Numeral phrases inside accusative
The whole phrase is accusative, but inanimate and animate two-to-four phrases have different internal shapes.
- Animate accusative changes the numeral two-to-four to двух, трёх, четырёх and uses the noun's genitive plural: двух студе́нтов, not *два студе́нта in direct-object meaning.
- Analysis: Case belongs to the entire numeral phrase. The surface noun form inside it follows quantity and animacy syntax.
| Phrase type | Inanimate | Animate |
|---|---|---|
| 2-4 | ви́жу два стола́ | ви́жу двух студе́нтов |
| 3 | покупа́ю три кни́ги | встреча́ю трёх подру́г |
| 4 | открыва́ю четы́ре окна́ | зна́ю четырёх враче́й |
| 5+ | ви́жу пять столо́в | ви́жу пять студе́нтов |
Mini-check
1. Say 'I see two students'. 2. Say 'I see two tables'.
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.