Fractions

Construction

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.