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Topic: Spanish

"There are a thousand students in total."

Translation:Hay mil estudiantes en total.

0
5 years ago

5 Comments

https://www.duolingo.com/soldmymind
soldmymind
  • 10

Why can we not say "un mil" for "a thousand"?

8
Reply•5 years ago
https://www.duolingo.com/pcunix
pcunix
  • 18

Indeed, why?

I googled "un mil" and several sources said "Just don't - it's wrong"

5
Reply•5 years ago
https://www.duolingo.com/aH1v
aH1v
  • 9
  • 7
  • 7
  • 5
  • 2

I think that is just what we do in English. We only use "a thousand" and "a million" and "a hundred" ... but we never say "a one, a two, a twenty" ... so I think in Spanish, none of their numbers are preceded by "a" , at least not a thousand.

2
Reply•5 years ago
https://www.duolingo.com/kevin211mvd
kevin211mvd
  • 8

Hay un mil estudiantes en total. I dont see why this wont work either.

1
Reply•5 years ago
https://www.duolingo.com/Roger_Burke
Roger_Burke
  • 25

Language is defined by the common practice of users and not its general rules. Pehaps numbers are an exception to the rule.

0
Reply•5 years ago
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