Question 1

Why is the word for guests (ضيفا) singular and why does it have an extra alif at the end?

Accepted Answer

For numbers 11 through 99 in Arabic, the counted noun must be singular and take the accusative case, which often adds an 'an' sound written with an extra alif. Even though the English translation is plural ('guests'), the grammar requires the singular ضيفا rather than the plural ضيوف.

Question 2

How do the two words for twelve (اثنا عشر) match the gender of the guests?

Accepted Answer

Compound numbers from 11 to 19 have a ones part and a tens part. For the numbers 11 and 12, both parts must match the gender of the counted noun. Because a guest (ضيف) is masculine, both the 'two' part (اثنا) and the 'ten' part (عشر) are in their masculine forms.

Question 3

I do not see a verb here. How do we get 'My friend has'?

Accepted Answer

Arabic does not use a verb like 'to have.' Instead, you use a preposition meaning 'with' or 'at' (عند) followed by the possessor. So, عند صديقي literally means 'At my friend', which is the standard way to express possession or having something.

Question 4

Why is the word for two here اثنا instead of the usual اثنان or اثنين?

Accepted Answer

The number twelve is special! Unlike other numbers from 11-19, its first part changes depending on its grammatical role, and it drops its final 'n' letter when attached to عشر. Here, the twelve guests are technically the subject of the sentence (literally: twelve guests are at my friend), so we use the subject form اثنا. If they were the object of an action, it would change to اثني.

عند صديقي اثنا عشر ضيفا.

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