Maltese has a form of its own for exactly two of something: the dual, which ends in -ejn. is once · , twice · , three times. , a minute · , two minutes: so Ravi says , we close in two minutes. A word that has a dual uses it instead of , two: , two days, never . From three on the plural comes back, as in .
One, two, three
| One | Two | Three and more | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| once · twice · three times | |||
| once · twice · three times | |||
| a day · two days · three days | |||
| a day · two days · three days | |||
| an hour · two hours · three hours | |||
| an hour · two hours · three hours | |||
| a minute · two minutes · three minutes | |||
| a minute · two minutes · three minutes | |||
| a week · two weeks · three weeks | |||
| a week · two weeks · three weeks | |||
| a month · two months · three months | |||
| a month · two months · three months | |||
| a year · two years · three years | |||
| a year · two years · three years | |||
Many feminine words in -a take a before the ending: , , ; simply has . A few change inside: , .
The body has its pairs in the dual too: , the ears, , the eyes, , the throat. That is why the verb is plural: My ears hurt. And Ġorġ's present, , are plugs for the ears.
Pairs of the body
| One | Two | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| an ear · the ears | ||
| an ear · the ears | ||
| an eye · the eyes | ||
| an eye · the eyes | ||
| a throat · the throat | ||
| a throat · the throat | ||
With the owner's ending: , my ears · , your eyes · , her throat.
How often: count the times with , then say per what with , every, or , every day: , three times a day · , twice a week · , every eight hours. To ask, say How many times?
How often?
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| once a day | |
| once a day | |
| twice a day | |
| twice a day | |
| three times a day | |
| three times a day | |
| twice a week | |
| twice a week | |
| every eight hours | |
| every eight hours | |
| every time | |
| every time | |
| How many times? | |
| How many times? | |
is in one word. And from module 5: , always · , often · , sometimes · , never, with :
Żewġ pilloli, tliet darbiet kuljum.Two tablets, three times a day.
Darbtejn kuljum?Twice a day?
Darbtejn kuljum?Twice a day?
F'jumejn tħossok aħjar.In two days you'll feel better.
Ċikku jiekol darbtejn kuljum.Ċikku eats twice a day.
L-appuntament? F'ġimagħtejn.The appointment? In two weeks.
Indoqq sagħtejn kull lejl.I play for two hours every night.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Find the words
Tap the words for exactly two.
.
We close in two minutes.
.
In two days you'll feel better.
.
Ċikku eats twice a day.
.
I play for two hours every night.
.
The appointment is in two weeks.
.
Ġorġ has brown eyes.
, !
Ġorġ, I need plugs for my ears!
, !
Ġorġ, I need plugs for my ears!
.
My phone is two years old.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
One, two or three?
Choose the right word for the gap.
Nagħlqu f' .
We close in two minutes.
F' tħossok aħjar.
In two days you'll feel better.
L-appuntament f' !
The appointment is in two weeks!
L-appuntament f' !
The appointment is in two weeks!
Ċikku jiekol kuljum.
Ċikku eats twice a day.
Indoqq kull lejl.
I play for two hours every night.
Ġorġ idoqq fil-banda: kull hemm kunċert.
Ġorġ plays in the band: every two months there's a concert.
Ċikku kemm għandu żmien? Forsi , forsi għaxar snin.
How old is Ċikku? Maybe two, maybe ten.
Ġorġ għandu kannella.
Ġorġ has brown eyes.
Grazzi għat-tappijiet tal- !
Thanks for the earplugs!
Grazzi għat-tappijiet tal- !
Thanks for the earplugs!
Għandek uġigħ fil- ?
Have you got a sore throat?
How often?
Choose the right word for the gap.
Żewġ pilloli, tliet kuljum.
Two tablets, three times a day.
kuljum?
Twice a day?
kuljum?
Twice a day?
Ixrob it-te tliet darbiet .
Drink tea three times a day.
Żewġ pilloli darba.
Two tablets each time.
darba kuljum?
How many times a day?
darba kuljum?
How many times a day?
Ġorġ ma jqum filgħodu.
Ġorġ never gets up in the morning.
Rita tiġi għandi darbtejn .
Rita comes to my place twice a week.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Two of everything
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Nagħlqu f'!
We close in two minutes!
Żewġ pilloli, kuljum, għal .
Two tablets, twice a day, for two days.
L-ewwel appuntament f'!
The first appointment is in two weeks!
L-ewwel appuntament f'!
The first appointment is in two weeks!
Ella tiġi għandi , u Rita fil-ġimgħa.
Ella comes to me every day, and Rita twice a week.
Indoqq kull lejl, u tliet sigħat.
I play for two hours every night, and sometimes three hours.
Tonio jmur Għawdex kull , u Ċikku għandu forsi .
Tonio goes to Gozo every two months, and Ċikku is maybe two years old.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Put the words in order
Put the words in order.
Two tablets, three times a day.
So, twice a day?
So, twice a day?
Ċikku eats twice a day.
After two days you'll feel better.
I play for two hours every night.
The appointment is in two weeks.
Ġorġ has brown eyes.
My phone is two years old.
Tonio goes to Gozo every two months.
I've got a sore throat.
I've got a sore throat.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
The right words
Choose the right words for the situation.
The pharmacist says: three times a day. Check that you heard right.
You say:
The pharmacist says: three times a day. Check that you heard right.
You say:
Ask the pharmacist how many times a day you take them.
You say:
Ask the pharmacist how many times a day you take them.
You say:
The pharmacist warns you he is about to close.
Ravi says:
minuta has a dual: minutejn, two minutes, instead of żewġ minuti.
Ġorġ gives you a small packet for the night.
Ġorġ says:
Tell Ella your appointment is in two weeks.
You say:
Tell Ella your appointment is in two weeks.
You say:
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Two of them
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
