Long numbersare hardly ever written out in full (except on cheques). If they are, they are writ-ten as a single word.
Numbers from ten thousandare written with spaces or, sometimes, a point every three digits: 564 297 or 564.297. Note that this differs from English, where a comma is used instead of a point.
Eine Million, eine Milliarde, eine Billionare treated as separate nouns. They are written (and spoken) separately, and have plural endings where appropriate.
Zwo is often used forzweiin speech (especially on the telephone) in order to distinguish it from drei).
Einsis the only numeral to decline regularly for gender, number and case. It has the same forms as the indefinite article (see 3.2) when used with a following noun.
Decimalsare written with a comma: 2,7 (zwei Komma sieben), 0,8 (null Komma acht), 34,75 (vierunddreißig Komma sieben fünf). Note that this differs from English, where a point is used instead of a comma.
4.18 Ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers are adjectival forms of numerals. They are formed by adding the suffixes -te or -ste to the cardinal numbers.
Note also the following uses of ordinal numbers:
4.19 Fractions
Fractions are formed by adding -el to the stem of the ordinal number. They are neuter nouns:
Fractions can be written together with common measurement words – or separately, with a small initial letter:
NB Eine Dreiviertelstunde is often treated as an independent noun, e.g. nach einer Dreiviertelstunde (‘after/in three-quarters of an hour’).
60 Adjectives, adverbs and adverbials
erstens,zweitens,drittens … firstly, secondly, thirdly …
zu zweit/zu dritt/zu viert in twos/threes/fours/as a twosome … Zu zweit ist es billiger. It’s cheaper for two.
Wir wohnen zu viert hier. There are four of us living here together.
zweit-/dritt-/viert- superlative second/third/fourth superlative Die Donau ist der zweitlängste The Danube is the second longest river
Fluss Europas. in Europe.
ein Drittel a third ein Achtel an eighth
ein Viertel a quarter ein Zehntel a tenth
in fünf Hundertstelsekunden mit einem Achtelliter in fünf hundertstelSekunden mit einem achtelLiter
For the numbers up to 20, the suffix -te is used:
For the numbers over 20, the suffix -ste is used:
In writing, ordinal numbers are indicated by a point:
The point is used when giving dates:
der zwanzigste(20th) der vierunddreißigste(34th) der hundertste(100th)
der 2.(zweite) der 23.(dreiundzwanzigste)
am4.September (spoken: vierten) am 4.9.(spoken: vierten neunten) der zweite(2nd) der zwölfte(12th) der fünfzehnte(15th) There are three irregular forms:
dererste(1st) der dritte(3rd) der siebte(7th)
4.20 Clock times, days of the week and months
In everyday speech the twelve-hour clock is used:
NB viertel vier – halb vier – dreiviertel vier look forward to the next full hour. Don’t confuse halb vier with ‘half four’!
In official contexts (timetables, TV and radio programmes, theatres, cinemas, business hours, etc.) the twenty-four-hour clock is used:
Days of the week:
4.20 Clock times, days of the week and months 61
1.00 Es ist ein Uhr/Es ist eins It’s one (o’clock)
3.00 Es ist drei (Uhr) It’s three (o’clock)
3.05 fünf (Minuten) nach drei five (minutes) past three 3.07 sieben Minuten nach drei seven minutes past three 3.10 zehn (Minuten) nach drei ten (minutes) past three 3.15 Viertel nach drei
viertel vier(S. and E. Germany) quarter past three 3.20 zwanzig nach drei
zehn vor halb vier twenty past three
3.25 fünf vor halb vier twenty-five past three
3.30 halb vier half past three/half three
3.35 fünf nach halb vier twenty-five to four
3.40 zwanzig vor vier
zehn nach halb vier twenty to four
3.45 Viertel vor vier
dreiviertel vier(S. and E. Germany) quarter to four
3.47 dreizehn Minuten vor vier thirteen minutes to four 3.50 zehn (Minuten) vor vier ten (minutes) to four 3.55 fünf (Minuten) vor vier five (minutes) to four
0.27 null Uhr siebenundzwanzig 12.27 a.m.
5.15 fünf Uhr fünfzehn 5.15 a.m.
10.30 zehn Uhr dreißig 10.30 a.m.
13.07 dreizehn Uhr sieben 1.07 p.m.
21.37 einundzwanzig Uhr siebenunddreißig 9.37 p.m.
24.00 vierundzwanzig Uhr 12.00 midnight
Sonntag Sunday Donnerstag Thursday
Montag Monday Freitag Friday
Dienstag Tuesday Samstag (esp. S. Germany)
Mittwoch Wednesday Sonnabend (esp. N. Germany) Saturday
Months of the year:
NB When discussing dates on the phone, confusion between Juni and Juli is sometimes avoided by using Juno and Julei. In Austria, January is Jänner.
4.21 Modal particles
Modal particles indicate the speaker’s attitude to what is being said. They are a typical feature of spoken German, being used to persuade the other person, establish common ground, or soften a statement or question. They can be a minefield for the learner because their meaning depends on context and emphasis. These little words can also occur as other parts of speech (e.g. aber ‘but’ as a conjunction, and vielleicht ‘perhaps’ as an adverb). When used as modal par-ticles, they are difficult to give equivalents for because English tends to use tone of voice, rather than words, to achieve similar effects. Get into the habit of listening out for them.
These examples give an idea of how they may be used:
62 Adjectives, adverbs and adverbials
aber Sabines Freund ist aber nett!
expressing surprise, makes statement into exclamation Sabine’s boyfriend’s really nice, isn’t he!
auch Ist Michael auch wirklich Sieglindes Freund?
in yes/no questions, seeks confirmation IsMichael really Sieglinde’s boyfriend?
denn Ist denn Mike Sonjas Freund?
in questions, expresses personal interest, incredulity Is Mike Sonja’s boyfriend?
doch Moritz ist dochStellas Freund, oder?
in statements, appeals for agreement if uncertain Moritz is Stella’s boyfriend, isn’t he?
eben/halt Max ist eben/haltSaras Freund.
emphasises a known or inescapable fact Well, Max is Sara’s boyfriend, after all.
eigentlich Ist Mark eigentlichSusis Freund?
makes questions sound casual Is Mark Susi’s boyfriend, do you happen to know?
etwa Ist Magnus etwaSophias Freund?
in questions, implies undesirability and invites ‘no’ Surely Magnus isn’t Sophia’s boyfriend?
ja Manfred ist jaSteffis Freund.
in statements, assumes agreement on sth. uncontroversial Manfred is Steffi’s boyfriend, of course.
mal Sag mal, ist Mario Sigrids Freund?
tones downcommands, requests, questions Tell me, is Mario Sigrid’s boyfriend?
4.21 Modal particles 63
schon Sag schon, ist Martin Sylvias Freund?
gives commands an insistent tone Go on then, tell me, is Martin Sylvia’s boyfriend?
überhaupt Ist Matthias überhauptSilkes Freund?
in questions, casts doubt on an assumption IsMatthias actually Silke’s boyfriend, anyway?
vielleicht Das ist vielleicht ein Mistkerl!
adds emotional force to exclamations He’s a real bastard, isn’t he!
wohl Besser wär’s wohl, sie macht mit ihm Schluss.
expresses probability or supposition It would probably be better if she dumped him.