Numbers 2
Grammar Notes
See the note here on Duolingo for a more detailed explanation of the irregularities in the Hebrew number system.
Numbers as Adjectives
When numbers are applied to nouns, e.g. "three bananas", the number functions like an adjective but is not a true adjective so it is placed in front of the noun. Hence "three bananas" – ""
However the number has a gender and has to agree with the gender of the noun. In contrast to regular nouns and adjectives, the male gendered number ends with and so "looks" like a female gender word.
For definite nouns, the number is applied before the noun and the definite article is applied to the noun itself like in a construct form.
Hence:
-
masculine nouns
- - five dogs
- - the five dogs
-
feminine nouns
- - three women
- - the three women
The poster in the Duolingo note says to think of it as achieving "balance" - pair with a word that doesn't end with and vice versa.
Numbers Past Twenty
For numbers beyond twenty, the number is said "(tens) and-(ones)":
- – "thirty and-five" – thirty-five
Also, all numbers beyond twenty match the gender of the "ones", as the "tens" are neutral.
Singular but Plural
When using numbers beyond 11 along with distances, currency, times, percents, and the word , the singular noun is used instead of the plural noun. Technically all words should be like this according to formal grammar rules, but in practice only these categories are.
Lessons
Lesson 1
- (( – the three
- (( – the five
- (( – the seven
Lesson 2
- – first
- – second
- – third
- – fourth
- – thirty
- – forty
- – fifty
Lesson 3
- – sixty
- – seventy
- – eighty
- – ninety
- – the 70's
- – amount
Lesson 4
- – one hundred
- – two hundred
- ... – ... hundred
- – one thousand
- – two thousand
- ... – ... thousand
- – million
Lesson 5
- – billion
- – average
- – percent
- – mostly
- – in total
- - – most of
- – half
Lesson 6
- – add, plus
- – multiply
- – subtract
- – divide
- – equals
- – last
- – minus
📋 From my grammar sheet tables · exercises
Ordinal numbers (first, second …). Above ten, use the ordinary number: הַיּוֹם הָאַחַד־עָשָׂר (the eleventh day).
Ordinals
| Meaning | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| first | ||
| second | ||
| third | ||
| fourth | ||
| fifth | ||
| sixth | ||
| seventh | ||
| eighth | ||
| ninth | ||
| tenth |
Exercises
📖 Story: Grandpa is eighty 8 sentences · 3 questions
Grandpa is eighty
- Today my grandfather is eighty years old.
- There are fifty people at the party.
- Most of the people are from the family.
- Grandpa has four children and twelve grandchildren.
- His first grandson is thirty, and his youngest granddaughter is two.
- The grandchildren eat half of the cake in ten minutes.
- Grandpa says:
- "I feel twenty!"
Questions
How many people are at the party?
How many grandchildren does Grandpa have?
How old does Grandpa say he feels?
Practice
The rule
Tens have one form for both genders. Compound numbers join with ו־: – "thirty and five". For "the three…" use the construct form: (masc.), (fem.).
| 20 | 30 | 40 | |||
| 100 | 200 | 1000 | |||
| 2000 | first / second | / (fem. / ) | |||
Each sentence shows the rule. Listen, say it after the voice, then tap the grey bar for the meaning and a note on the rule. The pattern quiz blanks out the key form.
Sentences
- – I am thirty-five years old · 30 + ו + 5
- – This costs one hundred shekels · מאה – 100
- – There are two hundred people here · מאתיים – 200
- – My three dogs · the three (masc.) → שלושת
- – My three daughters · the three (fem.) → שלוש
- – He is first and she is second · fem. ordinal → שנייה
- – Two thousand and twenty · אלפיים – 2000
- – He lives on the fourth floor · קומה is fem. → הרביעית