Key Rule: For numbers 3-10, the number form is the opposite of the noun's gender:
• Masculine nouns → number ends in -ah (looks feminine): שְׁלוֹשָׁה יְלָדִים
• Feminine nouns → number has no -ah ending: שָׁלוֹשׁ יְלָדוֹת
| # | # | With M. Nouns | With F. Nouns |
|---|
| 1 | 1 | אֶחָד (e-KHAD) | אַחַת (a-KHAT) |
| 2 | 2 | שְׁנַיִם (shNA-yim) | שְׁתַּיִם (shTA-yim) |
| 3 | 3 | שְׁלוֹשָׁה (shlo-SHA) | שָׁלוֹשׁ (sha-LOSH) |
| 4 | 4 | אַרְבָּעָה (ar-ba-A) | אַרְבַּע (AR-ba) |
| 5 | 5 | חֲמִשָּׁה (kha-mi-SHA) | חָמֵשׁ (kha-MESH) |
| 6 | 6 | שִׁשָּׁה (shi-SHA) | שֵׁשׁ (shesh) |
| 7 | 7 | שִׁבְעָה (shiv-A) | שֶׁבַע (SHE-va) |
| 8 | 8 | שְׁמוֹנָה (shmo-NA) | שְׁמוֹנֶה (shmo-NE) |
| 9 | 9 | תִּשְׁעָה (tish-A) | תֵּשַׁע (TE-sha) |
| 10 | 10 | עֲשָׂרָה (a-sa-RA) | עֶשֶׂר (E-ser) |
Circle the correct answer for each question.
1.שְׁלוֹשָׁה יְלָדִים - why does the number end in -ah?
Because יְלָדִים is feminine | Because יְלָדִים is masculine (opposite rule) | Because it's past tense | Random exception
2.Where does number 1 go relative to the noun?
Before the noun | After the noun | Either position | It replaces the noun
3.How do you say 'five girls'?
חֲמִשָּׁה בָּנוֹת | חָמֵשׁ בָּנוֹת | חָמֵשׁ בַּת | חֲמִשָּׁה בַּנוֹת
4.After numbers 2-10, the noun is:
Singular | Plural | Dual | Construct
Answers
1. Because יְלָדִים is masculine (opposite rule)
2. After the noun
3. חָמֵשׁ בָּנוֹת
4. Plural