1 Cardinal numbers in adjectival function
In adjectival function, the cardinal numbers are used to count.
- Position and complements
Cardinal numbers (cero, uno, dos, tres…) functioning as determiners are usually placed before a noun.
Tengo tres hermanas.
Dame cinco euros.
Although may also be far from the noun in some popular uses.
Hermanas tengo tres.
Euros dame cinco.
They are placed behind the subject pronouns.
Ve con ellos dos.
Os lo digo a vosotros tres.
They may be preceded by definite article, but not by indefinite.
Los tres coches son míos. (= There are only three cars)
Tres coches son míos. (= There are more than three cars)
They may be preceded by possessive adjectives.
Sus tres perros son pastores alemanes.
Se lo preguntaré a mis dos vecinas.
The cardinal numbers from number two on only maybe used with nouns in plural: dos libros, mil botellas.
- Between tens and units y is used, except if the ten is cero.
59 (Read: cincuenta y nueve.)
107 (Read: ciento siete.)
The exception is Las Mil y Una Noches.
- Veintiún, treinta y un, etc. combine with nouns in plural.
41 libros (Read: cuarenta y un libros.)
201 personas (Read: doscientas una personas.)
Uno and veintiuno are shortened before masculine nouns: un and veintiún.
Un libro
Veintiún libros
Also before the feminine nouns beginning by stressed a.
Veintiún almas
Cuarenta y un hachas
But not counting: uno, dos, cuatro…, veintiuno, veintidós, veintitrés…
- Ciento is shortened cien before masculine or feminine nouns, before a number in multiplier function and before a noun preceded by adjective.
Cien libros
Cien mil libros
Cien fantásticos libros
The forms cien and ciento are used to count: noventa y nueve, cien, ciento uno, ciento dos, ciento tres…
The multiple of hundred, i.e. the numbers ending in -cientos, -cientas, also undergo variation in gender.
Doscientas personas
Doscientos libros
- Mil is invariable.
Mil libros
Dos mil libros
Siete mil libros
If a number formed by a cardinal with variation in gender is followed by mil, the first one may agree with the noun, according to the modern use, or keep the masculine.
Veintiuna mil cerillas modern
Veintiún mil cerillas traditional
- Millón, billón and trillón have variation in number: un millón, dos millones, un billón, siete billones, un trillón, cuatrocientos trillones.
In addition millón / millones and billón / billones need the preposition de before the noun.
Cinco millones de personas
Dos billones de dólares
- Cero is followed by noun in plural.
Tengo cero posibilidades de aprobar.
Cada mujer tiene 0,7 hijos.
2 The cardinal numbers in substantive function
In substantive function, the cardinal numbers are used to name.
- The cardinal numbers in substantive function are masculine: el uno, el mil, un nueve, un ocho.
As nouns may have plural.
He quitado los ochos y los nueves de la baraja.
Ha ganado con el cinco de oros.
- They are nouns referring to whole numbers.
3 + 4 = 7
They may appear after a noun.
La página 27
El número 15
- Uno and the derivatives of cien, doscientos, trescientos, etc. have variation in gender.
La página doscientas diez
La página cuatrocientas
Ciento is used as noun in expressions like:
“Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.”
5 % (Léase: cinco por ciento.)
La página ciento cinco