What are common mistakes with الأعداد ١-١٠?

Making 3–10 agree normally with the noun instead of using reverse gender (polarity). 🇬🇧 English: English numbers have no gender — Arabic's reverse-gender rule (3–10) is entirely new. 🇩🇪 German: German numbers are invariable — Arabic numbers actively change form based on the noun's gender. 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian numbers trigger case changes but not gender polarity — Arabic's system is unique.

الأعداد ١-١٠: rules, examples & exercises | Arabic Grammar A1

الأعداد ١-١٠

A1 — مفردات

Numbers 1-10 with gender polarity rule

I can count from 1 to 10 and apply the gender polarity rule

Examples

ثَلاثَةُ كُتُبٍ — Three books
ثَلاثُ بَناتٍ — Three girls
خَمسَةُ طُلّابٍ — Five students
عَشرُ سَنَواتٍ — Ten years

مفرداتA1

Numbers 1–10

Numbers 1–10 with gender polarity rule

Learning Goal

I can count from 1 to 10 and apply the gender polarity rule

Exam Skills:تحدثكتابة

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

ثَلاثَةُ كُتُبٍ

Three books

ثَلاثُ بَناتٍ

Three girls

خَمسَةُ طُلّابٍ

Five students

عَشرُ سَنَواتٍ

Ten years

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

الأعداد ١–١٠ (Numbers 1–10)

Arabic numbers 1–10 follow a gender polarity rule: numbers 3–10 take the opposite gender of the counted noun.

Number	With masc. noun	With fem. noun
١	واحِد	واحِدة
٢	اثنان	اثنتان
٣	ثلاثة كُتُب	ثلاث بنات
٤	أربعة	أربع
٥	خمسة	خمس
١٠	عشرة	عشر

Key: 1–2 agree normally. 3–10 use reverse agreement. Counted noun after 3–10 is مجرور جمع (genitive plural).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Making 3–10 agree normally with the noun instead of using reverse gender (polarity). 🇬🇧 English: English numbers have no gender — Arabic's reverse-gender rule (3–10) is entirely new.

Common Error Patterns

Using same gender instead of reverse polarity for 3–10

3–10 take OPPOSITE gender: masc. noun → fem. number (ثلاثة كتب)

Wrong case on the counted noun

After 3–10, the noun is genitive plural: خمسةُ كُتُبٍ

ثَلاثَةُ كُتُبٍ

Three books

كتاب is masculine → number takes feminine form ثلاثة (with tā marbūṭa).

ثَلاثُ بَناتٍ

Three girls

بنت is feminine → number drops tā marbūṭa: ثلاث (reverse polarity).

خَمسَةُ طُلّابٍ

Five students

طالب is masculine → خمسة with tā marbūṭa. Noun in genitive plural.

عَشرُ سَنَواتٍ

Ten years

سنة is feminine → عشر without tā marbūṭa (reverse polarity).

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

2. The article, agreement and numbers

Frequently asked questions

When is الأعداد ١-١٠ used?: Arabic numbers 1–10 follow a gender polarity rule: numbers 3–10 take the opposite gender of the counted noun.
How is الأعداد ١-١٠ formed?: Key: 1–2 agree normally. 3–10 use reverse agreement. Counted noun after 3–10 is مجرور جمع (genitive plural).
What are common mistakes with الأعداد ١-١٠?: Making 3–10 agree normally with the noun instead of using reverse gender (polarity). 🇬🇧 English: English numbers have no gender — Arabic's reverse-gender rule (3–10) is entirely new. 🇩🇪 German: German numbers are invariable — Arabic numbers actively change form based on the noun's gender. 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian numbers trigger case changes but not gender polarity — Arabic's system is unique.