Breakdown of لا تقطف زهرة، عندنا ست عشرة زهرة فقط.
زهرةzahra
flower
ناnâ
our / us (object) / we (subject suffix on past verb)
عند'inda
at / to have
لاlâ
Questions & Answers about لا تقطف زهرة، عندنا ست عشرة زهرة فقط.
Why is the number 16 written with the masculine ست and the feminine عشرة?
This showcases reverse gender agreement for compound numbers 13 through 19. The counted noun زهرة (flower) is feminine. The single digit 6 must take the opposite gender, becoming the masculine ست. The tens digit 10 agrees with the noun, taking the feminine form عشرة.
What case ending does the number 16 take in this sentence?
Compound numbers from 11 to 19 (except 12) are indeclinable, meaning they always end with a fatha on both parts regardless of their grammatical role. Even though 16 acts as the subject of the second clause, it is permanently locked as ستَّ عشرةَ.
Why is the word زهرة singular after the number 16 when the English translation says sixteen flowers?
In Arabic, any noun counted by a number from 11 to 99 must be singular and take the accusative case. Therefore, we use the singular زهرة instead of the plural زهور.
How does the grammar of لا تقطف show that it is a negative command rather than a regular negative statement?