How to list numbers of things


Where do you place the counter in Japanese when you want to specify how many
of something there are, especially if you're listing multiple things?

I believe the counter usually goes after the particle associated with the
noun:

> I bought 3 pencils => 私は鉛筆{えんぴつ}を三本{さんぼん}買{か}いました。

But what do you do when there are multiple things you want to count? Are these
sentences correct?

> I bought two books and three pencils. =>
> 私は本{ほん}を二冊{にさつ}と鉛筆{えんぴつ}を三本{さんぼん}買{か}いました。 ?
>
> Two books and three pencils are on the desk. =>
> 本{ほん}が二冊{にさつ}と鉛筆{えんぴつ}が三本{さんぼん}机{つくえ}の上{うえ}にあります。

Can you use the の particle to mean the same thing? Would it change the meaning
or nuance?

> 私は二冊{にさつ}の本{ほん}と三本{さんぼん}の鉛筆{えんぴつ}を買{か}いました。 ?




In basically all informal daily conversations, the most natural way to express
the numbers and items is:

> Name of item + (particle) + number + counter + verb phrase

Natural: 「ビッグマック + を + **ふたつ** + [食]{た}べた。」 = "I ate two Big Macs."

Natural: 「みそラーメン +を + **よっつ** + [下]{くだ}さい。」 = "(Give us) four miso-ramens,
please!"

Not very natural though grammatical: 「 **ふたつの** ビッグマックを食べた。」 & 「 **よっつの**
みそラーメンを下さい。」

**What this means is that in Japanese, "number + counter" is most often used
adverbially, modifying the verb that follows.**

The not-so-natural versions will be understood by virtually all native
speakers, but you will definitely sound foreign if you say those, **_using the
quantity adjectivally as in English_**.

When you have to express an action involving a list of mutiple things, simply
place them one by one.

> 「ビール（を）2本（と）、ラーメン（を）よっつ（と）、ギョウザ（を）みっつ下さい。」

= "Can we have 2 bottles of beer, 4 orders of ramen and 3 orders of pot
stickers, please?"

In informal conversation at eateries, these particles in parentheses above are
often omitted.

Finally, even though using the "number + counter + の + item name" is unnatural
in everyday conversations as I stated above, it is used in literature, legal
papers, business communication, etc. when the number needs to be emphasized
for a reason.




In basically all informal daily conversations, the most natural way to express
the numbers and items is:

> Name of item + (particle) + number + counter + verb phrase

Natural: 「ビッグマック + を + **ふたつ** + [食]{た}べた。」 = "I ate two Big Macs."

Natural: 「みそラーメン +を + **よっつ** + [下]{くだ}さい。」 = "(Give us) four miso-ramens,
please!"

Not very natural though grammatical: 「 **ふたつの** ビッグマックを食べた。」 & 「 **よっつの**
みそラーメンを下さい。」

**What this means is that in Japanese, "number + counter" is most often used
adverbially, modifying the verb that follows.**

The not-so-natural versions will be understood by virtually all native
speakers, but you will definitely sound foreign if you say those, **_using the
quantity adjectivally as in English_**.

When you have to express an action involving a list of mutiple things, simply
place them one by one.

> 「ビール（を）2本（と）、ラーメン（を）よっつ（と）、ギョウザ（を）みっつ下さい。」

= "Can we have 2 bottles of beer, 4 orders of ramen and 3 orders of pot
stickers, please?"

In informal conversation at eateries, these particles in parentheses above are
often omitted.

Finally, even though using the "number + counter + の + item name" is unnatural
in everyday conversations as I stated above, it is used in literature, legal
papers, business communication, etc. when the number needs to be emphasized
for a reason.

