#Difference between 100, 1000, 1000,000 for using un

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

normal roseBOT
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Please be patient

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Difference between 100, 1000, 1000,000 for using un

uneven compass
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I misunderstood the question, you're asking why « mille/cent » is said without the article whereas « million » and upwards require it?

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That's because « cent » and « mille » are numerals whereas « million » and the rest are nouns

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For the tens and hundreds, there's two ways of representing the number: Use the numeral itself or use an expression of quantity (expressions of quantity being stuff like « beaucoup de, assez de, that stuff). So, a hundred people can be either « cent personnes » or « une centaine de personnes ». Same rule is found above, a thousand people can either be « mille personnes » or « un millier de personnes ». With the expressions of quantity, you can change the noun's number to multiply it like 2 000 people would be « deux milliers de personnes », 700 would be « sept centaines de personnes », etc.

The same cannot be said for millions and up where only the expression of quantity version is available : « un million de personnes, quatre millions de personnes, etc ».

floral void
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It's even the case in English. Why do you say

I have ten cans of Cola.
without an article, but
I have a million coins in <game>
with an article?

Difference is that French just adds the article later than English does.

wary cobalt
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Thanks, makes sense. I never noticed that about English

high bridge
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mille personnes

uneven compass
high bridge
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👍