שני הבלמים תקינים.

Both brakes are in working order.

Breakdown of שני הבלמים תקינים.

• שני: two
• בלם: bicycle brake
• תקין: in working order

Questions & Answers about שני הבלמים תקינים.

Why is it שני and not שניים?

Because שני is the form used before a noun: שני הבלמים = the two brakes / both brakes.

שניים is usually used when two stands on its own, without a noun right after it.

• שני הבלמים = the two brakes
• שניים תקינים = two are working / two are fine

So in this sentence, שני is the correct form.

Does שני הבלמים mean two brakes or both brakes?

It can literally mean the two brakes, and in natural English that often becomes both brakes.

Because the noun is definite here (הבלמים = the brakes), the whole phrase is definite:

• שני בלמים = two brakes
• שני הבלמים = the two brakes / both brakes

So in this sentence, both brakes is a very natural translation.

Why is the ה attached to בלמים and not to שני?