Breakdown of قابلنا اثنين وعشرين سمسارا.
وwa
and
ناnâ
our / us (object) / we (subject suffix on past verb)
قابلqâbala
to meet
اثنانithnân
two
Questions & Answers about قابلنا اثنين وعشرين سمسارا.
Why does the number 22 use the masculine form for two (اثنين)?
In Arabic, for compound numbers ending in 1 or 2 (like 21, 22, 31, 32), the unit digit strictly matches the gender of the noun being counted. Since the counted noun سمسار (broker) is masculine, the number uses the masculine form اثنين rather than the feminine اثنتين.
Why are both parts of the number in the accusative case (اثنين وعشرين) instead of nominative (اثنان وعشرون)?
The number acts as the direct object of the verb قابلنا (we met), so it must be in the accusative case. In compound numbers joined by و (and), both parts change their endings to reflect the case. The accusative dual form of two is اثنين, and the accusative form of twenty is عشرين.
Why is the word for brokers (سمسارا) singular when there are twenty-two of them?
In Arabic, all numbers from 11 to 99 require the noun that follows them to be singular and in the accusative case. This grammatical rule is why سمسار gets the accusative indefinite ending to become سمسارا rather than taking a plural form.
What is the verb form of قابلنا?
قابلنا is a Form III verb in the past tense. Form III verbs often involve interacting with another person. From the root letters for facing or front, Form III creates the meaning to meet face-to-face or to interview someone.