desmit / simts / tūkstotis + Genitive Plural
Ten, A Hundred and a Thousand with the Genitive
After simts, tūkstotis and miljons, the noun is genitive plural: simts rožu (a hundred roses), tūkstotis cilvēku (a thousand people).
How It Works
1. Always the genitive. Simts, tūkstotis and miljons have their own endings, like nouns, so the noun after them is in the genitive plural. This is the same idea as amounts with the genitive:
- simts rožu: a hundred roses
- tūkstotis cilvēku: a thousand people
- divi miljoni cilvēku: two million people
2. Either one. After desmit, the teens (vienpadsmit to deviņpadsmit), the tens (divdesmit, trīsdesmit...) and short forms such as simt and tūkstoš, the genitive plural is traditional. The ordinary case is also correct:
- desmit dienu or desmit dienas: ten days
- divpadsmit grāmatu or divpadsmit grāmatas: twelve books
The genitive sounds a little more careful and bookish.
3. The last word decides. In a longer number, look at the last word. If it is viens to deviņi, the noun agrees with it: divdesmit pieci gadi (twenty-five years), and divdesmit viena diena (see divdesmit viens + singular).
4. After a preposition, the noun takes the case the preposition needs: ar desmit draugiem (with ten friends). See numerals in other cases.
Examples (6)
- Viņš uzdāvināja simts rožu.
He gave a hundred roses as a gift.
Word by Word: He gifted hundred of-roses.
- Stadionā bija tūkstotis cilvēku.
There were a thousand people at the stadium.
Word by Word: In-stadium was thousand of-people.
- Latvijā dzīvo gandrīz divi miljoni cilvēku.
Almost two million people live in Latvia.
Word by Word: In-Latvia live almost two millions of-people.
- Es biju Itālijā desmit dienu.
I was in Italy for ten days.
Word by Word: I was in-Italy ten of-days.
Desmit dienas is also correct here.
- Klasē ir divpadsmit skolēnu.
There are twelve pupils in the class.
Word by Word: In-class is twelve of-pupils.
Divpadsmit skolēni is also correct.
- Viņam ir divdesmit pieci gadi.
He is twenty-five years old.
Word by Word: To-him is twenty five years.
The last word, pieci, decides, so the noun is nominative plural.
Common Mistakes
Using the nominative plural after simts.
Viņš uzdāvināja simts rozes.Viņš uzdāvināja simts rožu.Simts takes the genitive plural: rožu. Note the change from z to ž.
Using the nominative plural after tūkstotis.
Stadionā bija tūkstotis cilvēki.Stadionā bija tūkstotis cilvēku.Tūkstotis takes the genitive plural: cilvēku.
Using the genitive when the number ends in one to nine.
Klasē ir divdesmit pieci skolēnu.Klasē ir divdesmit pieci skolēni.When the last word is pieci, the noun agrees with it in the nominative plural.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Desmit, simts and tūkstotis can take the genitive plural.
Related Patterns
- Genitive Plural -uGenitive Plural in -u
The noun after these numbers takes the genitive plural ending -u.
Level 2 - Numbers Above Ten
The teens and tens are the numbers that allow both cases.
Level 2 - divdesmit viens + SingularTwenty-One with the Singular
In a longer number, the last word decides the case and number of the noun.
Level 3 - Numbers in Other Cases
After a preposition, the noun takes that preposition's case: ar desmit draugiem.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice desmit / simts / tūkstotis + Genitive Plural in Bubblegum
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