эти проклятые порядковые числительные

[slovami.livejournal.com]

In class today we were reading out loud and came to the phrase:

люди XVII–XVIII веков (people of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries).

How would you read that? Please think about it before you look under the cut! Well, html isn't working so well in this browser, so just think about it before you read the next line.

The professor said it would be correct to say семнадцатых–восемнадцатых веков. But then one student said his old teacher taught him to say семнадцатого–восемнадцатого веков. Who is right?

Thanks!

Comments

[shimshoni.livejournal.com]

семнадцатого–восемнадцатого веков
because there is only ONE 17th century and only ONE 18th century.
does that teacher knows another one (o may be even two) 17th century/ies?:)