Arabic Numbers 11 19

Sometimes a composite number consists of two numbers connected with (wa “and”), such as:

• We notice here that the first number before (وَ) “wa” (and) is similar to the numbers 1 and 2, as we studied in the previous part. This means that numbers (واحد) “wāћid” (one) and (اثنان) “ithnān” (two) should be masculine or feminine according to the numbered noun. For example, the numbers in the following sentences are masculine because the numbered noun in each is masculine:

هَؤُلاءِ وَاحِدٌ وَعِشرون أستاذًا

Hā’ulā’i wāћidun wa ξishruuna ustadhan

These are twenty-one teachers.

عِنْدِي اثْنَانِ وَعِشْرُونَ جِلْبَابًا

ξindi ithnāni wa ξishruun ĵilbāban

I have twenty-two garments.

• The numbers in the following sentences are feminine because the numbered noun in each is feminine:

هَؤُلاءِ إحْدَى وَعِشرون أستاذةً

Hā’ulā’i iћda wa ξishruuna ustadhatan

These are twenty-one lady teachers.

كَتَبْتُ الدَّرْسَ في اثْنَتَينِ وَعِشرين وَرَقَة

Katabtu ad-darsa fi ithnatayni wa ξishriin waraqatan

I wrote the lesson in twenty-two papers.

• As a revision of lessons 19 and 20 – we have already learnt that the numbers from 3 to 9 should be opposite to the numbered noun, i.e. the first part should be masculine if the numbered noun is feminine. For example:

دَرَسَ صَدِيقي سَبْعًا وَعِشْرين قِصَّة

Darasa ŝadiiqi sabξan wa ξishriin qiŝŝatan

My friend studied twenty-seven stories.

• Alternatively, the first part should be feminine if the numbered noun is masculine. For example:

ثَوْبِي بِخَمْسَةٍ وخَمسِينَ جُنَيْهًا

Thawbi bikhamsatin wa khamsiin ĵunayhan

(I bought) my garment (for) fifty-five pounds.

• Note: the numbered noun after the decade numbers is always singular and in the accusative case (mansūb منصوب) (ending, originally, with the short fatћah, a). For example: