How many took part
These words put a size on a group.
| expression | meaning | what follows |
|---|---|---|
| العديد من | many | من + a definite plural |
| بضع / بضعة | a few (three to nine) | an indefinite plural |
| أغلب | most (of) | a definite noun |
| مجموع | the total (of) | a definite noun |
عديد(adîd) means numerous; with ال and من it is many (of).
| Many of the young people took part in the poll. | شارك العديد من الشباب في الاستطلاع.shâraka al-adîdu mina ash-shabâbi fî al-istitlâ'i |
| Many of the residents use the bus daily. | العديد من السكان يستخدمون الحافلة يوميا.al-adidu mina as-sukkani yastakhdimuna al-hafilata yawmiyyan |
A few: بضع and بضعة
بضع(bidh') follows the gender rule of the numbers 3 to 10: with a masculine noun it takes ة, with a feminine noun it has none.
| The researchers stayed in the neighborhood for a few days. | بقي الباحثون في الحي بضعة أيام.baqiya al-bâhithûna fî al-hayyi bid'ata ayyâmin |
| Only a few women answered the question. | لم يجب عن السؤال إلا بضع نساء.lam yujib 'ani ssu'âli illâ bid'u nisâ'in |
Most, and the minority
أغلب(aghlab) + a definite noun is most (of), like معظم, and takes pronouns too: أغلبهم most of them. The nouns أغلبية majority and أقلية(aqalliyyah) minority stand alone.
| Most of the residents agree to the project, but a minority refuses it. | أغلب السكان موافقون على المشروع، لكن أقلية ترفضه.aghlabu s-sukkâni muwâfiqûna 'alâ l-mashrû'i, lâkinna aqalliyyatan tarfuduhu. |
| We asked about a hundred people, and most of them live here. | سألنا حوالي مئة شخص، وأغلبهم يسكنون هنا.sa'alnâ hawâlay mi'ati shakhsin, wa aghlabuhum yaskunûna hunâ. |
The only one, and the total
وحيد(wahîd) after a definite noun, with ال, is the only. After a person and without ال, it stays alone.
| This is the only garden in the neighborhood. | هذه هي الحديقة الوحيدة في الحي.hâdhihi hiya al-hadîqatu al-wahîdatu fî al-hayyi |
| My brother was the only one who took part in the poll. | كان أخي الوحيد الذي شارك في الاستطلاع.kâna akhî al-waḥîda alladhî shâraka fî al-istitlâ'i. |
مجموع(majmoo') is the sum of everything counted: المجموع the total.
| The total is approximately a thousand people. | المجموع ألف شخص تقريبا.al-majmū'u alfu shakhsin taqrīban |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io
