Proposed definitions

su'o (PA)

At least (one).

su'e (PA)

At most (one).

za'u (PA)

More than (one).

me'i (PA)

Less than (all).

ji'i (PA)

Approximately.

ro (PA)

Each. All.

da'a (PA)

All except (one).

rau (PA)

Enough. The right number.

du'a (PA)

Too many. More than the right number.

mo'a (PA)

Too few. Less than the right number.

Formal definitions

Quantifiers

• The general form of a simple quantifier is:

where:

SUhO = su'o | su'e | za'u | me'i | ji'i
RO = ro | so'a | so'e | so'i | so'o | so'u | rau | du'a | mo'a | no'o | NO
NO = no | pa | re | ci | vo | mu | xa | ze | bi | so | pano | ... | ki'o | ... | ci'i

Each component is optional. When the final component, RO, is missing, a default value is understood: pa in the case of su'o, su'e, za'u and da'a; ro in the case of me'i; and a vague number (perhaps no'o) in the case of ji'i.

• When two simple quantifiers are used one after the other, then if it gives no contradiction they are interpreted as if joined with .e:

ro ci broda
all three brodas, all brodas and three brodas.

rau su'o mu broda
enough at least five brodas, enough brodas and at least five brodas.

su'o ci su'e bi broda
at least three at most eight brodas
at least three brodas and at most eight brodas
between three and eight brodas (inclusive)

• When two simple quantifiers are used one after the other, and joining them with .e would give a contradiction, they are interpreted as if joined with .a:

me'i ci za'u ci broda
less than three more than three brodas
less than three brodas or more than three brodas
i.e. other than three brodas

mo'a du'a broda
too few too many brodas
too few brodas or too many brodas
the wrong number of brodas