One to Four in All Cases
tveir strákar (two boys), but með tveimur strákum (with two boys): the numbers one to four change with the case of the noun.
How It Works
One (einn).
- Masculine: einn, einn, einum, eins
- Feminine: ein, eina, einni, einnar
- Neuter: eitt, eitt, einu, eins
For example: Ég á einn bróður og eina systur (I have one brother and one sister). With a plural-only noun, einn goes into the plural: einar buxur (one pair of trousers).
Two, three and four. The forms are given in the order nominative, accusative, dative, genitive:
- tveir: masculine tveir, tvo, tveimur, tveggja; feminine tvær, tvær, tveimur, tveggja; neuter tvö, tvö, tveimur, tveggja
- þrír: masculine þrír, þrjá, þremur, þriggja; feminine þrjár, þrjár, þremur, þriggja; neuter þrjú, þrjú, þremur, þriggja
- fjórir: masculine fjórir, fjóra, fjórum, fjögurra; feminine fjórar, fjórar, fjórum, fjögurra; neuter fjögur, fjögur, fjórum, fjögurra
Shortcuts. For two to four, only the masculine changes between the nominative and accusative (tveir → tvo, þrír → þrjá, fjórir → fjóra), and the dative and genitive are the same for all three genders. tveim and þrem are shorter dative forms you will also see.
Where you meet the other cases.
- Dative after prepositions: fyrir tveimur árum (two years ago, see fyrir), með þremur vinum.
- Accusative for objects: Ég keypti tvo miða (I bought two tickets).
- Genitive for age: Hún er fjögurra ára (see saying your age).
From five to twenty, numbers do not change: með fimm vinum (see numbers five to twenty). In bigger numbers, a last part from one to four still changes: með tuttugu og tveimur vinum (with twenty-two friends, see numbers above twenty).
Examples (5)
- Ég flutti hingað fyrir tveimur árum.
I moved here two years ago.
Word by Word: I moved hither before two years.
fyrir with a time in the dative means "ago", so the number is dative too: tveimur.
- Hún fór í bíó með þremur vinum sínum.
She went to the cinema with three of her friends.
Word by Word: She went in cinema with three friends her-own.
- Ég á tvo bræður og eina systur.
I have two brothers and one sister.
Word by Word: I own two brothers and one sister.
Both numbers are in the accusative, as objects of eiga.
- Dóttir mín er fjögurra ára.
My daughter is four years old.
Word by Word: Daughter my is of-four years.
- Við keyptum þrjár bækur og fjögur póstkort.
We bought three books and four postcards.
bók is feminine (þrjár), póstkort is neuter (fjögur).
Common Mistakes
Using the nominative number with a dative noun.
Ég flutti hingað fyrir tvö árum.Ég flutti hingað fyrir tveimur árum.árum is dative, so the number must be dative too: tveimur.
Using the nominative for a masculine object.
Ég á tveir bræður.Ég á tvo bræður.bræður is the object of eiga and is in the accusative. The masculine accusative of tveir is tvo.
Using the nominative number for an age.
Hún er fjögur ára.Hún er fjögurra ára.Age is said with the genitive: fjögurra ára, "of four years".
How It Connects
Learn This First
One to four in all cases build on the numbers and the genitive.
Related Patterns
- Numbers Above Twenty
Numbers above twenty, where a last part from one to four still changes: tuttugu og tveimur.
Level 2 - ég er ... áraSaying Your Age
Ages use the genitive: tveggja ára, fjögurra ára.
Level 1 - fyrirFor and Ago (Fyrir)
fyrir + dative gives "ago": fyrir tveimur árum.
Level 2 - The Dative (þágufall)
The case the numbers take after many prepositions.
Level 2 - Plural-Only Nouns (buxur, dyr)
Nouns like buxur are counted with the plural of einn: einar buxur.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice One to Four in All Cases in Bubblegum
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