Comprehensive Study Notes on Arabic Number Grammar and Inflection

Grammatical Rules and Inflection of Arabic Numbers

The grammar of numbers in the Arabic language, referred to as "سميات وإعراب الأعداد", is governed by specific rules concerning their grammatical position (I'rab) and the gender of the counted noun, known as the "Tamyiz" (تمييز العدد). Arabic numbers are generally parsed according to their position in the sentence (تعرب حسب موقعها). They are categorized into several types: single numbers, compound numbers, decade names, and conjoined numbers.

Categorization and Grammatical Inflection (I'rab)

The inflection of numbers depends on their structural category:

Single Numbers ( $1-10$ ): These numbers follow standard noun declension. They are raised by the Damma (ترفع بالضمة), made accusative by the Fatha (تنصب بالفتحة), and made genitive by the Kasra (تجر بالكسرة). An exception is made for the number $2$ ( $اثنان/اثنتان$ ), which follows the declension of the dual (المثنى).
Compound Numbers ( $11-19$ ): These are considered "built" on the opening of the two parts (مبني على فتح الجزأين). Regardless of their position in the sentence (nominative, accusative, or genitive), both parts of the number typically retain a Fatha ending. However, for the number $12$ , the first part ( $اثنا/اثني$ ) is treated as a dual noun, while the second part ( $عشر$ ) remains built on Fatha as a replacement for the Tanwin of the dual.
Decade Names (ألفاظ العقود): These consist of numbers such as $20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90$ . They follow the declension rules of the Masculine Sound Plural (جمع المذكر السالم). Consequently, they are raised by the Waw (ترفع بالواو) and are both accusative and genitive by the Ya' (تنصب وتجر بالياء).
Conjoined Numbers ( $21-99$ ): These consist of a single number conjoined with a decade name (e.g., $23$ ). The first part is parsed according to its position in the sentence as a single number. The second part (the decade name) follows the first part in its grammatical case (following the rules of Waw or Ya' for sound masculine plurals) because it is linked by a conjunction (معطوف).
Multiples of One Hundred and One Thousand ( $100, 1000, 300, 400, ext{etc.}$ ): These numbers are parsed according to their position in the sentence. For numbers like $300$ , the word for "three" follows the position, while "hundred" ( $مئة$ ) acts as a Mudhaf Ilayh (in a genitive construction).

Rules for the Counted Noun (Tamyiz)

The noun that follows a number (Tamyiz al-Adad) changes its grammatical form and number based on the range of the preceding number:

Numbers $1$ and $2$ : These numbers do not have a Tamyiz (ليس لهما تمييز). Instead, the concept is expressed using the singular or dual form of the noun itself. For example, one says "a student" ( $طالب$ ) or "two students" ( $طالبان$ ).
Numbers $3-10$ : The Tamyiz must be a genitive plural (جمع مجرور). For example, "seven students" ( $سبعة طلاب$ ).
Numbers $11-99$ : The Tamyiz must be a singular accusative (مفرد منصوب). This counts for compound numbers, decade names, and conjoined numbers. For example, "twenty-three teachers" ( $ثلاثة وعشرون معلمًا$ ).
Numbers $100$ , $1000$ , and their Multiples: The Tamyiz must be a singular genitive (مفرد مجرور). For example, "one hundred students" ( $مئة طالب$ ).

Steps for Writing Numbers in Arabic Script

To correctly convert numerical figures into Arabic words, three specific steps must be followed:

Step 1: Identify the gender of the Tamyiz. One must look at the singular form of the counted noun to determine if it is masculine (مذكر) or feminine (مؤنث). For example, even if the word is plural like "students" ( $طلاب$ ), we look at the singular "male student" ( $طالب$ ) which is masculine.

Step 2: Apply the gender agreement or disagreement rules.

Numbers $1$ and $2$ : These always agree with the Tamyiz in gender (يوافقان التمييز تذكيرًا وتأنيثًا).
Numbers $3-9$ : These always disagree with the Tamyiz (تخالف التمييز). If the noun is masculine, the number is feminine (ending in Taa Marbuta), and vice versa.
The Number $10$ : - If it is a single number (alone), it disagrees with the Tamyiz (مخالف). - If it is part of a compound number ( $11-19$ ), it agrees with the Tamyiz (يوافق).

Step 3: Determine the grammatical inflection (I'rab). The choice of ending (e.g., whether to use $Waw$ or $Ya'$ for decade names, or $Damma, Fatha, Kasra$ for others) depends on whether the number is the subject, object, or following a preposition.

Special Case: The Number Eight ( $8$ )

The number eight ( $ثمانية$ for feminine counted nouns and $ثمان$ / $ثماني$ for masculine counted nouns) has specific rules when the Tamyiz is feminine (e.g., degrees or girls).

If the number $8$ is used as a single number and the Tamyiz is feminine, it is written as ( $ثمانٍ$ ) under the following conditions: - The number must be in the nominative (مرفوع) or genitive (مجرور) case. - It must not be part of a Mudhaf construction (i.e., not followed directly by the Tamyiz, often separated by the preposition "min" ( $من$ )). - Example: "I obtained eight of the grades" (حصلت على ثمانٍ من الدرجات).
If it is conjoined and the Tamyiz is feminine ( $28$ ), and it is in a nominative or genitive case, the 'Ya' is also dropped. Example: "Twenty-eight girls appeared" (حضر ثمانٍ وعشرون فتاة).

Practical Examples and Applications

The following examples illustrate the application of gender and Tamyiz rules:

Example 1: "Attend [10] men and [10] girls." - Men ( $رجال$ ) is masculine plural, singular is ( $رجل$ ). Number $10$ (single) must be feminine: ( $عشرة$ ). - Girls ( $فتيات$ ) is feminine plural, singular is ( $فتاة$ ). Number $10$ (single) must be masculine: ( $عشر$ ). - Result: ( $حضر عشرة رجال وعشر فتيات$ ).
Example 2: "Attend [7] students (m), [4] students (f), and [23] teachers (m)." - Student (m): singular ( $طالب$ ) is masculine. Number $7$ is feminine: ( $سبعة$ ). Tamyiz is genitive plural: ( $طلاب$ ). - Student (f): singular ( $طالبة$ ) is feminine. Number $4$ is masculine: ( $أربع$ ). Tamyiz is genitive plural: ( $طالبات$ ). - Teacher (m): singular ( $معلم$ ) is masculine. Number $3$ is feminine: ( $ثلاثة$ ). The decade name ( $20$ ) follows the case of the subject. Since "attended" is the verb, the numbers are nominative: ( $وعشرون$ ). Tamyiz is singular accusative: ( $معلمًا$ ). - Result: ( $حضر سبعة طلاب وأربع طالبات وثلاثة وعشرون معلمًا$ ).

Numerical and Structural Reference Table

Tamyiz Types Summary: - $3-10$ : Plural Genitive ( $جمع مجرور$ ). - $11-99$ : Singular Accusative ( $مفرد منصوب$ ). - $100-1000$ : Singular Genitive ( $مفرد مجرور$ ).
Gender Agreement Summary: - $1-2$ : Agreement (يوافق). - $3-9$ : Disagreement (يخالف). - $10$ (Single): Disagreement (مخالف). - $10$ (Compound): Agreement (يوافق).