Counting Things

Level 1

Put the number first, and make the noun plural when there is more than one.

How It Works

SubjectObject
unu katounu katon
du katojdu katojn
tri librojtri librojn

The number never changes. Only the noun takes -j and -n, so du stays du in du katojn. The word unu follows the same rule: write unu katon, never unun katon.

The noun after a number above one is plural, even though the number already shows how many: tri katoj, not tri kato. Esperanto has no word for a or an, so unu is used when the count matters.

When you order drinks, the noun counts the servings, so du kafojn, bonvolu asks for two coffees.

Examples (5)

  1. Ewa havas unu hundon.

    Ewa has one dog.

    Unu goes with a singular noun that adds only -n.

  2. Mi havas du fratojn.

    I have two brothers.

    Du stays plain; the noun adds -jn.

  3. Jen sep pomoj.

    Here are seven apples.

    Sep needs the plural pomoj, and there is no -n after jen.

  4. Tomasz legas kvin librojn.

    Tomasz reads five books.

    The number stays kvin; the noun carries -jn.

  5. Du kafojn, bonvolu!

    Two coffees, please!

    The noun counts the cups, and -n marks what is ordered.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the noun singular after a number above one.

    Mi havas tri hundo.
    Mi havas tri hundojn.

    After tri the noun must be plural, and as the object it also takes -n.

  • Adding -n to unu.

    Mi havas unun katon.
    Mi havas unu katon.

    Unu never takes -n. Only the noun does.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Counting ThingsLevel 1

Learn This First

A number goes before a noun that is plural for anything above one.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.