Numbers and quantities

Read quantities and prices, and choose the noun form that goes with the number.

One, two to four, five or more

For these simple quantities: один билет, два/три/четыре билета, пять билетов. One agrees with gender: одна книга, одно окно. Two has a feminine form: две книги. These are counting patterns, not a rule for every case.

На столе одна чашка и две тарелки.: There is one cup and two plates on the table.
Мне нужны три билета. У кассы пять человек.: I need three tickets. There are five people at the ticket office.
В сумке одно яблоко, а дома четыре яблока.: There is one apple in the bag, and four apples at home.

Quantity or position?

Два answers how many. Второй identifies a position. A nominative ordinal agrees with the noun: первый урок, первая встреча, первое письмо.

Сегодня два урока. Первый урок — русский язык.: There are two lessons today. The first lesson is Russian.
Это вторая остановка. До вокзала ещё одна.: This is the second stop. There is one more before the station.

Prices and age

Use рубль/рубля/рублей for prices and год/года/лет for age. With larger whole numbers, the ending usually follows the last number, but 11–14 take рублей/лет: 21 рубль, 22 рубля, 25 рублей, 12 рублей. Age uses a dative person: мне, тебе, ему, ей.

Марка стоит один рубль, а конверт — три рубля.: A stamp costs one rouble, and an envelope costs three roubles.
Дочке два года, а сыну пять лет.: The daughter is two years old, and the son is five.
Мне двадцать один год. Сестре двенадцать лет.: I am twenty-one years old. My sister is twelve.

Check the difference

Read eight short situations and choose the answer that fits.

Write the word form

Complete five short sentences. Write only the missing word or phrase.

Shopping for a get-together

Ask a friend to buy what you need, within a budget.

At the shops

Ask about quantities and prices in a separate conversation.

Open conversation →