Question 1

Why does only the first part of 'the thirteenth' (الثالث) have the definite article الـ, while the second part (عشر) doesn't?

Accepted Answer

In Arabic, when compound ordinal numbers (11th through 19th) describe a definite noun like اليوم, the definite article الـ is only added to the first part of the number. It is incorrect to add it to the second part, so we say الثالث عشر rather than الثالث العشر.

Question 2

Since اليوم is in the nominative case here, shouldn't its adjective end in a damma? Why do both parts of الثالث عشر end with a fatha?

Accepted Answer

This highlights a special rule you are learning now: compound numbers from 11 to 19 are fixed or indeclinable (known as مبني على فتح الجزأين). This means both parts always end in a fatha (an 'a' sound) regardless of the case of the noun they describe. Even though اليوم takes a damma, the number remains الثالثَ عشرَ.

Question 3

How does gender matching work for compound ordinal numbers?

Accepted Answer

Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) behave like regular adjectives, meaning they must match the noun in gender. Because اليوم (the day) is masculine, both parts of the compound number must be masculine. Therefore, we use الثالث and عشر instead of their feminine forms الثالثة and عشرة.

Question 4

Why is the pronoun هو inserted after هذا? Couldn't we just say هذا اليوم?

Accepted Answer

If you said هذا اليوم الثالث عشر, it would translate as a fragment: 'This thirteenth day...' because هذا would simply point to the definite noun. Inserting هو acts as a separator (called ضمير الفصل) that breaks the phrase, providing the missing 'is' to make a complete sentence: 'This IS the thirteenth day.'

هذا هو اليوم الثالث عشر من التدريب.

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