Breakdown of على هذا الطبق كعكتان اثنتان.
هذاhâdhâ
this (m)
على'ala
on / of (evidence of) / to (lie to someone) / for (difficult for someone)
اثنتانithnatâni
two
طبقtabaq
plate (for eating) / dish (of food)
كعكةkaka
cake
Questions & Answers about على هذا الطبق كعكتان اثنتان.
Why does the word for "two" (اثنتان) come after the word for cakes (كعكتان)?
In Arabic, the numbers 1 and 2 act like adjectives. Just like other adjectives, they come after the noun they describe. So instead of saying "two cakes", Arabic literally says "cakes two".
Why is the word for two اثنتان here, instead of اثنان?
Because the numbers 1 and 2 must match the gender of the noun! The singular word for cake is كعكة, which is feminine because it ends in a tied taa' (ة). Since the noun is feminine, the number must also use its feminine form, اثنتان.
Doesn't كعكتان already mean "two cakes"? Why do we need to add اثنتان?
You are exactly right! Adding the dual ending to كعكة already means "two cakes". Adding the actual number word اثنتان after it is completely optional and is used to add emphasis.
There is no word for "there are" in this sentence. How do we know it means that?
In Arabic, you can express "there is" or "there are" by starting a sentence with a preposition or location phrase. By putting على هذا الطبق (on this plate) at the very beginning of the sentence, it creates the meaning "There are two cakes on this plate."
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