A1 general 3분 분량

Tamyiiz: Spec

With numbers 11-99, the counted object is always singular and ends with the 'an' sound (`mansub`).

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Clarifies vague numbers or amounts.
  • Used with numbers 11-99.
  • Noun is always SINGULAR.
  • Noun ends in 'an' (Accusative).

Quick Reference

Number Range Noun Form Case Ending Example
11 - 99 Singular Accusative (-an) `khamsata 'ashara rajulan` (15 men)
Kam (How many) Singular Accusative (-an) `kam yajman?` (How many stars?)
Measurements Singular Accusative (-an) `litran haliban` (A liter of milk)
3 - 10 (Contrast) Plural Genitive (-in) `thalathat rijalin` (3 men)
100+ (Contrast) Singular Genitive (-in) `mi'at rajulin` (100 men)

주요 예문

3 / 8
1

Ishtaraytu 'ishrina kitaban

I bought twenty books.

2

Fi al-fasli thalathuna taliban

In the class are thirty students.

3

Kam daqiqatan baqi?

How many minutes are left?

🎯

The 'Teen' Trick

Just like English numbers 'thir-TEEN' to 'nine-TEEN', Arabic numbers 11-19 are special. But here, the noun stays singular. Think 'Thirteen dollar', not 'dollars'.

⚠️

Don't Translate 'Of'

If you say `kilo min tufah` (kilo FROM apples), people will understand you, but it sounds clunky. `kilo tufahan` is the smooth, native way.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Clarifies vague numbers or amounts.
  • Used with numbers 11-99.
  • Noun is always SINGULAR.
  • Noun ends in 'an' (Accusative).

Overview

Ever had a conversation that felt incomplete? Imagine walking into a shop and saying, "I'll take twenty." The shopkeeper stares at you. Twenty what? Apples? Minutes? Dinosaurs?

That missing piece of information is exactly what Tamyiiz handles. It's the "clarifier." It steps in to remove ambiguity from vague words like numbers, weights, or measurements. In English, we say "twenty books." In Arabic, the word for "books" changes its ending to show it's the thing being counted. Without it, your sentence hangs in the air like an un-high-fived hand.

How This Grammar Works

Think of Tamyiiz as a spotlight. You have a vague word (the number or amount), and the Tamyiiz shines a light on exactly what you mean.

For beginners (A1), the most important place you'll see this is with numbers between 11 and 99.

Here is the golden rule: The thing you are counting must be:

  1. 1Indefinite (no al-)
  2. 2Singular (not plural!)
  3. 3Accusative (ends with a fatha or an sound)

Yes, it feels weird. In English, we say "fifteen dollars" (plural). In Arabic, you literally say "fifteen dollar" (singular). If you use the plural, you'll sound like you're trying to invent a new language.

Formation Pattern

  1. 1Getting the ending right is easier than choosing a Netflix movie.
  2. 2Take the singular noun. (e.g., kitab for book)
  3. 3Remove any al-. (Keep it indefinite)
  4. 4Add the "an" sound. (Tanwin Fath)
  5. 5Examples:
  6. 6kitab (book) → kitaban
  7. 7riyal (currency) → riyalan
  8. 8sana (year) → sanatan (for words ending in Taa Marbuta, just add the sound, don't add an extra Aleph)
  9. 9So, "twenty books" becomes ishruna kitaban.

When To Use It

Use this specific pattern (Singular + Accusative) primarily with:

  • Numbers 11-99: This is the big one. ahada 'ashara kawkaban (11 planets), tis'una daqiqatan (90 minutes).
  • How much/How many questions: After kam (how many). kam sanatan? (How many years?).
  • Weights and Measures: "A kilo of..." → kilo tufahan (a kilo of apples).

When Not To Use It

Don't use this singular/accusative pattern for:

  • Numbers 3-10: They want plural/genitive (totally different vibe).
  • Numbers 100, 1000: They want singular/genitive.
  • Definite nouns: Tamyiiz is basically always indefinite. If you say al-kitaban, you've left Tamyiiz territory.

Common Mistakes

  • The Plural Trap: Saying ishruna kutuban (20 books-plural). Nope! Keep it singular: ishruna kitaban.
  • The Case Crash: Saying ishruna kitabun (nominative). It needs that "an" ending to show it's the specifier.
  • The "Of" Addition: In English, we say "kilo OF sugar." In Arabic, don't try to translate "of." Just put the words next to each other: kilo sukaran.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • Adjectives (Sifa): Adjectives copy the noun they describe (definite/definite). Tamyiiz clarifies a vague noun and stays indefinite.
  • Idafa (Possession): Idafa makes the second word genitive (kasra). Tamyiiz makes it accusative (fatha).

Quick FAQ

Q: Why is it singular? That makes no sense for "99 problems."

Arabic logic is unique! It treats the group as a single specification category. Just roll with it.

Q: What if the word ends in Taa Marbuta?

You still add the "an" sound, but you don't write the extra stick (Aleph). sanatan, not sanataan.

Q: Does this apply to "How much" questions?

Yes! kam (how many) works exactly like the numbers 11-99. kam waladan? (How many boys?).

Reference Table

Number Range Noun Form Case Ending Example
11 - 99 Singular Accusative (-an) `khamsata 'ashara rajulan` (15 men)
Kam (How many) Singular Accusative (-an) `kam yajman?` (How many stars?)
Measurements Singular Accusative (-an) `litran haliban` (A liter of milk)
3 - 10 (Contrast) Plural Genitive (-in) `thalathat rijalin` (3 men)
100+ (Contrast) Singular Genitive (-in) `mi'at rajulin` (100 men)
🎯

The 'Teen' Trick

Just like English numbers 'thir-TEEN' to 'nine-TEEN', Arabic numbers 11-19 are special. But here, the noun stays singular. Think 'Thirteen dollar', not 'dollars'.

⚠️

Don't Translate 'Of'

If you say `kilo min tufah` (kilo FROM apples), people will understand you, but it sounds clunky. `kilo tufahan` is the smooth, native way.

💬

Marketplace Mastery

In local dialects, the 'an' ending often disappears (`khamsata 'ashar kitab`). But learning it with the proper `kitaban` makes you sound educated and helps you read prices correctly!

💡

The Single Life

Tamyiiz 11-99 loves the single life. It refuses to be plural. If you see a number 11-99, immediately switch your brain to singular mode.

예시

8
#1 اشتريتُ عشرينَ كتاباً

Ishtaraytu 'ishrina kitaban

Focus: kitaban

I bought twenty books.

Standard usage with numbers 20-90.

#2 في الفصلِ ثلاثونَ طالباً

Fi al-fasli thalathuna taliban

Focus: taliban

In the class are thirty students.

Notice 'taliban' is singular, even though there are 30.

#3 كمْ دقيقةً باقي؟

Kam daqiqatan baqi?

Focus: daqiqatan

How many minutes are left?

Used after 'kam' (how many).

#4 عندي أحدَ عشرَ أخاً

Indi ahada 'ashara akhan

Focus: akhan

I have eleven brothers.

Compound number (11).

#5 شربتُ كوباً شاياً

Sharibtu kuban shayan

Focus: shayan

I drank a cup of tea.

Measurement/Amount specification.

#6 أنا أكثرُ منكَ مالاً

Ana aktharu minka malan

Focus: malan

I have more money than you (lit: I am more than you in money).

Advanced: Tamyiiz clarifying a comparison.

#7 قرأتُ خمسةَ عشرَ صفحاتٍ (✗)

Qara'tu khamsata 'ashara safhatin (Wrong)

Focus: safhatan (✓)

I read fifteen pages.

Mistake: Used plural/genitive. Should be singular/accusative.

#8 عندي تسعونَ دولارٌ (✗)

Indi tis'una dollarun (Wrong)

Focus: dollaran (✓)

I have ninety dollars.

Mistake: Used nominative case. Should be 'dollaran'.

셀프 테스트

Choose the correct form of the noun for the number 15.

عندي خمسة عشر ___ (I have 15 pens)

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: qalaman

Numbers 11-99 require a singular, accusative noun (`qalaman`). `aqlam` is plural (wrong), `qalamun` is nominative (wrong).

Complete the question asking about quantity.

كم ___ تريد؟ (How many days do you want?)

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: yawman

After `kam` (how many), the noun acts like Tamyiiz: singular and accusative.

Select the correct ending for a measurement.

اشتريت كيلو ___ (I bought a kilo of meat)

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: lahman

Clarifying a measurement (kilo) takes the accusative case (`lahman`).

🎉 점수: /3

시각 학습 자료

Is it Tamyiiz?

1

Is there a number 11-99?

YES ↓
NO
Check other rules
2

Is the noun singular?

YES ↓
NO
Make it singular!
3

Does it end in 'an'?

YES ↓
NO
Add Tanwin Fath
4

Grammar Validated

NO
Success

Number Rules Showdown

3 to 10
kutubin Plural + Genitive
11 to 99 (Tamyiiz)
kitaban Singular + Accusative
100 & 1000
kitabin Singular + Genitive

Where you see Tamyiiz

🔢

Counting (11-99)

  • • 20 dirhams
  • • 50 cities
❓

Asking (Kam)

  • • How many boys?
  • • How many cars?
⚖️

Weighing

  • • Kilo of rice
  • • Meter of cloth
📈

Comparing

  • • Older (in age)
  • • Prettier (in face)

자주 묻는 질문

20 질문

It comes from a root meaning 'to distinguish' or 'to discriminate.' It distinguishes exactly what you are talking about so there is no confusion.

Yes and no. The concept exists, but dialects usually drop the an ending. They still keep the noun singular though! ishrin kitab (20 book).

Arabic numbers are like a complex dinner party with strict seating arrangements. 11-99 just happen to sit at the 'Singular Accusative' table. 3-10 sit elsewhere.

No, that is grammatically incorrect. Even though 30 is a lot, the word for 'book' must remain singular: kitaban.

In speech, you might get away with it (pausal form). In writing, it looks like a typo. Better to practice it!

For the Tamyiiz noun itself? No, you just make it accusative. But the *number* before it might change gender based on complex rules. For now, focus on the noun!

Yes, Kam acts grammatically like a number in the 11-99 range. It demands a singular, accusative clarifier.

Grammatically, for the word 'book', they are identical: kitaban. The numbers themselves change, but the Tamyiiz noun stays locked in.

No. Tamyiiz is indefinite by definition. If you add al-, the whole grammatical structure changes.

That requires a different structure called min. ishruna min al-kutub. Tamyiiz is for general counting ('20 books').

Usually, yes. It's the single word that clarifies the vague number or amount.

It still follows the same rule! sayyaratan. Singular, indefinite, accusative.

Strictly speaking, if you stop at the end of the sentence, you pronounce it as 'aa'. kitabaa. But in flow, it's kitaban.

Very common. You'll see ahada 'ashara kawkaban (11 planets) in Surah Yusuf.

Remembering which number groups take which rules. 11-99 is the easiest group, so master it first.

Yes! Like 'He increased in knowledge' (izdada 'ilman). 'Knowledge' clarifies *in what way* he increased.

Sort of. We say '5 head of cattle' (singular) or '20 foot drop' (singular). That's the closest English gets to Tamyiiz logic.

Usually with an Aleph and two fathas on top (اً). If the word ends in Taa Marbuta (ة), you just put the two fathas on the ة.

Don't! Tamyiiz for 11-99 ignores broken plurals. Use the singular.

Yes. kuban shayan. 'Tea' specifies what fill the cup. Otherwise it could be a cup of coffee!

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