Breakdown of كتب المؤلف مئة صفحة.
الal
the
كتبkataba
to write
صفحةsafha
page
مئةmi'a
hundred
مؤلفmu'allif
author
Questions & Answers about كتب المؤلف مئة صفحة.
Why is the Arabic word for pages (صفحة) singular in this sentence?
This is the special rule for numbers 100 and 1,000. Unlike numbers 3 through 10, which take a plural noun, the counted noun after 100 and 1,000 must always be in the singular form.
What case ending does the counted noun (صفحة) take here?
It takes the genitive case. Because it is an indefinite noun, it takes a double kasra sound at the end. Counted nouns following 100 and 1,000 are always singular and in the genitive case.
Does the number 100 (مئة) change its case ending depending on the sentence?
Yes! The number itself acts like a normal noun. In this sentence, it is the direct object of the verb كتب (he wrote), so it is in the accusative case and takes a fatha at the end.
I have seen the word for one hundred spelled as مائة before. Is مئة different?
They are exactly the same word and are pronounced exactly the same way. The spelling مائة with an extra alif is an older spelling convention used before Arabic letters had dots, originally to prevent confusing it with other words. Both spellings are correct and widely used today.
Just as a quick review, why is the verb كتب at the very beginning of the sentence?
This is a standard Arabic verbal sentence. The most natural word order in Modern Standard Arabic is Verb-Subject-Object. If we translated it word-for-word, it would be "Wrote the author a hundred pages."
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