Here are the numbers from zero to ten, the way you count, and the way you say a phone number: . A Maltese mobile number has eight digits, and people say them one by one, just as Marija writes yours down: .
Before a noun the numbers change, and so does the noun. One comes after the noun and takes its gender, like an adjective: , one chair · , one cup. Two is , and the noun is plural: , two cups. From three to ten the number loses its -a (, and a little more), and the noun goes into the plural you know from module 2: , but , three chairs · , but , ten keys.
| Counting | Before a noun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| One: after the noun, which stays singular | ||
| · | one · one chair · one cup | |
| one · one chair · one cup | ||
| Two: , and the noun is plural | ||
| · | two · two chairs · two cups | |
| two · two chairs · two cups | ||
| Three to ten: the short form, and the noun is plural | ||
| three · three chairs | ||
| three · three chairs | ||
| four · four cups | ||
| four · four cups | ||
| five · five tables | ||
| five · five tables | ||
| six · six lamps | ||
| six · six lamps | ||
| seven · seven cats | ||
| seven · seven cats | ||
| eight · eight doors | ||
| eight · eight doors | ||
| nine · nine pages | ||
| nine · nine pages | ||
| ten · ten keys | ||
| ten · ten keys | ||
needs no noun: Before the few nouns that start with a vowel, the short form adds a -t; you will meet those later.
The long form is for a number on its own: counting, a phone number, a short answer. The short form is for a number with its noun. asks how many, and the noun after it stays singular: How many keys do you have?
Ċikku għandu għaxar ċwievet, u int żero.Ċikku has ten keys, and you have zero.
Sebgħa, disgħa, wieħed, tnejn.Seven, nine, one, two.
Sebgħa, disgħa, wieħed, tnejn.Seven, nine, one, two.
Fil-kċina hemm żewġ siġġijiet u mejda waħda.In the kitchen there are two chairs and one table.
Fil-kafetterija hemm ħames mwejjed u tmien siġġijiet.In the café there are five tables and eight chairs.
Għandi tazza waħda biss.I only have one cup.
Għandi tazza waħda biss.I only have one cup.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Find the words
Tap the numbers.
, .
Ċikku has ten keys, and you have zero.
, , , .
Seven, nine, one, two.
, , , .
Seven, nine, one, two.
, , , ...
Seven, nine, one, eight...
, , , .
Three, four, five, six.
, , , .
Three, four, five, six.
.
In the kitchen there are two chairs and one table.
.
In the café there are five tables and eight chairs.
.
Ġorġ has seven lamps and four cups.
!
There are nine pages in the form!
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Counting, or before a noun?
The long form on its own, the short form before a noun.
Mhux tmienja, !
Not eight, two!
Mhux tmienja, !
Not eight, two!
Fuq il-mejda hemm tazzi.
There are two cups on the table.
Ċikku għandu ċwievet.
Ċikku has ten keys.
Kemm-il ċavetta għandu? .
How many keys does he have? Ten.
Kemm-il ċavetta għandu? .
How many keys does he have? Ten.
Fil-kċina hemm siġġijiet.
There are three chairs in the kitchen.
, erbgħa, ħamsa, sitta.
Three, four, five, six.
, erbgħa, ħamsa, sitta.
Three, four, five, six.
Fil-kafetterija hemm mwejjed.
There are six tables in the café.
Ġorġ għandu tazzi.
Ġorġ has four cups.
Fil-formola hemm paġni.
There are five pages in the form.
Hemm qtates fil-kantina!
There are seven cats in the cellar!
One, eight, nine
Choose the right word for the gap.
Għandi tazza biss.
I only have one cup.
Għandi tazza biss.
I only have one cup.
Hemm siġġu fil-kamra.
There's one chair in the room.
Fid-dar hemm bibien.
There are eight doors in the house.
Fil-formola hemm paġni.
There are nine pages in the form.
In-numru tiegħi: sebgħa, , wieħed, tnejn.
My number: seven, nine, one, two.
In-numru tiegħi: sebgħa, , wieħed, tnejn.
My number: seven, nine, one, two.
, disgħa, wieħed, tmienja...
Seven, nine, one, eight...
Sebgħa, disgħa, wieħed, ...
Seven, nine, one, eight...
Tlieta, , ħamsa, sitta.
Three, four, five, six.
Tlieta, , ħamsa, sitta.
Three, four, five, six.
Tlieta, erbgħa, , disgħa.
Three, four, five, nine.
Mhux disgħa! .
Not nine! Six.
Mhux disgħa! .
Not nine! Six.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
How many?
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Kemm-il ċavetta għandek? ?
How many keys do you have? Zero?
Ċikku għandu ċwievet.
Ċikku has ten keys.
Fil-kċina hemm tazzi u siġġijiet.
In the kitchen there are two cups and three chairs.
Hemm mejda u siġġu .
There's one table and one chair.
Fil-kafetterija hemm mwejjed u lampi.
In the café there are six tables and nine lamps.
Practice 4/6 · Matching
Digits
Match the pairs.
Practice 5/6 · Building sentences
Put the words in order
Put the words in order.
How many keys do you have?
Ċikku has ten keys.
There are two cups on the table.
My number: seven, nine, one, two.
My number: seven, nine, one, two.
There are five tables in the café.
There are eight doors in the house.
I only have one cup.
I only have one cup.
Practice 6/6 · In situations
The right words
Choose the right words for the situation.
Marija asks how many keys you have. You have none; the cat has yours.
You say:
Marija asks how many keys you have. You have none; the cat has yours.
You say:
Marija writes down an eight, but you said two. Correct her.
You say:
Marija writes down an eight, but you said two. Correct her.
You say:
Tell Ella there are two chairs in your kitchen.
You say:
Before a noun two is żewġ, and the noun is plural: siġġijiet.
Tell Ella there are two chairs in your kitchen.
You say:
Before a noun two is żewġ, and the noun is plural: siġġijiet.
Ella asks how many cats there are in the cellar. There are seven.
You say:
Before a noun seven is seba', and the noun is plural: qtates.
Ella asks how many cats there are in the cellar. There are seven.
You say:
Before a noun seven is seba', and the noun is plural: qtates.
Lina wants to put two cups on your table. You only have one.
You say:
One comes after the noun and takes its gender: tazza is feminine, so waħda.
Lina wants to put two cups on your table. You only have one.
You say:
One comes after the noun and takes its gender: tazza is feminine, so waħda.
Unit complete
