Distributive câte

Level 4

The particle câte is used to form distributive numerals. It indicates that a quantity is distributed equally across a set of people, time intervals, or objects. It translates to 'each', 'at a time', or 'by [number]'.

How It Works

The invariable particle câte marks distribution or grouping.

Each: câte o prăjitură (one cake each), câte două cărți (two books each). The numeral still agrees with the noun: câte doi băieți, câte două fete.

Groups: Au intrat câte doi means 'They entered two at a time'.

Occasionally or gradually: câte un zgomot can refer to an occasional noise, and câte puțin means a little at a time.

Numeral syntax: Say câte douăzeci de mere. The usual numeral rule for de still applies; it is not simply required after every larger numeral.

Case: The particle does not change, but an accompanying article can: Am dat câte unei eleve o carte (I gave a book to one schoolgirl at a time). Prepositional constructions are another option for appropriate numerals.

Question contrast: Distributive câte is invariable even with masculine nouns. Interrogative câți/câte (how many) has a different function.

Examples (5)

  1. Copiii au intrat în clasă câte doi.

    The children entered the classroom two by two.

    Word by Word: Children-the have entered in class each two.

    Here, 'câte doi' indicates the group size in which the children moved.

  2. Am pus pe fiecare farfurie câte o prăjitură.

    I put one cake on each plate.

    Word by Word: I-have put on each plate each one cake.

    Using 'câte o' emphasizes that the distribution was equal (one per plate).

  3. Citesc câte două cărți pe lună.

    I read two books a month.

    Word by Word: I-read each two books on month.

    This expresses a regular quota or habit of two books per time interval.

  4. Învață limba română câte puțin în fiecare zi.

    He learns Romanian a little at a time every day.

    Word by Word: He-learns language Romanian each little in each day.

    'Câte puțin' is a common idiom meaning 'gradually' or 'bit by bit'.

  5. Din când în când, se mai auzea câte un zgomot.

    From time to time, a noise could be heard.

    Word by Word: From when in when, itself more heard each one noise.

    'Câte un' here conveys the intermittent, occasional nature of the noise.

Common Mistakes

  • Changing 'câte' to 'câți' for masculine nouns.

    Câți doi băieți au plecat.
    Câte doi băieți au plecat.

    In its distributive function, 'câte' is an invariable particle. It does not change to 'câți' even if the following noun is masculine plural.

  • Forgetting gender agreement for the numeral following 'câte'.

    Am cumpărat câte doi portocale.
    Am cumpărat câte două portocale.

    While 'câte' is fixed, the number must agree if it has gendered forms (like 1, 2, and compounds ending in them). 'Portocale' is feminine, so 'două' is required.

  • Omitting 'de' for distributive quantities of 20 or more.

    Am primit câte douăzeci mere.
    Am primit câte douăzeci de mere.

    Twenty requires de before the noun: câte douăzeci de mere. Larger numerals follow the usual rule for their final group of digits.

How It Connects

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Distributive câteLevel 4

Learn This First

To understand the distributive 'câte', learners need to be familiar with basic cardinal numbers and their gender agreement, as 'câte' is primarily used to distribute items in specific quantities. Additionally, familiarity with the base interrogative 'cât' helps in recognizing the morphological root of the distributive marker.

Words in This Pattern

câte