In Lesson 20.1, numbers 1 and 2 were simple — they matched the noun in gender. Now look at what happens with numbers 3, 4, 5... Something surprising happens!
Numbers 3–10 follow two special rules that work together.
The number uses the OPPOSITE gender of the noun it counts.
The counted noun comes after the number as a plural Idafa (ending in Kasratayn ٍ).
| # | For Masculine Noun (Inverse → F) | Example | For Feminine Noun (Inverse → M) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | ثَلَاثَةٌ (with ة) | ثَلَاثَةُ كُتُبٍ 3 books |
ثَلَاثُ سَيَّارَاتٍ (no ة) | 3 cars |
| 4 | أَرْبَعَةٌ (with ة) | أَرْبَعَةُ أَقْلَامٍ 4 pens |
أَرْبَعُ سَيَّارَاتٍ (no ة) | 4 cars |
| 5 | خَمْسَةٌ (with ة) | خَمْسَةُ بُيُوتٍ 5 houses |
خَمْسُ سَيَّارَاتٍ (no ة) | 5 cars |
| 6 | سِتَّةٌ (with ة) | سِتَّةُ كُتُبٍ 6 books |
سِتُّ سَيَّارَاتٍ (no ة) | 6 cars |
| 7 | سَبْعَةٌ (with ة) | سَبْعَةُ أَقْلَامٍ 7 pens |
سَبْعُ سَيَّارَاتٍ (no ة) | 7 cars |
| 8 | ثَمَانِيَةٌ (with ة) | ثَمَانِيَةُ كُتُبٍ 8 books |
ثَمَانِي سَيَّارَاتٍ (no ة) | 8 cars |
| 9 | تِسْعَةٌ (with ة) | تِسْعَةُ أَقْلَامٍ 9 pens |
تِسْعُ سَيَّارَاتٍ (no ة) | 9 cars |
| 10 | عَشَرَةٌ (with ة) | عَشَرَةُ بُيُوتٍ 10 houses |
عَشْرُ سَيَّارَاتٍ (no ة) | 10 cars |
How do you say these counting phrases? Remember the two rules!