Re: Cases, again

Hi!

Michael Poxon <m.poxon@...> writes:
> case for what may appear to be non-grammatical reasons. I believe Russian
> nouns go into the genitive after the number 5 for instance - so you have
> "two men" but "five of men".
Almost, but to add more confusion, the situation is slightly more
complicated :-))):

   1 + the case the phrase is in
          : odna komnata (nom)   - one room
          : odnu komnatu (acc)   - one room
          : odni komnati (gen)   - of one room
          : ...

   2..4  + genitive singular
          : dve komnati (gen.sg.) - two rooms, lit.: 'two of a room'

   5.. + genitive plural
          : pjat' komnat (gen.pl.) - five rooms, lit.: 'five of rooms'

And:
   21, 31, etc.         ~ 1
   22..24, 32..34, etc. ~ 2.. 4
   25..,   35..         ~ 5

Of course, this is in full sync with your point. :-)

**Henrik

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