Fractions

Introduction

We use fractions to indicate partial amounts. We find them in maths as well as cooking recipes (½ litre water).

Construction

1/2 duon… 1/10 dekon…
1/3 trion… 1/20 dudekon…
1/4 kvaron… 1/100 centon…
1/5 kvinon… 1/1000 milon…

Numerator

We use a cardinal number as the numerator (the number above the line). We usually leave out the number one.

Denominator

We use the ending -ona as the denominator (the number below the line) when the fraction is used as an adjective.

Example:
En tiu glaso estas duona litro da biero.There is half a litre of beer in the glass.

We use the ending -ono when the fraction is used as a noun.

Example:
Mi trinkos nur duonon de la biero.I will only drink half of the beer.

If the numerator is more than one, the denominator takes the plural -j ending.

Example:
2/3 → du trionoj
5/8 litroj → kvin okonaj litroj

If the fraction is an object without a preposition, the denominator takes the accusative -n ending.

Example:
Mi manĝis trionon de la salato.I ate a third of the salad.
Ni bezonas tri kvaronajn litrojn da lakto.We need three quarters of a litre of milk.