Grammar: Word classes: Number words
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Specifying quantity | |
Fractions
Fractions may be preceded by an article (a, the) and followed by of.
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The students had a quarter of
an hour |
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The noun following a fraction may be preceded by an article (a, the):
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Bobby ate half
a sandwich. |
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Fractions may be common ('vulgar') fractions or decimal fractions. Common fractions may pose spelling problems, while decimal fractions may pose pronunciation difficulties.
| Fractions | |||
| common fractions | decimal fractions | ||
| number | spelling | number | pronunciation
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| 1/8 1/4 1/3 1/2 3/4 5 1/2 13 3/4 |
an/one eighth a/one quarter a/one third a/one half three quarters five and a half thirteen and three quarters |
0.125 0.25 0.33 0.5 0.75 5.5 13.75 |
(nought/zero/o) point one two
five (nought/zero/o) point two five (nought/zero/o) point three three (nought/zero/o) point five (nought/zero/o) point seven five five point five thirteen point seven five |
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When pronouncing fractions smaller than 1, the nought, zero or /o/ preceding the word point is optional. |
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The most common pronunciation of a decimal fraction is 'point + number'. |
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nought =
British zero = US |
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zero = most
technical /o/ = least technical |
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In large numbers with a decimal fraction we can mix the decimal 'point' with the comma indicating units of thousand, eg 2,893,425.50 (or we can use spaces, eg 2 893 425.50). |
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Take care: English uses a 'point' in decimal fractions ($2.35) - countries in continental Europe use a comma ($2,35). |
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Quantity words |
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