Breakdown of Диаметр равняется восьмистам девяноста четырём метрам.
четыре
four
метр
metre
девяносто
ninety
восемьсот
eight hundred
диаметр
diameter
равняться
to equal
Questions & Answers about Диаметр равняется восьмистам девяноста четырём метрам.
Why is the number in the dative case here?
The verb равняться (to equal) requires its object to be in the dative case. Because of this, every part of the compound number 894 must decline into the dative: восьмистам девяноста четырём.
How does the word for 800 (восемьсот) decline to become восьмистам?
For hundreds from 500 to 900, both halves of the word decline. The first part declines like the standalone number (восемь becomes the dative восьми), and the second part declines like a plural noun for "hundreds" (сот becomes the dative стам). Put them together, and you get восьмистам.
Why does 90 become девяноста instead of having a complex ending?
The numbers 40 (сорок), 90 (девяносто), and 100 (сто) have a uniquely simple declension. In the nominative and accusative, they keep their dictionary form. In all other cases—including the dative used here—they simply take the ending -а. So, девяносто becomes девяноста.
Normally, numbers ending in 4 take the genitive singular, like четыре метра. Why is it четырём метрам here?
The rule where numbers 2, 3, and 4 take the genitive singular only applies when the number is in the nominative or inanimate accusative case! In all other cases (the "oblique" cases), the number and the noun simply agree in case. Since the sentence needs the dative, четыре becomes the dative четырём, and the noun goes into the dative plural метрам.
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