Editing Dual (grammatical number) (section)

== In Indo-European languages ==
The category of dual can be reconstructed for [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]], the ancestor of all [[Indo-European languages]], and it has been retained as a fully functioning category in the earliest attested daughter languages. The best evidence for the dual among ancient Indo-European languages can be found in Old Indo-Iranian ([[Vedic Sanskrit]] and [[Avestan language|Avestan]]), [[Homeric Greek]] and [[Old Church Slavonic]], where its use was obligatory for all inflected categories including verbs, nouns, adjectives, pronouns and some numerals. Various traces of dual can also be found in [[Gothic language|Gothic]], [[Old Irish]], and Latin (more below).

Due to the scarcity of evidence, the reconstruction of dual endings for Proto-Indo-European is difficult, but at least formally according to the [[comparative method]] it can be ascertained that no more than three dual endings are reconstructible for nominal inflection.<ref>{{harvtxt|Ringe|2006|pp=42}}</ref> {{harvtxt|Mallory|Adams|2006}} reconstruct the dual endings as:
* [[Nominative case|Nominative]]/[[Accusative case|accusative]]/[[Vocative case|vocative]]: *-h₁(e)
* [[Genitive case|Genitive]]/[[Ablative case|ablative]]: *-h₁(e) / *-oHs
* [[Dative case|Dative]]: *-me / *-OH
* [[Locative case|Locative]]: *-h₁ow
* [[Instrumental case|Instrumental]]: *-bʰih₁

The Proto-Indo-European category of dual did not only denote two of something: it could also be used as an associative marker, the so-called ''elliptical dual''.<ref>{{harvtxt|Clackson|2007|p=101}}</ref> For example, the [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] deity [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitrá]], when appearing in dual form ''Mitrā́'', refers to both Mitra and his companion [[Varuna|Varuṇa]]. Homeric dual {{lang|grc|Αἴαντε}} refers to [[Ajax the Great]]er and his fighting companion [[Teucer]], and Latin plural {{lang|la|Castorēs}} is used to denote both the semi-god [[Castor and Pollux|Castor]] and his twin brother [[Castor and Pollux|Pollux]].

Beside nominal (nouns, adjectives and pronouns), the dual was also present in verbal inflection where the syncretism was much lower.

Of living Indo-European languages, the dual can be found in dialects of [[Scottish Gaelic]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oftedal |first1=Magne |title=A Linguistic Survey of the Gaelic Dialects of Scotland: The Gaelic of Leurbost, Isle of Lewis |date=1956 |publisher=Aschehoug Verlag |location=Oslo}}</ref> but fully functioning as a paradigmatic category only in [[Slovene language|Slovene]], and [[Sorbian languages|Sorbian]]. 
Remnants of the dual can be found in many of the remaining daughter languages, where certain forms of the noun are used with the number two (see below for examples).

===Sanskrit===
{{Main|Sanskrit grammar}}

The dual is widely used in Sanskrit, as noted above. Its use is mandatory when the number of objects is two, and the plural is not permitted in this case, with one exception (see below). It is always indicated by the declensional suffix (and some morphophonemic modifications to the root resulting from addition of the suffix).

For nouns, the dual forms are the same in the following sets of cases, with examples for the masculine noun  {{IAST|bāla}} (boy):
* nominative/accusative: bālau
* instrumental/dative/ablative: bālābhyām
* genitive/locative: bālayoḥ

In Sanskrit, adjectives are treated the same as nouns as far as case declensions are concerned. As for pronouns, the same rules apply, except for a few special forms used in some cases.

Verbs have distinct dual forms in the three persons in both the ātmanepada and parasmaipada forms of verbs. For instance, the root pac meaning "to cook", takes the following forms in the dual number of the present tense, called laṭ lakāra:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Person !! Parasmaipada !! Ātmanepada
|-
| 3rd (prathama) || pacataḥ || pacete
|-
| 2nd (madhyama) || pacathaḥ || pacethe
|-
| 1st (uttama) || pacāvaḥ || pacāvahe
|}
(In Sanskrit, the order of the persons is reversed.)

The one exception to the rigidness about dual number is in the case of the pronoun asmad (I/we): Sanskrit grammar permits one to use the plural number for asmad even if the actual number of objects denoted is one or two (this is similar to the "royal we"). For example, while ''ahaṃ bravīmi'', ''āvāṃ brūvaḥ'' and ''vayaṃ brūmaḥ'' are respectively the singular, dual and plural forms of "I say" and "we say", ''vayaṃ brūmaḥ'' can be used in the singular and dual sense as well.

===Greek===
The dual can be found in Ancient Greek Homeric texts such as the ''[[Iliad]]'' and the ''[[Odyssey]]'', although its use is only sporadic, owing as much to artistic prerogatives as dictional and metrical requirements within the [[Hexameter|hexametric meter]]. There were only two distinct forms of the dual in Ancient Greek.

In classical Greek, the dual was lost, except in the [[Attic dialect]] of [[Athens]], where it persisted until the fifth century BC. Even in this case, its use depended on the author and certain stock expressions.

In [[Koine Greek]] and [[Modern Greek]], the only remnant of the dual is the numeral for "two", {{lang|el|δύο}}, {{lang|el-Latn|dýo}}, which has lost its genitive and dative cases (both {{lang|grc|δυοῖν}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|dyoīn}}) and retains its nominative/accusative form.  Thus it appears to be undeclined in all cases.  Nevertheless, [[Aristophanes of Byzantium]], the foremost authority of his time (early 2nd century BC) on grammar and style, and a staunch defender of "proper" High Attic tradition, admonishes those who write ''{{lang|grc|δυσί}}'' (''{{lang|grc-Latn|dysí}}'') (dative, plural number) rather than the "correct" ''{{lang|grc|δυοῖν}}'' (''{{lang|grc-Latn|dyoīn}}'') (dative, dual number).{{Citation needed|date = June 2015}}

===Latin===
The dual was lost in Latin and its sister [[Italic languages]]. However, certain [[Fossil word|fossilized forms]] remained, for example, {{lang|la|viginti}} (twenty), but {{lang|la|triginta}} (thirty), the words {{lang|la|ambo}} / {{lang|la|ambae}} (both, compare Slavic {{lang|la|oba}} / {{lang|la|obě}} from earlier *abō / *abāi), {{lang|la|duo}} / {{lang|la|duae}} with a dual declension.

===Celtic languages===
Reconstructed [[Proto-Celtic]] nominal and adjectival declensions contain distinct dual forms; pronouns and verbs do not. In [[Old Irish]], nouns and the definite article still have dual forms, but only when accompanied by the numeral ''{{lang|cel-x-proto|da}}'' "two". Traces of the dual remain in [[Middle Welsh]], in nouns denoting pairs of body parts that incorporate the numeral two: e.g. {{lang|wlm|deulin}} (from {{lang|wlm|glin}} "knee"), {{lang|wlm|dwyglust}} (from {{lang|wlm|clust}} "ear").<ref>{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Henry |author2=Holger Pedersen |title=A Concise Comparative Celtic Grammar |location=Göttingen |publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht |year=1989 |edition=3rd |pages=§§246, 468 |isbn=3-525-26102-0 }} {{cite book |last=Thurneysen |first=Rudolf |title=A Grammar of Old Irish |others=Trans. by [[D. A. Binchy]] and [[Osborn Bergin]] |publisher=Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies |year=1993 |orig-date=1946 |isbn=1-85500-161-6}} {{cite book |last=Evans |first=D. Simon |title=A Grammar of Middle Welsh |publisher=Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies |year=1989 |orig-date=1964 |pages=§§30, 33 |isbn=1-85500-000-8}}</ref>

In the modern languages, there are still significant remnants of dual number in [[Irish language|Irish]] and [[Scottish Gaelic]] in nominal phrases containing the numeral {{lang|ga|dhá}} or {{lang|gd|dà}} (including the higher numerals 12, 22, etc.). As the following table shows, {{lang|ga|dhá}} and {{lang|gd|dà}} combines with a singular noun, which is [[lenition|lenited]]. Masculine nouns take no special inflection, but feminine nouns have a [[Palatalization (phonetics)|slenderized]] dual form, which is in fact identical to the dative singular.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ó Maolalaigh |first=Roibeard |author2=Iain MacAonghuis |title=Scottish Gaelic in Three Months |publisher=Hugo's Language Books |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-85285-234-7}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Singular || Dual || Plural
|-
| {{lang|ga|lámh}} ("a hand" in Irish)
| {{lang|ga|dhá láimh}} ("two hands")
| {{lang|ga|trí lámh}} ("three hands")
|-
| {{lang|gd|clach}} ("a stone" in Scottish Gaelic)
| {{lang|gd|dà chloich}} ("two stones")
| {{lang|gd|trì clachan}} ("three stones")
|}

Languages of the [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] branch do not have dual number. As mentioned above for Middle Welsh, some nouns can be said to have dual forms, prefixed with a form of the numeral "two" (Breton {{lang|br|daou- / div-}}, Welsh {{lang|cy|dau- / deu- / dwy-}}, Cornish {{lang|kw|dew- / diw-}}). This process is not fully productive, however, and the prefixed forms are semantically restricted. For example, Breton {{lang|br|daouarn}} (< {{lang|br|dorn}} "hand") can only refer to one person's pair of hands, not any two hands from two different people. Welsh {{lang|cy|deufis}} must refer to a period of two consecutive months, whereas {{lang|cy|dau fis}} can be any two months (compare "fortnight" in English as opposed to "two weeks" or "14 days"; the first must, but the second and third need not, be a single consecutive period).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Heinecke |first=Johannes |title=Is there a Category of Dual in Breton or Welsh? |journal=Journal of Celtic Linguistics |volume=7 |year=2002 |pages=85–101 }}</ref>
The modern Welsh term {{lang|cy|dwylo}} (= hands) is formed by adding the feminine (and conjoining) form of 'two' ({{lang|cy|dwy}}) with the word for 'hand' — {{lang|cy|llaw}} becoming {{lang|cy|lo}} as it is no longer in a stressed syllable.

===Old, Middle, and Modern English===

In [[Proto-Germanic]], the dual had been entirely lost in nouns, and since verbs agreed with nouns in number, the third person dual form of verbs was also lost. The dual therefore remained only in the first and second person pronouns and their accompanying verb forms. [[Old English]] further lost all remaining dual verbs, keeping only first and second person dual pronouns. The Old English first person dual pronoun was {{lang|ang|wit}} in the [[Nominative case|nominative]] and {{lang|ang|unc}} in the [[Accusative case|accusative]], and the second person equivalents were {{lang|ang|git}} and {{lang|ang|inc}} respectively. The West Saxon dialect also had the [[Genitive case|genitive]] forms of {{lang|ang|uncer}} for first person and {{lang|ang|incer}} for second person. The dual lasted beyond Old English into the [[Middle English#Early Middle English|Early Middle English]] period in the Southern and Midland dialects. Middle English saw {{lang|ang|git}} evolve into {{lang|enm|ȝit}}, and {{lang|ang|inc}} can be seen in various different forms including {{lang|enm|ȝinc}}, {{lang|enm|ȝunc}}, {{lang|enm|unk}}, {{lang|enm|hunk}}, and {{lang|enm|hunke}}. The dual mostly died out in the early 1200s, surviving to around 1300 only in the East Midland dialect.<ref>{{cite book |last=Howe |first=Stephen |year=1996 |title=The Personal Pronouns in the Germanic Languages: A Study of Personal Pronoun Morphology and Change in the Germanic Languages from the First Records to the Present Day |series=Studia Linguistica Germanica 43 |location=Berlin |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |pages=131–133, 138–139, 141 |isbn=3-11-014636-3}}</ref>

In a small number of modern English dialects, dual pronouns have independently returned. These include:

*[[Australian Aboriginal English]] (Central) - ''menyou'' (first person inclusive), ''mentwofella'' (first person exclusive), ''yountwofella'' (second person), ''twofella'' (third person)<ref>{{cite journal |last=Koch |first=Harold |date=2000 |title=Central Australian Aboriginal English: In Comparison with the Morphosyntactic Categories of Kaytetye |journal=Asian Englishes |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=32–58[38] |doi=10.1080/13488678.2000.10801054}}</ref> 
*Australian Aboriginal English (Northwest Queensland) - ''midubela'' or ''minabela'' (first person), ''yudubela'' or ''yunabela'' (second person), ''dattufela'' or ''distufela'' (third person)<ref>{{cite book |last=Malcolm |first=Ian G. |year=2018 |title=Australian Aboriginal English: Change and Continuity in an Adopted Language |series=Dialects of English, vol. 16 |location=Boston |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |pages=78–80 |isbn=978-1-5015-0336-8}}</ref> 
*[[Torres Strait English]] - ''mitu'' (first person), ''yutu'' (second person), ''themtu'' (third person)<ref>{{cite book |last=Dutton |first=T. E. |author-link=Tom Dutton (linguist) |editor-last=Ramson |editor-first=W. S. |year=1970 |title=English Transported: Essays on Australasian English |location=Canberra |publisher=Australian National University Press |page=149 |chapter=Informal English in the Torres Straits |isbn=0-7081-0626-9}}</ref> 
*[[Palmerston Island|Palmerston Island English]] - ''yumi'' (first person inclusive), ''himshe'' (third person)<ref>{{cite book |last=Hendery |first=Rachel |editor-last1=Williams |editor-first1=Jeffrey P. |editor-last2=Schneider |editor-first2=Edgar W. |editor-link2=Edgar W. Schneider |editor-last3=Trudgill |editor-first3=Peter |editor-link3=Peter Trudgill |editor-last4=Schreier |editor-first4=Daniel |year=2015 |chapter=Palmerston Island English |title=Further Studies in the Lesser-Known Varieties of English |series=Studies in English Language |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=273–274 |isbn=978-1-107-02120-4}}</ref>

===Other Germanic languages===
[[Gothic language|Gothic]] retained the dual more or less unchanged from Proto-Germanic. It had markings for the first and second person for both the verbs and pronouns, for example {{lang|got-Latn|wit}} "we two" as compared to {{lang|got-Latn|weis}} "we, more than two". [[Old Norse]] and other old Germanic languages, like Old English, had dual marking only in the personal pronouns and not in the verbs.

The dual has disappeared as a productive form in all the living languages, with loss of the dual occurring in [[North Frisian language|North Frisian]] dialects only quite recently.<ref>Howe, Stephen. ''The Personal Pronouns in the Germanic Languages. A study of personal pronoun morphology and change in the Germanic languages from the first records to the present day''. [Studia Linguistica Germanica, 43]. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1996. (xxii + 390 pp.) pp. 193–195.</ref> In [[Austro-Bavarian language|Austro-Bavarian]], the old dual pronouns have replaced the standard plural pronouns: nominative {{lang|bar|es}}, accusative {{lang|bar|enk}} (from Proto-Germanic {{lang|gem-x-proto|jut}} and {{lang|gem-x-proto|inkw}}, {{lang|gem-x-proto|inkwiz}}). A similar development in the pronoun system can be seen in [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] and [[Faroese language|Faroese]]. Another remnant of the dual can be found in the use of the pronoun {{lang|da|begge}} ("both") in the Scandinavian languages of [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] and [[Danish language|Danish]], {{lang|sv|bägge}} in [[Swedish language|Swedish]] and {{lang|is|báðir / báðar / bæði}} in Faroese and Icelandic. In these languages, in order to state "all + number", the constructions are {{lang|da|begge to}} / {{lang|is|báðir tveir / báðar tvær / bæði tvö}} ("all two") but {{lang|da|alle tre}} / {{lang|is|allir þrír / allar þrjár / öll þrjú}} ("all three"). In German, the expression {{lang|de|beide}} ("both") is equivalent to, though more commonly used than, {{lang|de|alle zwei}} ("all two").

[[Norwegian Nynorsk]] also retains the conjunction {{lang|nn|korgje}} ("one of two") and its inverse {{lang|nn|korkje}} ("neither of two").

A remnant of a lost dual also survives in the Icelandic and Faroese ordinals first and second, which can be translated two ways: First there is {{lang|is|fyrri / fyrri / fyrra}} and {{lang|is|seinni / seinni / seinna}}, which mean the first and second of two respectively, while {{lang|is|fyrsti / fyrsta / fyrsta}} and {{lang|is|annar / önnur / annað}} mean first and second of more than two. In Icelandic the pronouns {{lang|is|annar / önnur / annað}} ("one") and {{lang|is|hinn / hin / hitt}} ("other") are also used to denote each unit of a set of two in contrast to the pronouns {{lang|is|einn / ein / eitt}} ("one") and {{lang|is|annar / önnur / annað}} ("second"). Therefore in Icelandic "with one hand" translates as {{lang|is|með annarri hendi}} not {{lang|is|með einni hendi}}, and as in English "with the other hand" is {{lang|is|með hinni hendinni}}. An additional element in Icelandic worth mentioning are the interrogative pronouns {{lang|is|hvor / hvor / hvort}} ("who / which / what" of two) and {{lang|is|hver / hver / hvert}} ("who / which / what" of more than two).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=63717#|title = Hvernig ber að nota orðin hvor og hver í setningu og hvað stjórnar kyni þeirra, tölu og falli?}}</ref>

===Baltic languages===
Among the [[Baltic languages]], the dual form existed but is now nearly obsolete in standard [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]. The dual form {{lang|lt|Du litu}} was still used on two-[[litas]] coins issued in 1925, but the plural form ({{lang|lt|2 litai}}) is used on later two-litas coins.

{| class="wikitable"
! Singular || Dual || Plural
|-
| {{lang|lt|vyras}} ("a man")
| {{lang|lt|vyru}} ("two men")
| {{lang|lt|vyrai}} ("men")
|-
| {{lang|lt|pirštas}} ("finger")
| {{lang|lt|pirštu}} ("two fingers")
| {{lang|lt|pirštai}} ("fingers")
|-
| {{lang|lt|draugas}} ("a friend")
| {{lang|lt|draugu}} ("two friends")
| {{lang|lt|draugai}} ("friends")
|-
| {{lang|lt|mergina}} ("a girl")
| {{lang|lt|mergini}} ("two girls")
| {{lang|lt|merginos}} ("girls")
|-
| {{lang|lt|einu}} ("I go")
| {{lang|lt|einava}} ("We two go")
| {{lang|lt|einame}} ("We (more than two) go")
|-
| {{lang|lt|eisiu}} ("I will go")
| {{lang|lt|eisiva}} ("We two will go")
| {{lang|lt|eisime}} ("We (more than two) will go")
|}

=== Slavic languages ===
[[Common Slavic]] had a complete singular-dual-plural number system, although the nominal dual paradigms showed considerable [[syncretism (linguistics)|syncretism]], just as they did in [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]]. Dual was fully operable at the time of [[Old Church Slavonic]] manuscript writings, and it has been subsequently lost in most Slavic dialects in the historical period.

Of the extant Slavic languages, only [[Slovene language|Slovene]], [[Chakavian dialect|Chakavian]] and certain [[Kajkavian dialect|Kajkavian]] dialects, and [[Sorbian languages|Sorbian]] have preserved the dual number as a productive form. In all of the remaining languages, its influence is still found in the declension of nouns of which there are commonly only two: eyes, ears, shoulders, in certain fixed expressions, and the agreement of nouns when used with numbers.<ref>Mayer, Gerald L. (1973) "Common Tendencies in the Syntactic Development of 'Two', 'Three,' and 'Four' in Slavic." ''The Slavic and East European Journal'' 17.3:308–314.</ref>

In all the languages, the words "two" and "both" preserve characteristics of the dual declension. The following table shows a selection of forms for the numeral "two":

<!-- please stop adding to this table? see Talk page -->
{| class="wikitable"
! language || nom.-acc.-voc.|| gen. 
! width="15%" |  loc.
! dat. || instr.
|- align="center"
! Common Slavic
| {{lang|sla|*dъva}} (masc.)<br />{{lang|sla|*dъvě}} (fem./nt.)
| colspan="2" | {{lang|sla|*dъvoju}}
| colspan="2" |{{lang|sla|*dъvěma}}
|- align="center"
! Belarusian
| {{lang|be|два }} {{lang|be-Latn|dva}} (masc./nt.)<br />{{lang|be|дзве }} {{lang|be-Latn|dzve}} (fem.)
| colspan="2" | {{lang|be|двух }} {{lang|be-Latn|dvukh}} (masc./nt.)<br />{{lang|be|дзвюх }} {{lang|be-Latn|dzvyukh}} (fem.)
| {{lang|be|двум }} {{lang|be-Latn|dvum}} (masc./nt.)<br />{{lang|be|дзвюм }} {{lang|be-Latn|dzvyum}} (fem.)
| {{lang|be|двума }} {{lang|be-Latn|dvuma}} (masc./nt.)<br />{{lang|be|дзвюма }} {{lang|be-Latn|dzvyuma}} (fem.)
|- align="center"
! Czech
| {{lang|cs|dva}} (masc.)<br />{{lang|cs|dvě}} (fem./nt.)
| colspan="2" | {{lang|cs|dvou}}
| colspan="2"  | {{lang|cs|dvěma}}
|- align="center"
! Polish
| {{lang|pl|dwa}} (masc./nt.)<br />{{lang|pl|dwie}} (fem.){{smallsup|1}}
| colspan="2" | {{lang|pl|dwu}}<br />{{lang|pl|dwóch}}
| {{lang|pl|dwu}}<br />{{lang|pl|dwóm}}
| {{lang|pl|dwoma}}<br />{{lang|pl|dwiema}}
|- align="center"
! Russian
| {{lang|ru|два }} {{lang|ru-Latn|dva}} (masc./nt.)<br />{{lang|ru|две }} {{lang|ru-Latn|dve}} (fem.)
| colspan="2" | {{lang|ru|двух }} {{lang|ru-Latn|dvukh}}
| {{lang|ru|двум }} {{lang|ru-Latn|dvum}}
| {{lang|ru|двумя }} {{lang|ru-Latn|dvumya}} (usual form)<br />{{lang|ru|двемя }} {{lang|ru-Latn|dvemya}} (seldom used, dialectal; fem. in some dialects)
|- align="center"
! Serbo-Croatian
| {{lang|sr-Cyrl|два}} / {{lang|sr-Latn|dva}} (masc./nt.)<br />{{lang|sr-Cyrl|две}} / {{lang|sr-Latn|dvije}} (fem.)
| {{lang|sr-Cyrl|двају}} / {{lang|sr-Latn|dvaju}} (masc./nt.) {{lang|sr-Cyrl|двеју}} / {{lang|sr-Latn|dviju}} (fem.)
| colspan="3" | {{lang|sr-Cyrl|двaма}} / {{lang|sr-Latn|dvama}} (masc./nt.){{smallsup|2}}<br />{{lang|sr-Cyrl|двема}} / {{lang|sr-Latn|dvjema}} (fem.)
|- align="center"
! Slovak
| {{lang|sk|dva}} (masc. inanim.)<br />{{lang|sk|dvaja / dvoch}} (masc. anim.)<br />{{lang|sk|dve}} (fem., nt.)
| colspan="2" | {{lang|sk|dvoch}}
| {{lang|sk|dvom}}
| {{lang|sk|dvoma / dvomi}}
|- align="center"
! Slovene
| {{lang|sl|dva}} (masc.)<br />{{lang|sl|dve}} (fem./nt.)
| colspan="2" | {{lang|sl|dveh}}
| colspan="2" | {{lang|sl|dvema}}
|- align="center"
! Sorbian
| {{lang|wen|dwaj}} (masc.)<br />{{lang|wen|dwě}} (fem./nt.)
| {{lang|wen|dweju}}
| colspan="3" | {{lang|wen|dwěmaj}}
|- align="center"
! Ukrainian
| {{lang|uk|два }} {{lang|uk-Latn|dva}} (masc./nt.)<br />{{lang|uk|дві }} {{lang|uk-Latn|dvi}} (fem.)
| colspan="2" | {{lang|uk|двох }} {{lang|uk-Latn|dvokh}}
| {{lang|uk|двом }} {{lang|uk-Latn|dvom}}
| {{lang|uk|двома }} {{lang|uk-Latn|dvoma}}
|}

Notes:
# In some Slavic languages, there is a further distinction between animate and inanimate masculine nouns. In Polish, for animate masculine nouns, the possible nominative forms are {{lang|pl|dwaj}}, or {{lang|pl|dwóch}}.
# Variant form for the masculine/neuter locative and instrumental in Serbo-Croatian: {{lang|sr-Cyrl|двојим(а)}} / {{lang|sr-Latn|dvojim(a)}}.

In Common Slavic, the rules were relatively simple for determining the appropriate case and number form of the noun, when it was used with a numeral. The following rules apply:
# With the numeral "one", both the noun, adjective, and numeral were in the same singular case, with the numeral being declined as an pronoun.
# With the numeral "two", both the noun, adjective, and numeral were in the same dual case. There were separate forms for the masculine and neuter-feminine nouns.
# With the numerals "three" and "four", the noun, adjective, and numeral were in the same plural case.
# With any numeral above "four", the numeral was followed by the noun and adjective in the genitive plural case. The numeral itself was actually a numeral noun that was declined according to its syntactic function.

With the loss of the dual in most of the Slavic languages, the above pattern now is only seen in the forms of the numbers for the tens, hundreds, and rarely thousands. This can be seen by examining the following table:

{| class="wikitable"
! Language
! 10 !! 20 !! 30 !! 50
! 100 !! 200 !! 300 !! 500
|-
! Common Slavic
| {{lang|sla|*desętь}} || {{lang|sla|*dъva desęti}} || {{lang|sla|*trije desęte}} || {{lang|sla|*pętь desętъ}}
| {{lang|sla|*sъto}} || {{lang|sla|*dъvě sъtě}} || {{lang|sla|*tri sъta}} || {{lang|sla|*pętь sъtъ}}
|-
! Belarusian
| {{lang|be|дзесяць}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|dzesyats′}} || {{lang|be|дваццаць}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|dvatstsats′}} || {{lang|be|трыццаць}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|tritstsats′}} || {{lang|be|пяцьдзесят}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|pyats′dzesyat}}
| {{lang|be|сто}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|sto}} || {{lang|be|дзвесце}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|dzvestse}} || {{lang|be|трыста}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|trista}} || {{lang|be|пяцьсот}}<br />{{lang|be-Latn|pyats′sot}}
|-
! Bulgarian
| {{lang|bg|десет}}<br />{{lang|bg-Latn|deset}} || {{lang|bg|двадесет}}<br />{{lang|bg-Latn|dvadeset}} || {{lang|bg|тридесет}}<br />{{lang|bg-Latn|trideset}} || {{lang|bg|петдесет}}<br />{{lang|bg-Latn|petdeset}}
| {{lang|bg|сто}}<br />{{lang|bg-Latn|sto}} || {{lang|bg|двеста}}<br />{{lang|bg-Latn|dvesta}} || {{lang|bg|триста}}<br />{{lang|bg-Latn|trista}} || {{lang|bg|петстотин}}<br />{{lang|bg-Latn|petstotin}}
|-
! Czech
| {{lang|cs|deset}} || {{lang|cs|dvacet}} || {{lang|cs|třicet}} || {{lang|cs|padesát}}
| {{lang|cs|sto}} || {{lang|cs|dvě stě}} || {{lang|cs|tři sta}} || {{lang|cs|pět set}}
|-
! Macedonian
| {{lang|mk|десет}}<br />{{lang|mk-Latn|deset}} || {{lang|mk|дваесет}}<br />{{lang|mk-Latn|dvaeset}} || {{lang|mk|триесет}}<br />{{lang|mk-Latn|trieset}} || {{lang|mk|педесет}}<br />{{lang|mk-Latn|pedeset}}
| {{lang|mk|сто}}<br />{{lang|mk-Latn|sto}} || {{lang|mk|двесте}}<br />{{lang|mk-Latn|dveste}} || {{lang|mk|триста}}<br />{{lang|mk-Latn|trisa}} || {{lang|mk|петстотини}}<br />{{lang|mk-Latn|petstotini}}
|-
! Polish
| {{lang|pl|dziesięć}} || {{lang|pl|dwadzieścia}} || {{lang|pl|trzydzieści}} || {{lang|pl|pięćdziesiąt}}
| {{lang|pl|sto}} || {{lang|pl|dwieście}} || {{lang|pl|trzysta}} || {{lang|pl|pięćset}}
|-
! Russian
| {{lang|ru|десять}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|desyat′}} || {{lang|ru|двадцать}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|dvadtsat′}} || {{lang|ru|тридцать}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|tridtsat′}} || {{lang|ru|пятьдесят}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|pyatdesyat}}
| {{lang|ru|сто}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|sto}} || {{lang|ru|двести}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|dvesti}} || {{lang|ru|триста}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|trista}} || {{lang|ru|пятьсот}}<br />{{lang|ru-Latn|pyatsot}}
|-
! Serbo-Croatian
| {{lang|sr-Cyrl|десет}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|deset}} || {{lang|sr-Cyrl|двадесет}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|dvadeset}} || {{lang|sr-Cyrl|тридесет}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|trideset}} || {{lang|sr-Cyrl|педесет}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|pedeset}}
| {{lang|sr-Cyrl|сто}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|sto}} || {{lang|sr-Cyrl|дв(ј)еста}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|dv(j)esta}} || {{lang|sr-Cyrl|триста}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|trista}} || {{lang|sr-Cyrl|петсто}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|petsto}}
|-
! Upper Sorbian<ref>These forms are taken from De Bray, R. G. A. ''Guide to the Slavonic Languages''. London, 1951.</ref>
| {{lang|hsb|dźesać}} || {{lang|hsb|dwaceći}} || {{lang|hsb|třiceći}} || {{lang|hsb|pjećdźesat}}
| {{lang|hsb|sto}} || {{lang|hsb|dwě sćě}} || {{lang|hsb|tři sta}} || {{lang|hsb|pjeć stow}}
|-
! Slovak
| {{lang|sk|desať}} || {{lang|sk|dvadsať}} || {{lang|sk|tridsať}} || {{lang|sk|päťdesiat}}
| {{lang|sk|sto}} || {{lang|sk|dvesto}} || {{lang|sk|tristo}} || {{lang|sk|päťsto}}
|-
! Slovene
| {{lang|sl|deset}} || {{lang|sl|dvajset}} || {{lang|sl|trideset}} || {{lang|sl|petdeset}}
| {{lang|sl|sto}} || {{lang|sl|dvesto}} || {{lang|sl|tristo}} || {{lang|sl|petsto}}
|-
! Ukrainian
| {{lang|uk|десять}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|desyat′}} || {{lang|uk|двадцять}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|dvadtsyat′}} || {{lang|uk|тридцять}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|trydtsyat′}} || {{lang|uk|п'ятдесят}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|p″yatdesyat}}
| {{lang|uk|сто}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|sto}} || {{lang|uk|двісті}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|dvisti}} || {{lang|uk|триста}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|trysta}} || {{lang|uk|п'ятсот}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|p″yatsot}}
|}

The Common Slavic rules governing the declension of nouns after numerals, which were described above, have been preserved in Slovene. In those Slavic languages that have lost the dual, the system has been simplified and changed in various ways, but many languages have kept traces of the dual in it. In general, Czech, Slovak, Polish and Ukrainian have extended the pattern of "three/four" to "two"; Russian, Belarusian and Serbo-Croatian have, on the contrary, extended the pattern of "two" to "three/four"; and Bulgarian and Macedonian have extended the pattern of "two" to all numerals. The resulting systems are as follows:
# In Czech, Slovak, Polish and Ukrainian, numerals from "two" to "four" are always followed by a noun in the same plural case, but higher numerals (if in the nominative) are followed by a noun in the genitive plural.<ref>However, Ukrainian is special in that the form used with "two", "three" and "four" has the stress pattern of the genitive singular and thus of the old dual.</ref>
# In Belarusian and Serbo-Croatian, numerals from "two" to "four" (if in the nominative) are followed by a noun in a form originating from the Common Slavic nominative dual, which has now completely or almost completely merged with the nominative plural (in the case of Belarusian) or genitive singular (in the case of Serbo-Croatian).<ref>Browne, Wayles and Theresa Alt (2004) A Handbook of Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. [http://www.seelrc.org:8080/grammar/pdf/stand_alone_bcs.pdf] P.21</ref> Higher numerals are followed by a noun in the genitive plural.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kordić |first=Snježana |author-link=Snježana Kordić |year=2006 |orig-date=1st pub. 1997  |title=Serbo-Croatian |series=Languages of the World/Materials; 148 |location=Munich & Newcastle |publisher=Lincom Europa |page=32 |isbn=3-89586-161-8 |oclc=37959860 |ol=2863538W |id={{CROSBI|426503}}}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20240509070531/http://www.snjezana-kordic.de/Contents_Serbo-Croatian_Grammar.pdf Contents]. [https://linguistlist.org/issues/?topic=Books Summary]. [Grammar book].</ref>
# In Russian, the form of noun following the numeral is nominative singular if the numeral ends in "one", genitive singular if the numeral ends in "two" to "four", and genitive plural otherwise. As an exception, the form of noun is also genitive plural if the numeral ends in 11 to 14.<ref>Paul V. Cubberley (2002) Russian: a linguistic introduction. p.141</ref> Also, some words (for example, many measure words, such as units) have a special "[[Russian declension#Count form|count form]]" (счётная форма) for use in numerical phrases instead of genitive (for some words mandatory, for others optional), for example, восемь мегабайт, пять килограмм and пять килограммов, три ряда́ and три ря́да, and полтора часа́.
# In Bulgarian and Macedonian, all numerals are followed by a noun in a form originating from the Common Slavic nominative dual, which has now been re-interpreted as a "count form" or "quantitative plural".<ref>Friedman, Victor (2001) Macedonian. [http://www.seelrc.org:8080/grammar/pdf/compgrammar_macedonian.pdf] P.19</ref>

These different systems are exemplified in the table below where the word "wolf" is used to form nominative noun phrases with various numerals. The dual and forms originating from it are <u>underlined</u>.

{| class="wikitable"
! || "wolf" || "wolves" || "two wolves" || "three wolves" || "five wolves"
|-
! Noun form || ''nom. sing.'' || ''nom. plur.''
| colspan="3" align="center" | varies
|-
! Common Slavic
| {{lang|sla|*vьlkъ}}
| {{lang|sla|vьlci}}
| <u>{{lang|sla|dъva vьlka}} (''nom. dual'')</u>
| {{lang|sla|tri vьlci}} (''nom. pl.'')
| {{lang|sla|pętь vьlkъ}} (''gen. pl.'')
|-
! Slovene
| {{lang|sl|volk}}
| {{lang|sl|volkovi}}
| <u>{{lang|sl|dva volka}} (''nom. dual'')</u>
| {{lang|sl|trije volkovi}} (''nom. pl.'')
| {{lang|sl|pet volkov}} (''gen. pl.'')
|-
! Czech
| {{lang|cs|vlk}}
| {{lang|cs|vlci}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{lang|cs|dva/tři vlci}} (''nom. pl.'')
| {{lang|cs|pět vlků}} (''gen. pl.'')
|-
! Polish
| {{lang|pl|wilk}}
| {{lang|pl|wilki}}<br />{{lang|pl|wilcy}} (rare)
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{lang|pl|dwa/trzy wilki}} (''nom. pl.'')<br />{{lang|pl|dwaj/trzej wilcy}} (''nom. pl.'')
| {{lang|pl|pięć wilków}} (''gen. pl.'')
|-
! Slovak
| {{lang|sk|vlk}}
| {{lang|sk|vlky}} (concrete)<br />{{lang|sk|vlci}} (abstract)
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{lang|sk|dva/tri vlky}} (''nom. pl.'') <br />{{lang|sk|dvaja/traja vlci}} (''nom. pl.'')
| {{lang|sk|päť vlkov}} (''gen. pl.'') <br />{{lang|sk|piati vlci}} (''nom. pl.'')
|-
! Ukrainian
| {{lang|uk|вовк }} {{lang|uk-Latn|vovk}}
| {{lang|uk|вовки́}} {{lang|uk-Latn|vovký}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{lang|uk|два/три во́вки}} {{lang|uk-Latn|dva/try vóvky}} (''nom. pl.'')
| {{lang|uk|п'ять вовків}} {{lang|uk-Latn|p″yat′ vovkiv}} (''gen. pl.'')
|-
! Belarusian
| {{lang|uk|воўк }} {{lang|uk-Latn|vowk}}
| {{lang|uk|ваўкі }} {{lang|uk-Latn|vawki}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{lang|uk|два/тры ваўкі}} {{lang|uk-Latn|dva/try vawki}} (''nom. pl.'')
| {{lang|uk|пяць ваўкоў}} {{lang|uk-Latn|pyats′ vawkow}} (''gen. pl.'')
|-
! Russian
| {{lang|ru|волк }} {{lang|ru-Latn|volk}}
| {{lang|ru|волки }} {{lang|ru-Latn|volki}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | <u>{{lang|ru|два/три волкa}} {{lang|uk-Latn|dva/tri volka}} (''gen. sg.'')</u>
| {{lang|ru|пять волков }} {{lang|ru-Latn|pyat volkov}} (''gen. pl.'')
|-
! Serbo-Croatian
| {{lang|sr|вук}} / {{lang|hr|vuk}}
| {{lang|sr|вукови}} / {{lang|hr|vukovi}} (concrete)<br />{{lang|sr|вŷци}} / {{lang|hr|vûci}} (abstract)
| colspan="2" align="center" | <u>{{lang|sr|два/три вука}} / {{lang|hr|dva/tri vuka}} (''gen. sg.'')</u>
| {{lang|sr|пет вукова}} / {{lang|hr|pet vukova}} (''gen. pl.'')
|-
! Bulgarian
| {{lang|bg|вълк }} {{lang|bg-Latn|vǎlk}}
| {{lang|bg|вълци }} {{lang|bg-Latn|vǎltsi}}
| colspan="3" align="center" | <u>{{lang|bg|два/три/пет вълка}} {{lang|uk-Latn|dva/tri/pet vălka}} (''count form'')</u>
|}

The dual has also left traces in the declension of nouns describing body parts that humans customarily had two of, for example: eyes, ears, legs, breasts, and hands. Often the plural declension is used to give a figurative meaning. The table below summarizes the key such points.

{| class="wikitable"
! Language
| Examples
|-
! Czech
| Certain paired body parts (eyes, ears, hands, legs, breasts; but not pair organs e.g. lungs) and their modifying adjectives require in the instrumental and genitive plural cases dual forms: {{lang|cs|se svýma očima}} (instrumental dual: "with one's own (two) eyes") or {{lang|cs|u nohou}} (genitive dual: "at the (two) feet"). Colloquial Czech will often substitute the dual instrumental for the literary plural instrumental case.
|-
! Polish
| {{lang|pl|Oko}} ("eye") and {{lang|pl|ucho}} ("ear") have plural stems deriving from old dual forms, and alternative instrumental and genitive plural forms with archaic dual endings: gen. pl. {{lang|pl|oczu/ócz/oczów}}, {{lang|pl|uszu/uszów}}; instr. pl. {{lang|pl|oczami/oczyma}}, {{lang|pl|uszami/uszyma}}. The declension of {{lang|pl|ręka}} ("hand, arm") also contains old dual forms (nom./acc./voc. pl {{lang|pl|ręce}}, instr. pl. {{lang|pl|rękami/'''rękoma'''}}, loc. sg./pl. {{lang|pl|rękach/'''ręku'''}}). The historically dual forms are usually used to refer a person's two hands ({{lang|pl|dziecko na ręku}} "child-in-arms"), while the regularized plural forms are used elsewhere.  Other archaic dual forms, including dual verbs, can be encountered in older literature and in dialects: {{lang|pl|Jak nie '''chceta''', to nie '''musita'''}} "If you don't want to, you don't have to".<ref>{{cite book|last = Swan|first = Oscar E.|title = A Grammar of Contemporary Polish|publisher = Slavica|year = 2002|location = Bloomington, IN|isbn = 0-89357-296-9|pages=57, 199, 216}}</ref>
|-
! Slovak
| In Slovak, the genitive plural and instrumental plural for the words "eyes" and "ears" has also retained its dual forms: {{lang|sk|očiam/očí}} and {{lang|sk|ušiam/uší}}.
|-
! Ukrainian
| The words "eyes" and "shoulders" had dual forms in the instrumental plural case: {{lang|uk|очима }} {{lang|uk-Latn|ochyma}} ("eyes") and {{lang|uk|плечима  }} {{lang|uk-Latn|plechyma}} ("shoulders"). Furthermore, the nominative plural word {{lang|uk|вуса }} {{lang|uk-Latn|vusa}}, which is the dual of {{lang|uk|вус }} {{lang|uk-Latn|vus}} ("whisker"), refers to the moustache, while the true nominative plural word {{lang|uk|вуси }} {{lang|uk-Latn|vusy}} refers to whiskers.
|-
! Bulgarian
| Some words such as {{lang|bg|ръка }} {{lang|bg-Latn|răka}} "hand" use the originally dual form as a plural ({{lang|bg|ръце }} {{lang|bg-Latn|rătse}}).
|-
! Russian
| In Russian the word {{lang|ru|колено }} {{lang|ru-Latn|koleno}} ("knee", "tribe (Israelites)") has different plurals: {{lang|ru|колена }} {{lang|ru-Latn|kolena}} ("Israelites") is pure plural and {{lang|ru|колени }} {{lang|ru-Latn|koleni}} (body part) is a dual form. Some cases are different as well: {{lang|ru|коленами }} {{lang|ru-Latn|kolenami}} vs. {{lang|ru|коленями }} {{lang|ru-Latn|kolenyami}} (instr.pl.).
|}

==== Slovene ====
{{See also|Slovene grammar}}
Along with the [[Sorbian languages]], [[Chakavian dialect|Chakavian]], some [[Kajkavian]] dialects, and the extinct [[Old Church Slavonic]], [[Slovene language|Slovene]] uses the dual. Although popular sources claim that Slovene has "preserved full grammatical use of the dual,"<ref name="MLD 2009">{{cite news |url=http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2177 |title=International Mother Language Day |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia |date=19 February 2009 |access-date=3 February 2011}}</ref> Standard Slovene (and, to varying degrees, Slovene dialects) show significant reduction of the dual number system when compared with Common Slavic.<ref name="Jakop2008">{{cite book|last=Jakop|first=Tjaša|title=The Dual in Slovene Dialects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQZ1Y9O7OLAC|year=2008|publisher=Brockmeyer|location=Bochum|isbn=978-3-8196-0705-9}}</ref> In general, dual forms have a tendency to be replaced by plural forms. This tendency is stronger in oblique cases than in the nominative/accusative: in standard Slovene, genitive and locative forms have merged with the plural, and in many dialects, pluralization has extended to dative/instrumental forms. Dual inflection is better preserved in masculine forms than in feminine forms.<ref>Jakop (2008, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gQZ1Y9O7OLAC&pg=PA104 pp. 104–105])</ref> Natural pairs are usually expressed with the plural in Slovene, not with the dual: e.g. {{lang|sl|roke}} "hands", {{lang|sl|ušesa}} ears. The dual forms of such nouns can be used, in conjunction with the quantifiers {{lang|sl|dva}} "two" or {{lang|sl|oba}} "both", to emphasize the number: e.g. {{lang|sl|Imam samo dve roki}} "I only have two hands". The words for "parents" and "twins" show variation in colloquial Slovene between plural ({{lang|sl|starši}}, {{lang|sl|dvojčki}}) and dual ({{lang|sl|starša}}, {{lang|sl|dvojčka}}).<ref>Jakop (2008, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gQZ1Y9O7OLAC&pg=PA6 pp. 6ff])</ref> Standard Slovene has replaced the nominative dual pronouns of Common Slavic ({{lang|sla|vě}} "the two of us", {{lang|sla|va}} "the two of you", {{lang|sla|ja/ji/ji}} "the two of them" [m./f./n.]) with new synthetic dual forms: {{lang|sl|midva/midve}} (literally, "we-two"), {{lang|sl|vidva/vidve}}, {{lang|sl|onadva/onidve/onidve}}.<ref>Derganc, Aleksandra. 2006. Some Characteristics of the Dual in Slovenian. ''Slavistična revija'' 54 (special issue): 416–434; especially pp. 428–429.</ref>

Nominative case of noun {{lang|sl|volk}} "wolf", with and without numerals:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ without numerals
! || nom. sg. (wolf) || nom. dual (2 wolves) || nom. pl. (wolves)
|-
! Slovene
| {{lang|sl|volk}} || volkova ||  {{lang|sl|volkovi}}
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ with numerals
! || wolf || 2 wolves || 3 (or 4) wolves || 5(+) wolves (gen. pl.)
|-
! Slovene
| {{lang|sl|en volk}} || {{lang|sl|dva volkova}}|| {{lang|sl|trije volkovi}} || {{lang|sl|pet volkov}}
|}

The dual is recognised by many Slovene speakers as one of the most distinctive features of the language and a mark of recognition, and is often mentioned in tourist brochures.

For verbs, the endings in the present tense are given as {{lang|sl|-va}}, {{lang|sl|-ta}}, {{lang|sl|-ta}}. The table below shows a comparison of the conjugation of the verb {{lang|sl|delati}}, which means "to do, to make, to work" and belongs to Class IV in the singular, dual, and plural.

{| class="wikitable" align = "center"
! !! Singular !! Dual !! Plural
|-
! First person
| {{lang|sl|del'''am'''}} || {{lang|sl|del'''ava'''}} || {{lang|sl|del'''amo'''}}
|-
! Second person
| {{lang|sl|del'''aš'''}} || {{lang|sl|del'''ata'''}} || {{lang|sl|del'''ate'''}}
|-
! Third person
| {{lang|sl|del'''a'''}} || {{lang|sl|del'''ata'''}} || {{lang|sl|del'''ajo'''}}
|}

In the imperative, the endings are given as {{lang|sl|-iva}} for the first-person dual and {{lang|sl|-ita}} for the second-person dual. The table below shows the imperative forms for the verb {{lang|sl|hoditi}} ("to walk") in the first and second persons of the imperative (the imperative does not exist for first-person singular).

{| class="wikitable" align="center" title="Imperative"
! !! Singular !! Dual !! Plural
|-
! First person
| —<!--Note: There is no first-person, singular imperative verb form. Please stop trying to add the first person present indicative form {{lang|sl|hodim}} --> || {{lang|sl|hodiva}} || {{lang|sl|hodimo}}
|-
! Second person
| {{lang|sl|hodi}} || {{lang|sl|hodita}} || {{lang|sl|hodite}}
|}

==== Sorbian language ====
As in Slovenian, the Sorbian language (both dialects Upper and Lower Sorbian) has preserved the dual. For nouns, the following endings are used:

{| class="wikitable" align = "center"
! !! Masculine !! Feminine or neuter
|-
! Nominative, accusative, vocative
| {{lang|wen|-aj/-ej}} || {{lang|wen|-e{{smallsup|2}}/-y/-i}}
|-
! Genitive{{smallsup|1}}
| {{lang|wen|-ow}}  || {{lang|wen|-ow}}
|-
! Dative, instrumental, locative
| {{lang|wen|-omaj}} || {{lang|wen|-omaj}}
|}

# The genitive form is based on the plural form of the noun.
# The -e ending causes various softening changes to occur to the preceding constant, for further information see the article on [[Sorbian language|Sorbian]].

For example, the declension of ''sin'' (masculine) and ''crow'' (feminine) in the dual in Upper Sorbian would be given as

{| class="wikitable" align = "center"
! !! {{lang|wen|hrěch}} ("sin") !! {{lang|wen|wróna}} ("crow")
|-
! Nominative, accusative, vocative
| {{lang|wen|hrěchaj}} || {{lang|wen|wrónje}}
|-
! Genitive
| {{lang|wen|hrěchow}} || {{lang|wen|wrónow}}
|-
! Dative, instrumental, locative
| {{lang|wen|hrěchomaj}} || {{lang|wen|wrónomaj}}
|}

For verbs, the endings in the present tense are given as {{lang|wen|-moj}}, {{lang|wen|-tej/-taj}}, {{lang|wen|-tej/-taj}}. The table below shows a comparison of the conjugation of the verb {{lang|wen|pisać}}, which means "to write" and belongs to Class I in the singular, dual, and plural.

{| class="wikitable" align = "center"
! !! Singular !! Dual !! Plural
|-
! First person
| {{lang|wen|pis'''am'''}} || {{lang|wen|pis'''amoj'''}} || {{lang|wen|pis'''amy'''}}
|-
! Second person
| {{lang|wen|pis'''aš'''}} || {{lang|wen|pis'''atej'''}} || {{lang|wen|pis'''aće'''}}
|-
! Third person
| {{lang|wen|pis'''a'''}} || {{lang|wen|pis'''atej'''}} || {{lang|wen|pis'''aja'''}}
|}