Romanian Numbers - Collective Numbers

Collective Numbers

Collective numbers are used when all members of a group are referred to by their number, like English all four wheels. Generally, for sets of more than a few elements, the word toţi / toate ("all", masculine / feminine) is used together with the cardinal number. The use of the demonstrative cei / cele is optional in the nominative-accusative, but required in the genitive-dative. The genitive-dative form is tuturor celor for both genders. In the following examples note that the modified noun always has the nominative form, and that the definite article goes to the demonstrative where it is used:

• nominative-accusative:
  • masculine: toţi şapte piticii, toţi cei şapte pitici "all seven dwarfs";
  • feminine: toate trei fiicele, toate cele trei fiice "all three daughters";
• genitive-dative:
  • tuturor celor şapte pitici "of/to all seven dwarfs";
  • tuturor celor trei fiice "of/to all three daughters";
• genitive (another pattern, using the preposition a):
  • numele a toţi şapte piticii, numele a toţi cei şapte pitici "the names of all seven dwarfs";
  • numele a toate trei fiicele, numele a toate cele trei fiice "the names of all three daughters";
• dative (another pattern, using the preposition la):
  • le-am spus la toţi şapte piticii, le-am spus la toţi cei şapte pitici "I told all seven dwarfs";
  • le-am spus la toate trei fiicele, le-am spus la toate cele trei fiice "I told all three daughters".