numbers

[Stephanus]

Quot sunt qu[i-long:21y1x55z][/i-long:21y1x55z]nque et [u-long:21y1x55z][/u-long:21y1x55z]num?

Why is it [u-long:21y1x55z][/u-long:21y1x55z]num instead of [u-long:21y1x55z][/u-long:21y1x55z]nus?

 

[Matthaeus]

It's just a plain number not signifying or modifying any noun.

 

[Stephanus]

Do you mean quot sunt qu[i-long:3ialc6kc][/i-long:3ialc6kc]nque et [u-long:3ialc6kc][/u-long:3ialc6kc]nus is also O.K.?

 

[Matthaeus]

nope, it has to be neuter because it isn't saying how much three or five of anything. klar?

 

[Manus Correctrix]

Why is it [u-long:3ezbna95][/u-long:3ezbna95]num instead of [u-long:3ezbna95][/u-long:3ezbna95]nus?

Why would it be unus instead of unum?

 

[Nikolaos]

The number, as a noun rather than an adjective, is neuter.

 

[Stephanus]

Why is it [u-long:2vk5geiv][/u-long:2vk5geiv]num instead of [u-long:2vk5geiv][/u-long:2vk5geiv]nus?

Why would it be unus instead of unum?

Numerus is masculine, isnt it?

 

[Nikolaos]

If you were saying numerus, it would be -us, but it's not necessarily implied. It's just the abstract concept of ūnum by itself.

 

[Stephanus]

Thanks

 

[Imber Ranae]

If you were saying numerus, it would be -us, but it's not necessarily implied. It's just the abstract concept of ūnum by itself.

This isn't really an abstract concept of number, though. A better way of putting it is that neuter is naturally the default gender when you're referring to some undefined thing. It's like you're saying "five things and one thing are how many things?"