I'm getting so confused about the distributive numbers. I understand all the others, but I can't understand how to use the distributives.
How are they used?
Numbers...
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You can use them where you would 'each' in English:
Ariovistus et Caesar denos equites adduxerant:
Ariovustus and Caesar each brought 10 horsemen. (that's 20 in total).
And they are used for multiplication:
Bis bina sunt quattuor: 2 * 2 = 4
Ter centena sunt trecenta: 3 * 100 = 300
Hope this helps,
Ingrid
Ariovistus et Caesar denos equites adduxerant:
Ariovustus and Caesar each brought 10 horsemen. (that's 20 in total).
And they are used for multiplication:
Bis bina sunt quattuor: 2 * 2 = 4
Ter centena sunt trecenta: 3 * 100 = 300
Hope this helps,
Ingrid
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The numeric system has quite a few uses that are not very obvious, distributives and numeral adverbs in particular:
bina castra means "two camps" and duo castra means "two forts". terni and trini, both distributives of tres, can be used quite differently as well.
I recommend you study sections 136 and 137 of the almost omniscient Allen & Greenough if you want a really good explanation (perhaps shorter than we would like...):
http://www.textkit.com/files/AG_New_Lat ... df#page=72
bina castra means "two camps" and duo castra means "two forts". terni and trini, both distributives of tres, can be used quite differently as well.
I recommend you study sections 136 and 137 of the almost omniscient Allen & Greenough if you want a really good explanation (perhaps shorter than we would like...):
http://www.textkit.com/files/AG_New_Lat ... df#page=72
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae