Universal #2005

Legacy number: 2005

 Number  1999
 Original  For the simple cardinal numerals, as their arithmetical value increases, so the possibility of agreement in gender decreases. There is a widespread tendency for lower numerals to be more like adjectives, and for higher numerals to be more like nouns, and so not to agree in gender.
 Standardized  The higher the (simple) cardinal numerals, the unlikelier they are to agree in gender.
 Keywords  numeral, agreement, gender
 Domain  inflection, syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  "over 200 languages" from all over the place
 Source  Corbett 1991: 134

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Discussion
Counterexamples
Chechen, Ingush, Tsova-Tush (NE Central, or Nakh, Daghestanian), where only 'four' has gender agreement. (Corbett 1991: 134, referring to Deseriev 1967: 187).
Notes
See #152 for the more general generalization concerning lower numerals to be (like) adjectives and higher numerals to be (like) nouns, in agreement behaviour and whatever else is relevant.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
See <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=152"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0"> for the more general generalization concerning lower numerals to be (like) adjectives and higher numerals to be (like) nouns, in agreement behaviour and whatever else is relevant.