Grammar · Useful patterns
Counters, the short version
[Number] + [counter]
Japanese counts different shapes with different words. 人 for people, 本 for long things, 枚 for flat things, 個 for small objects, つ as the general fallback.
The mistake to avoid
When you cannot remember the counter, use ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ. It works for most objects and nobody minds.
Examples
二人です。
ふたりです。
Two people.
ビールを三本ください。
ビールを さんぼん ください。
Three beers, please.