Expressing quantity (1)

1 Numbers

1.1 Definitions

A cardinal number is one used in counting, like un, deux or trois. An ordinal number is one which indicate the place something occupies in a sequence, e.g. deuxième, troisième.

There are three words in French for the English word number. Nombre, which can refer to the units of mathematical calculation (le nombre quatorze, un nombre impair) and to the quantity of something (un grand nombre de personnes); numéro, which serves to characterize something in a group of similar things or to classify them in a series (le numéro d’une maison, d’un passeport, d’un navire); and chiffre which is a number written on a page (une liste de chiffres).

1.2 Hyphens

When writing numbers, hyphens are used in compound numbers except before and after et, cent and mille:

dix-sept, cinquante-cinq, quatre-vingt-onze

seventeen, fifty-five, ninety-one

but

trente et un, cent dix, mille, deux cents

thirty-one, one hundred and ten, a thousand

1.3 Numbers taking -s

Numbers are for the most part invariable , that is to say they do not take an -e when modifying a feminine noun , or an -s in the plural. Note the following:

1.3.1 Quatre, mille

Quatre and mille never take an -s.

quatre autres personnes

4 other people

trois mille

3000

1.3.2 Million, milliard

Million and milliard are always followed by de when used before a noun , always take an -s when multiplied:

Un million / milliard de francs

One million / billion francs   

Trois millions / milliards de francs

Three million / billion francs

1.3.3 Vingt, cent

Vingt and cent take an -s when they are multiplied, unless they are followed by another number.

deux cents, quatre-vingts

two hundred, eighty

but

deux cent cinquante, quatre-vingt-dix

two hundred and fifty, ninety

1.3.4 Un, une

Un takes an -e before a feminine noun :

Deux cent vingt et une pages

Two hundred and twenty-one pages

1.4 Dates

In dates mille, mil and dix are acceptable:

En mil neuf cent trente-neuf

En mille neuf cent trente-neuf

En dix-neuf cent trente-neuf

In nineteen thirty-nine

1.5 Use with le

When naming numbers they are introduced by le. Note that with onze, le and not l' is used:

Il suffit de taper le 36 15

Simply dial 36 15

On a pris rendez-vous pour le onze mai

We arranged a meeting for 11 May

1.6 Ordinal numbers

An ordinal number is formed by adding the suffix -ième to the cardinal number form. If the cardinal ends in an -e, this -e is dropped. Exceptions are premier and second. Note also spelling changes in cinquième and neuvième.

The word second (the c being pronounced like a hard g) is sometimes used as an alternative to the more common deuxième. When referring to the Second World War, one can use either, but note the use of upper case and lower case :

la Seconde / Deuxième Guerre mondiale

2 Fractions

All fractions, with the exception of moitié, are masculine .

2.1 Used on their own

When used on their own they take the indefinite article when singular (un cinquième) and no article (Ø) when plural (sept huitièmes).

2.2 Followed by a noun

When the fraction is followed by a noun , it is generally preceded by a definite article le or les. In less formal language, however, the rule for fractions used on their own can apply (although plural fractions tend to take les if they do not come at the beginning of their clause , as in the second example below):

Il a fait le / un tiers du travail

He did a / one third of the work

Il a bu les deux tiers d'une bouteille de vin

He drank two-thirds of a bottle of wine

Les /Ø trois quarts de la ville sont inondés

Three-quarters of the town is flooded

Les / Ø trois quarts de sa fortune

Three-quarters of his / her wealth

Les / Ø neuf dixièmes de cette somme

Nine-tenths of this amount

French accomodates structures involving fractions less easily than English, and the tendency in some cases is to change to percentages:

To be a third higher / less (than)

Être à 30% de plus / de moins (que)

To be a third of

Être à 30% de

2.3 Expressing half

Demi generally precedes the noun it qualifies, and in this case it is invariable (i.e. does not agree) and is followed by a hyphen: une demi-bouteille. However, when it stands after the noun it must agree in gender : une bouteille et demie. In arithmetic demi is used on its own whilst moitié is used when there is a defined object :

Quatre plus un demi font quatre et demi

Four plus a half equals four and a half

Dix plus la moitié de trente font vingt-cinq

Ten plus half of thirty equals twenty-five

3 Numerals

3.1 Decimals / spacers

The number 6,5 (in French) = 6.5 (in English) 6.500.000 (in French) = 6,500,000 (in English)  But both properly speaking should be written 6 500 000

3.2 Spoken form of million

6.000.000 francs (in written French) is spoken as six millions de francs But 6.500.000 francs (in written French) is spoken as six millions cinq cent mille francs

3.3 Spoken form of mathematical operations

30 + 3 = 33   is spoken as 30 plus 3 font / égalent 33

30 - 3 = 27   is spoken as 30 moins 3 égalent 27

30 x 3 = 90   is spoken as 3 fois 30 égale 90

3.4 Written / spoken form of divisions

30 : 3 = 10   is the way the French write the English 30 ÷ 3 = 10

30 : 3 = 10is spoken as 30 divisé par 3 égale 10.

3.5 Written / spoken form of powers

cinq au carré

five squared

cinq puissance trois

five cubed

racine carré de seize

The square root of sixteen

4 Distance, dimensions

Note that the French construction for expressing distance is different to that in English:

Manchester is 400 kilometres (away) from London

Manchester est à 400 kilomètres de Londres

Questions can be phrased as follows:

Combien y a-t-il de Manchester à Londres?

Quelle distance y a-t-il de Manchester à Londres?

A combien (de kilomètres) est Manchester de Londres?

A quelle distance est Manchester de Londres?

How far is it between Manchester and London / from Manchester to London?

What is the distance between Manchester and London / from Manchester to London?

Note the construction when expressing dimensions:

La planche fait 2 mètres de long / est longue de 2 mètres

The plank is two metres long

La table fait 3 mètres de long sur 1 de large

The table is 3 metres long by 1 metre wide

Un cercle de 40cm de circonférence

A circle with a circumferance of 40cm

5 Price

Prices are preceded by à when indicating a rate:

Deux timbres à 50 centimes, s’il vous plaît

Two 30 pence stamps, please

Note the use of pour to indicate a quantity of something in terms of price:

Il a commandé pour 2000 francs de vin

He ordered 2000 francs' worth of wine

Note also that prices introduced by the verbs vendre, payer and acheter do not need a preceding preposition , like for in English:

Je l'ai vendu / acheté / payé mille francs

I bought / sold it for a thousand francs / I paid a thousand francs for it

6 Pronunciation

6.1 Six, huit and dix

The final consonants of six, huit and dix are sounded when these words are used on their own. Otherwise they are only sounded:

6.1.1 Liaison

When there is a liaison (six ans: here the x is pronounced like a z)

6.1.2 Sense of ordinal number

When it has the sense of an ordinal number in titles like Henri VIII, Charles X but not in dates (le 6 mai is generally pronounced "le si mai")

 6.1.3 Final word

When it is the final word in a phrase:

Je lui ai donné six

I gave him / her six

6.2 Other pronunciation

6.2.1 Neuf

The f of neuf is sounded v in liaison with ans and heures.

6.2.1 Vingt

The t of vingt is sounded before et, and can be sounded in the numbers 22-29 (e.g. vingt-quatre), but is not sounded in 81-99 (e.g. quatre-vingt-treize).

6.2.2 Cent

The t of cent is not sounded before un (as in deux cent un).

6.2.3 No liaison

Except in dix-huit and vingt-huit, there is no liaison with huit, onze, huitième and onzième (so that in les onze livres the -s on the end of les is not pronounced).

7 Dates

A cardinal number is used to indicate all days of the month except the first: le premier avril, but le deux avril. Months and days of the week are masculine , and are spelt in the lower case unless they begin a sentence.

8 Verb agreements

8.1 Collective subjects

Where the subject of a verb is a collective noun as in le gouvernement, la société, tout le monde etc., the verb is usually singular :

Le gouvernement a pris des mesures pour baisser le chômage

The government has / have taken steps to reduce unemployment

8.2 Expressions of quantity

Where the subject of a verb is governed by an expression of quantity such as beaucoup des, la plupart des, la moitié, bien des, tant de and bon nombre de, the verb is usually plural when referring to plural entities:

La plupart des électeurs sont d’accord avec les mesures

The majority of voters agree with the measures

Note, however, that la majorité is an exception to this:

La majorité des électeurs est d’accord avec les mesures

The majority of voters agree with the measures

9 Measurements

Whilst the French system of weights and measurements is exclusively metric, Britain uses both metric and non-metric (Imperial) systems. When translating between the two languages it is important to convert from one system to the other. For the most part this conversion can be approximate and not exact, although in some circumstances exactness is required.

9.1 Length / height / distance

9.2 Weight / area / volume

9.3 Temperature

9.4 Clothing sizes