Ziemowit: nott: Dziewięcioro is a normal numeral. 'Dziewięcioro" is a collective numeral [the so-called 'liczebnik zbiorowy' in Polish]; a 'normal' numeral would be 'dziewięć'.
Is it? Why don't we use normal numerals with kids, then?
How much is it now to Burma...
Ziemowit: Generally, we may say that the problem of the Polish collective numeral is gramatically very complex and difficult.
Nah, there must be some legit rule....
Ziemowit: As has been shown in this thread, native speakers are confused and may change their opinions on them.
Because nobody counts hundreds of children with this accuracy! Who'd bloody care...
Ziemowit: Shall I remind that the whole discussion had started with Nott's wrong assumption of the case of the noun which accompanies the collective numeral used in the instrumental: nott: Ze stu dziewięćdziesięciorgiem dziewięciorgiem dziećmi. Dziećmi, not dzieci.
Yeah, right. Just point at poor nott. I was trying to be helpful...
Sigh... right, it is confusing. You need to study it to get it right. I don't have to, I am Polish born and bred, my Polish is nigh to perfect. And if not, then it's a native error, possibly a norm in the near future. And during my whole life in Poland and I never had an opportunity to say anything like 'I was strolling with 192 kids.'
Bottom line, then... it's a rather artificial problem. Unless you keep to practical numbers, like dziewięcioro.
Edit: Thanks for the inspiration, though.
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