duo / tres (Two and Three)

Two and Three in Every Case

Level 4

Change duo and tres like adjectives, and leave the numbers from four to ten alone.

How It Works

Caseduo (m.)duo (f.)duo (n.)tres (m. and f.)tres (n.)
nominativeduoduaeduotrestria
genitiveduorumduarumduorumtriumtrium
dativeduobusduabusduobustribustribus
accusativeduosduasduotrestria
ablativeduobusduabusduobustribustribus

The numbers from four to ten do not change at all: quattuor, quinque, sex, septem, octo, novem, decem. Of the small numbers, only unus, duo and tres take case endings.

The number agrees with its noun in gender and case: cum duobus amicis has the ablative twice.

Examples (5)

  1. Duas sorores habeo.

    I have two sisters.

    Duas is accusative feminine plural, like sorores.

  2. Cum duobus amicis in forum eo.

    I go to the forum with two friends.

    Duobus is ablative plural after cum, like amicis.

  3. Marcus in tribus villis habitat.

    Marcus lives in three houses.

    Tribus is ablative plural after in, like villis.

  4. Non habemus hic nisi quinque panes et duos pisces.

    We have only five loaves and two fish here.

    From Matthew 14:17. Duos is accusative masculine plural. Quinque never changes.

  5. Sacerdos duos libros ad altare portat.

    The priest carries two books to the altar.

    Duos is accusative masculine plural, like libros.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving duo unchanged.

    Cum duo amicis in forum eo.
    Cum duobus amicis in forum eo.

    Duo changes with its noun. After cum the ablative is needed, so the number must be duobus, like amicis.

How It Connects

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

duo / tres (Two and Three)Level 4Two and Three in Every Case

Learn This First

Duo and tres change by case, so the numbers one to ten and third-family adjectives come first.

Words in This Pattern

duotres