Wednesday 13 February 2008

(19) Ordinal numbers, fractions, and number of categories

1) Ordinal numbers are formed by adding ke to the corresponding cardinal numbers:

1st ke satu (Sometimes, pertama is used instead of ke satu)
2nd ke dua
3rd ke tiga
4th ke empat
5th ke lima
6th ke enam
7th ke tujuh
8th ke delapan
9th ke sembilan
.
.
.
Etc.

2) Fractions

The symbol / (slash) of the fraction is called per in Indonesian numbers.

½ setengah, separuh, or satu per dua
¼ seperempat, or satu per empat (you may notice here that se stands for satu)
¾ tiga per empat
5/6 lima per enam
Etc.

3) Number of categories

Look at the following examples:

A monkey seekor monyet
2 monkeys dua ekor monyet
General rule: number + ekor + animal(s)
(Originally, ekor means tail (of animals))

A person seorang
2 persons dua orang
General rule: number + orang

An apple sebuah apel
A car sebuah mobil
3 books tiga buah buku
General rule: number + buah + object(s)
(Originally, buah means fruit.)

A piece of paper sehelai kertas
2 pieces of paper dua helai kertas
General rule: number+ helai + thin object(s)
(Sometimes, lembar is used instead of helai.)

A cigar/cigarette sebatang cerutu/rokok
A tree sebatang pohon
General rule: number + batang + long or slender object(s)

In all cases, the object form does not change even though it changes from single to plural, i.e.
mobil remains mobil (sebuah mobil becomes dua buah mobil) in contrast to “a car becomes two cars” or an ox becomes two oxen, or a leaf becomes two leaves.

You got it?

Regards,

Ika

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