півтора/півтори

Півтора and Півтори

Level 4Sounds Like pívtora/pívtori

The numerals півтора (masc./neut.) and півтори (fem.) mean 'one and a half'. They are indeclinable, but they govern the genitive singular in direct cases (Nom/Acc) and the plural in all oblique cases (Gen/Dat/Ins/Loc).

How It Works

In Ukrainian, 'one and a half' and 'one hundred and fifty' are expressed using indeclinable fractional numerals:

  • півтора: Used with masculine and neuter nouns.
  • півтори: Used with feminine nouns.
  • півтораста: Used for 'one hundred and fifty' regardless of gender.

Case Governance Rules:
These numerals never change their form. The noun they modify follows these rules:
1. In the Nominative and Accusative (direct cases), the noun must be in the Genitive Singular for півтора/півтори. For півтораста, the noun is always in the Genitive Plural.
2. In oblique cases (Genitive, Dative, Instrumental, and Locative), the noun must be in the Plural form of that specific case (e.g., Genitive Plural, Dative Plural, etc.).

Examples (5)

  1. Будівництво тривало півтора року.

    The construction lasted one and a half years.

    Word by Word: Construction lasted one-and-a-half year.

    In the accusative case (duration), the masculine noun 'рік' takes the genitive singular form 'року' after 'півтора'.

  2. Ми чекали на автобус півтори години.

    We waited for the bus for one and a half hours.

    Word by Word: We waited for bus one-and-a-half hour.

    In the accusative case, the feminine noun 'година' takes the genitive singular form 'години' after 'півтори'.

  3. Він виграв півтораста гривень.

    He won one hundred and fifty hryvnias.

    Word by Word: He won one-hundred-and-fifty hryvnias.

    'Півтораста' (150) always governs the genitive plural of the noun, regardless of the case.

  4. Після півтора місяців очікування ми отримали відповідь.

    After one and a half months of waiting, we received an answer.

    Word by Word: After one-and-a-half months waiting we received answer.

    The preposition 'після' governs the genitive case. Since the genitive is an oblique case, the noun 'місяць' must be in the plural form 'місяців'.

  5. Він поділився новиною з півтораста колегами.

    He shared the news with one hundred and fifty colleagues.

    Word by Word: He shared news with one-hundred-and-fifty colleagues.

    In the instrumental case, the noun 'колеги' takes the plural ending '-ами' while 'півтораста' remains unchanged.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the genitive singular in oblique cases like the genitive or dative.

    після півтора року
    після півтора років

    The genitive singular is only used when the whole phrase is in the nominative or accusative. In all other cases (oblique cases), including the genitive after prepositions like 'після', the noun must be plural.

  • Using the masculine 'півтора' for feminine nouns.

    півтора години
    півтори години

    You must use 'півтори' when the noun is feminine (like година, склянка, or доба).

  • Using the singular noun in the instrumental or dative cases.

    з півтори години
    з півтори годинами

    While the numeral itself is indeclinable, the noun must switch to the plural form in the dative, instrumental, and locative cases.

How It Connects

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півтора/півториLevel 4Півтора and Півтори

Learn This First

To use 'півтора' and 'півтори' correctly, a learner must distinguish between masculine/neuter and feminine nouns and be able to decline those nouns into the genitive singular case.

Words in This Pattern

півтора