In Arabic, the grammatical rules for counted nouns change depending on the number. For all numbers from 11 to 99, the counted noun must be singular and in the accusative case.
For most masculine nouns, the accusative case is marked in writing by adding an extra alif (ا) at the end of the word (e.g., كتاب becomes كتابا). Feminine nouns ending in taa marbuta (ة) do not take an extra alif.
Numbers 11 to 19
The numbers 11 through 19 are compound numbers, consisting of a unit (1 to 9) followed by the word for ten (عشر). In this lesson, you will see the forms these numbers take when counting masculine nouns.
Notice how the counted noun immediately follows the number, remains singular, and takes the accusative alif (ا).
| My brother has eleven books. | عند أخي أحد عشر كتابا.inda 'akhî 'ahada ashara kitâban. |
| The year is twelve months. | السنة اثنا عشر شهرا.as-sanatu ithnâ 'ashara shahran |
| I have thirteen books and fourteen pens. | عندي ثلاثة عشر كتابا وأربعة عشر قلما.'indî thalâthata 'ashara kitâban wa'arba'ata 'ashara qalaman. |
| There are seventeen dogs and eighteen cats. | هناك سبعة عشر كلبا وثمانية عشر قطا.hunâka sab'ata 'ashara kalban wa thamâniyata 'ashara qittan. |
The Tens (20 to 90)
The tens (20, 30, 40, etc.) are formed using a suffix (ون) that looks like a regular masculine plural ending.
Unlike lower numbers, the tens are gender-neutral. You use the exact same number whether you are counting a masculine noun (like دولار) or a feminine noun (like شجرة). Just remember to keep the counted noun singular and accusative.
| The ticket is twenty dollars. | التذكرة عشرون دولارا.at-tadhkiratu 'ishrûna dûlâran |
| There are thirty trees and forty flowers in the garden. | في الحديقة ثلاثون شجرة وأربعون زهرة.fil hadîqati thalâthûna shajaratan wa arba'ûna zahratan |
| There are fifty pages and sixty pictures in this book. | في هذا الكتاب خمسون صفحة وستون صورة.fî hâdhâ al-kitâbi khamsûna safhatan wa sittûna sûratan. |
| Eighty men attended the party. | حضر ثمانون رجلا الحفلة.hadara thamânûna rajulan al-hafla |
