Syntax of number 5 et al.

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Overview

The numbers 5-20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 all work similarly. In the oblique cases, they are adjectival. In the nominative case they are followed by the genitive plural of the nouns and adjectives. In the accusative case the number copies the nominative case which is again followed by the genitive plural of nouns and adjectives.

Nominative phrases

When the number 5 and similar numbers are in nominative number phrases, they are followed by the genitive plural of nouns and adjectives:

Вот пять новых книг. Here are five new books.
Сорок усталых туристов жаловались на понос. Forty tired tourists complained of diarrhea.
В этом колледже учатся девятьсот студентов. Nine hundred students attend this college.

If an adjective comes before the number, it is usually in the nominative plural. The adjectives that come before numbers in this context are usually forms of весь, тот and этот.

Эти пять девушек хорошо знают французский язык. These five women know French well.
Все девяносто солдат заболели гриппом. All ninety soldiers came down with the flue.
Первые тридцать минут этого фильма — самые интересные. The first thirty minutes of this film are the most interesting.

Oblique phrases

When the number 5 and similar numbers are in oblique number phrases, they appear in the same case as the noun they quantify. That noun is always in the plural. Any adjectives before and after the number are also in the plural of that case.

Gen Моя зарплата повысилась до девятисот долларов. My salary increased to nine hundred dollars.
Моя зарплата повысилась до девятисот австралийских долларов. My salary increased to nine hundred Australian dollars.
Моя зарплата повысилась до невероятных девятисот австралийских долларов. My salary increased to an unbelievable nine hundred Australian dollars.
Pre Ядовитые отходы были обнаружены в пятистах деревнях. Toxic wastes were discovered in 500 villages.
Ядовитые отходы были обнаружены в пятистах украинских деревнях. Toxic wastes were discovered in 500 Ukrainian villages.
Ядовитые отходы были обнаружены в ближайших пятистах украинских деревнях. Toxic wastes were discovered in the nearest 500 Ukrainian villages.
Dat Я дал деньги пяти студентам. I gave money to five students.
Я дал деньги пяти новым студентам. I gave money to five new students.
Я дал деньги этим пяти новым студентам. I gave money to these five new students.
Inst Я ссорился с сорока американцами. I quarreled with forty Americans.
Я ссорился с сорока молодыми американцами. I quarreled with forty young Americans.
Я постоянно ссорился с теми сорока молодыми американцами. I constantly quarreled with those forty young Americans.

Accusative phrases

When the number five and similar numbers appear in number phrases in the accusative case, the copy the nominative case with a single exception: a prequantifier adjective in a phrase that quantifies an animate noun will copy the genitive case; i.e., its form is like the genitive plural.

Я вижу те пять журналов. I see those five magazines.
Я вижу тех пять мальчиков. I see those five boys.
Мы купили все сорок машин. We bought all forty cars.
Мы купили всех сорок коров. We bought all forty cows.

Verbal agreement

If the subject of a verb is a nominative number phrase that contains the number 5 or similar numbers, the verb may appear either as a plural form or a neuter singular form. If the speaker/writer uses the plural form of the verb, then each member of the number phrase may be thought of as an individual; if the the neuter singular form of the verb is used, then the group may be thought of as a single unit. Consider these four examples from «Справочник по правописанию и стилистике» Дитмара Эльяшевича Розенталя (изданный ИК "Комплект" в 1997 году):

1. Пять солдат отправилось в разведку. Five soldiers headed out on recon.
2. Пять солдат отправились в разведку. Five soldiers headed out on recon.
3. К началу экзамена явилось десять студентов. Ten students showed up by the beginning of the exam.
4. Десять студентов окончили институт с отличием. Ten students graduated with honors.

In example (1) the writer may have in mind that all five soldiers went out on recon together as a single group. In (2) the writer may have in mind the each of the five soldiers went out on his own separate recon patrol. In (3) the writer has in mind just the number of students, not details of how each student is individually interesting. In (4) the writer has in mind that each student individually performed in such a way as to receive honors.

If the nominative number phrase is preceded by an adjective in the nominative plural, only the plural form of the verb is possible:

Все пять студентов пришли вовремя. All five students arrived on time.
Мои три подруги подарили мне часы на день рождения. My three friends gave me a watch for my birthday.

Rev. 11:52 AM 4/18/2010