Breakdown of هناك ثلاث عشرة نبتة في الدفيئة.
الal
the
هناكhunâka
there
فيfî
in / about, regarding
ثلاث عشرةthalâtha 'ashrata
thirteen
نبتةnabta
plant
دفيئةdafee'a
greenhouse
Questions & Answers about هناك ثلاث عشرة نبتة في الدفيئة.
Why is it ثلاث (masculine) when the word for plant, نبتة, is feminine?
This is the core rule for compound numbers from 13 to 19! The first part of the number (the ones digit, 3 in this case) takes the opposite gender of the noun being counted. Since نبتة (plant) is feminine, ثلاث must be masculine (without a taa marbuta).
Why does the second part of the number, عشرة, have a feminine ending?
In compound numbers (13 to 19), the second part (the ten) always matches the gender of the counted noun. Since نبتة is feminine, عشرة is also feminine. So you end up with a mix: masculine unit, feminine ten, and feminine noun.
Why is the word for plant, نبتة, in the singular form instead of plural?
In Arabic, any counted noun that comes after a number from 11 to 99 must be singular. Even though we translate it as the plural plants in English, Arabic grammatically treats it as a singular noun. (It also takes an accusative -an ending, making it sound like nabtatan).
How does the hamza work in the word الدفيئة (greenhouse)?
The word is pronounced ad-dafī'a. Because the hamza is preceded by a long ee sound (the letter yaa), Arabic spelling rules dictate that the hamza sits on a yaa seat, which is the little shape holding the hamza in the middle of the word.
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