[From Manx Soc vol 2, Kelly's Manx Grammar]

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE NUMBERS.

Manks nouns have ordinarily but two Numbers, the Singular and the Plural.

We seem also to use the dual, when daa, two, or both, may be compounded with a substantive; as, daa ghooinney, two men; daa chass, two feet; daa hie, two houses; daa ven, two women, literally, two woman, &c.

Substantives compounded, or put in apposition with numerals, in the first and second number of every score, instead of the plural, use the singular number; as, un hooill, one eye; daa hooill, two eyes; three sooillyn, three eyes; feed sooill, twenty eyes; un hooill as feed, one-and-twenty eyes; da-eed sooill, forty eyes; three-feed sooill, sixty eyes, &c.* The word laa, a day, when put after a numeral, may be used throughout in the singular number: thus--un laa, daa laa, three, kiare, queig, &c., laa.

Some substantives want the singular number: as, cloan, children; maase, cattle; sleih, people, &c. Others want the plural: as, arran, bread; jough, drink; sollan, salt; eeym, butter; feill, flesh; fuill, blood; bainney, milk; niart, strength; fort, ability; keayney, weeping; trimshey, sorrow; and the like.

And the names of metals: as, airh, gold; argid, silver; prash, brass; yiarn, iron; stainney, tin, &c.; and all proper names.

* The Manks count by scores. The score, yn feed has no plural termination. Every noun numbered by the score is in the singular form; as--a score man, two score man, three score man.--Ed.