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Using Japanese Counters

drewa

先輩
21 Sep 2013
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So, here I am again with another question but this time about counters in Japanese.
I think it's interesting how some things in a language can be so easy in one but so much harder in another regardless of whether or not you know the languages. But anyway, for this I pretty much want to verify my correct usage of counters :)

I'm getting these counters from
Nihongo o Narau - Counters

So, for General Counters it begins with ひとつ meaning "One". What exactly can General Counters be used for? Everything? Is it more of something to use for everyday speech?
リンゴがひとつをください。
リンゴのひとつをください。
ひとつのリンゴをください。
ひとつがリンゴをください。
I'm trying to say "Please give me one apple." But which one would be better?
I think this kind of ties back into a previous question I had about No and Ga.

And if you look on the Counters link above, the General column goes all the way up to 10 which is "Too". So would 11 be "Toohitotsu"?

Thank you in advance ^^
 
The reason が is used in the example sentences in the site you linked is because the main verb is "arimasu / imasu".

本があります。 --> 本が一冊あります。
ネコがいます。 --> ネコが一匹います。

Whereas the main verb is ください in your example, so が is not needed.

リンゴを下さい。 --> リンゴを一つ下さい。

一つのリンゴを下さい is understandable, but awkward.

The site already answered your last question.

Note: If you go beyond ten of something, the standard set of numbers should be used before the counter listed at the top.
 
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