Use of …aine added to numbers to signify ‘about’

Michael C.C1Kwiziq community member

Use of …aine added to numbers to signify ‘about’

In your lesson, you describe …aine as being ‘about’ or ‘or so’ and yet in the example you translate deux douzaine… as being ‘two dozen’. In UK English , a dozen is NORMALLY, exactly 12, but I acknowledge it CAN also have ‘or so’ connotations.  Perhaps not the best example?  Love the site for learning French by the way. Much better than well-known alternatives)

Asked 1 year ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

 Michael, the lesson does cover this. 

The approximation expression in French equivalent to ‘ a dozen or so’ in English is ‘ une dizaine de…’. 

‘Une douzaine de… ‘ is an exception to the use of ‘-aine’ indicating approximations. It is not an approximation at all, but an exact quantity - ‘ 12 ‘, one dozen, not more or less. 

From the lesson

    As in English, douzaine (dozen) means 12 rather than being an approximate number, but the construction is the same as for approximate numbers

Using "une dizaine" and other approximate numbers in French

Anne D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Although the lesson does cover douzaine being an exact number, it’s a bit confusing to include it in the table under the heading "Approximate".

Use of …aine added to numbers to signify ‘about’

In your lesson, you describe …aine as being ‘about’ or ‘or so’ and yet in the example you translate deux douzaine… as being ‘two dozen’. In UK English , a dozen is NORMALLY, exactly 12, but I acknowledge it CAN also have ‘or so’ connotations.  Perhaps not the best example?  Love the site for learning French by the way. Much better than well-known alternatives)

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