Questions & Answers about Дайте мне, пожалуйста, полторы порции супа.
Why do we use полторы instead of полтора?
Полторы is the feminine form of "one and a half". It is used here because the noun being counted, порция (portion), is feminine. If you were counting a masculine or neuter noun, you would use полтора.
Since 1.5 is more than one, why is порции in the genitive singular rather than plural?
In Russian, the fractions полтора and полторы act like the numbers 2, 3, and 4. When the number itself is in the nominative or inanimate accusative case, the noun that follows it must be in the genitive singular. The genitive singular of порция is порции.
Why is супа also in the genitive case?
Супа is in the genitive case to show composition, translating to "of soup". Just like in English, you are asking for portions of soup (порции супа).
Why use the imperative дайте instead of давайте?
Дайте is the perfective form of the verb "to give". You use the perfective imperative here because you are asking someone to perform a single, completed action: handing you your order. The imperfective давайте would sound like you are telling them to repeatedly or constantly give you soup.