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### Ordinal Numbers as Adjectives

Unlike cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are much simpler. In Arabic, they act exactly like **regular adjectives**.

Because they are adjectives, ordinal numbers follow these rules:
- They come **after** the noun they describe.
- They match the noun's gender.
- They match the noun's definiteness. To say "the first lesson", both the noun and the number take the definite article (ال).

{{item:1088427}}

{{item:1088428}}

### The Pattern for 2nd to 10th

From second to tenth, ordinal numbers are built using the predictable pattern فاعل.

{{item:1088430}}

{{item:1088433}}

{{item:1088436}}

### Gender Agreement

Ordinal numbers match the noun's gender. For the second through tenth, simply add the feminine marker (ة) to the masculine form to make it feminine.

Compare the masculine "fifth" (الخامس) with the feminine "fifth" (الخامسة):

{{item:1088439}}

{{item:1088440}}

Notice how the ordinal mirrors the gender of the noun it modifies:

{{item:1088445}}

{{item:1088446}}

### Completing the Sequence

The sequence continues consistently through the ninth (التاسع) and tenth (العاشر).

{{item:1088451}}

{{item:1088454}}

Ordinal numbers 1 to 10 (الأول، الثاني)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

interrogative

noun

numeral

particle

prefix

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The definite article and locatives (الـ)

Basic noun gender (ة)

Sun and moon letters

Singular subject pronouns (أنا، أنت، هو، هي)

Indefinite nouns and nominal sentences (ـٌ)

Demonstrative pronouns for 'this' (هذا / هذه)

Separate prepositions (في، من، إلى، على)

Attributive adjectives

Predicative adjectives

Yes/No questions (هل، أ)

Basic questions (من، ما، أين)

Singular possessive pronouns (ـي، ـك، ـه، ـها)

Plural subject pronouns (نحن، أنتم، هم)

Plural possessive pronouns (ـنا، ـكم، ـهم)

Noun possession

Attached prepositions (بـ، لـ، كـ)

Pronouns with prepositions

Having and possessing (عند، لـ، مع)

Regular plural nouns (ـون، ـين، ـات)

Broken plurals

Dual nouns (ـان / ـين)

Plural and distant demonstratives (هؤلاء، ذلك، تلك)

Non-human plural agreement

Present tense singular verbs

Verbal sentences (VSO)

Present tense plural verbs

Topicalized sentences (SVO)

The indefinite accusative case (ـاً)

Verb object pronouns (-ني، -ك، -ه)

Present tense negation (لا)

Question words with verbs (متى، كيف...)

Adverbs of time and place

The future tense (سـ / سوف)

Intentions and desires (أن)

Negating states and possession (ليس)

Past tense singular suffixes

Past tense plural suffixes

Negating past events (ما)

Singular commands

Numbers 1 to 10

Number agreement for 1 and 2 (واحد، اثنان)

Asking how many (كم)

Numbers 3 to 10 (ثلاثة إلى عشرة)

Basic conjunctions (فـ، أو، لكن)

Ordering at a café (واحد، اثنان)

Food and drink with conjunctions (و، ف، أو، لكن)

There is and there are (هناك / ليس هناك)

Direct address (يا)

Giving reasons (لأنّ)

Relative pronouns (الذي / التي)

Quantifiers (كل / بعض)

The past tense of 'to be' (كان)

Past possession

Numbers 11 to 19 and tens to 80

Telling time (الساعة)

This book vs this is a book (هذا الكتاب، هذا كتاب)

Greetings (مرحبا، السلام عليكم)

How are you? and goodbye (كيف حالك، مع السلامة)

Nationalities (مصري، مصرية)

Roots and patterns (كتب، كتاب، مكتب)

Politeness (من فضلك، آسف)

Complex possession chains

Colors and traits (أفعل / فعلاء)

Plural colors and traits (فُعْل)

Comparative adjectives (أفعل من)

Superlative adjectives (أفعل)

Adverbs of manner (ـاً)

The nominative case (ـُ)

The genitive case (ـِ)

The accusative case (ـَ)

Dual noun cases (ـان / ـين)

Masculine plurals and 'the best of' (أفضل النجارين)

Emphasizing sentences (إنّ)

Connecting clauses (أنّ)

Reporting speech (قال إنّ)

Expressing contrast (لكنّ)

Comparison and probability (كأنّ, لعلّ)

Distant plural pointing (أولئك)

Plural relative pronouns (الذين, اللواتي)

Past habits (كان + present)

Ongoing actions (ما زال)

Masculine plurals online (مبرمجون، مؤثرون)

Perfective past (قد)

Probability (قد)

The subjunctive mood (أن)

Expressing purpose (لـ)

Question	Answer
lesson	درسdars
first	أولawwal
This is the first lesson.	هذا هو الدرس الأول.hâdhâ huwa ad-darsu al-awwalu
The first question is easy.	السؤال الأول سهل.as-su'âlu al-awwalu sahlun
second	ثانيthâni
I called the second doctor.	اتصلت بالطبيب الثاني.ittasaltu bittabîbi aththâni.
I traveled on the second day.	سافرت في اليوم الثاني.sâfartu fil-yawmith-thâni.
third	ثالثthâlith
The third street is wide.	الشارع الثالث واسع.ash-shâri'u ath-thâlithu wâsi'un
I traveled by the third train.	سافرت بالقطار الثالث.sâfartu bil-qitâri ath-thâlithi
fourth	رابعrâbi'
The fourth month is hot.	الشهر الرابع حار.ash-shahru r-râbi'u hârr.
I went to the fourth restaurant.	ذهبت للمطعم الرابع.dhahabtu lilmat‘ami arrâbi‘i
fifth	خامسkhâmis
I saw the fifth child.	رأيت الطفل الخامس.ra'aytu ttifla lkhâmisa
This is the fifth time.	هذه هي المرة الخامسة.hâdhihi hiya al-marratu al-khâmisah
sixth	سادسsâdis
I drank the sixth cup.	شربت الفنجان السادس.sharibtu alfinjâna assâdisa
The sixth door is closed.	الباب السادس مغلق.al-bâbu as-sâdisu mughlaqun.
seventh	سابعsâbi'
I sent a message to the seventh office.	أرسلت رسالة للمكتب السابع.arsaltu risâlatan lilmaktabi ssâbi'i
The seventh story is interesting.	القصة السابعة ممتعة.al-qissatu s-sâbi'atu mumti'ah
eighth	ثامنthâmin
He is the eighth participant.	هو المشارك الثامن.huwa al-mushâriku ath-thâmin
I bought the eighth ticket.	اشتريت التذكرة الثامنة.ishtaraytu at-tadhkirata th-thâminata
ninth	تاسعtâsi'
This exercise is for the ninth lesson.	هذا التمرين للدرس التاسع.hâdhâ at-tamrînu lil-darsi at-tâsi'i
I sat on the ninth seat.	جلست على المقعد التاسع.jalastu 'alâ al-maq'adi at-tâsi'i
tenth	عاشرâshir
The tenth question is hard.	السؤال العاشر صعب.as-su'âlu l-'âshiru sa'bun
I participated in the tenth project.	شاركت في المشروع العاشر.shâraktu fî al-mashrû'i al-'âshiri
last	آخرâkhir
This is the last lesson in the book.	هذا آخر درس في الكتاب.hâdhâ âkhiru darsin fil kitâb
The last page in the notebook has a question in it.	آخر صفحة في الدفتر فيها سؤال.âkhiru safhatin fi ad-daftari fiha su'âlun.
You are the last person here.	أنت آخر شخص هنا.anta âkhiru shakhsin hunâ

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