed differently in various languages, each following its own set of unique grammatical rules? It's fascinating to see how languages differ in their ways of expressing numerical concepts. In certain languages, noun numerals can have multiple forms depending on whether they are used in the singular, dual, few or plural form. These variations add depth and complexity to the art of counting and expressing numerical quantities. So, let's dive into the captivating world of these linguistic features and explore the wonders they hold!
Let's see the most popular types of methods of constructing numbers:
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Additive method: In this method, numbers are created by adding numerical values. For example, in English, "twenty-nine" is the addition of the number 20 ("twenty") to the number 9 ("nine").
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Reverse Method: In this method, numbers are formed by combining different numerical values - starting from smaller numbers to larger ones. For example, in German, 29 is "neunundzwanzig" which is translated literally as "nine-and-twenty". It is a combination of the number 9 ("neun"), the word "und" (and), and the number 20 ("zwanzig").
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Multiplicative method: In this method, numbers are created by multiplying numerical values. For example, in French, 80 "quatre-vingts" literally meaning "four twenties". French has a unique counting system by 20, influenced by ancient Celtic population. These factors led to the development of distinct patterns for counting in French, adding complexity to the language's numerical system.
It's worth noticing that different languages have different number systems and ways of constructing numbers.
In many languages when we naming large numbers, we jumping over power of the 3, for examople 10^3 is thousand, 10^6 million, 10^9 is miliard. For example, when we have number 123456789 we splitting it by 3 numbers - 123.456.789 and then naming it 123 millions, 456 thousands and 789. It is not done that way in every langauge, for example in indian, it is done different way. It is named by 10^3 is thousand, 10^5 is lakh, 10^7 is crore, 10^12 is lakh crore. Numbers are splitted differently - 123456789 is 12.34.56.789 - tvelve lakh crore, thirty-four crores, fifty-six lakhs and 789.