Classifiers and measure words
Do we need another word to say what unit we are counting?
المعنى
An extra word beside a number or amount can show what kind of item or unit is being counted. These words let us count portions or group things by features such as shape. Some languages require a counting word with ordinary nouns, while others use such words mainly for units like cups or kilos. Quantity tells us how much there is; Classifiers and measure words covers the words used to count or measure it.
طريقة التعرّف عليه
Look between a number or amount and the thing being counted for a word that names a unit or kind of item, and check when that word is required.
في اللغة الأم
Arabic counts ordinary nouns directly and does not require an extra counting word. Measure words, which name units such as cups or kilos, are used when counting portions or measuring amounts. The substance can follow min, meaning of or from, or be linked directly to the unit noun.
اشْتَرَيْتُ ثَلَاثَةَ كُتُبٍ. (ishtaraytu thalāthata kutubin.)
The number combines directly with the noun for books.
شَرِبْتُ كَوْبَيْنِ مِنَ الْمَاءِ. (sharibtu kawbayni mina al-māʾi.)
The dual form of cup names two measured portions.
في اللغة قيد التعلم
English usually places a number directly before a noun for things counted one by one, as in three apples. To count amounts of water or individual items of advice, it uses units such as a bottle of or a piece of. The unit word takes the plural ending, as in two bottles of water.
We need two bottles of water.
The bottles provide countable units for the water; bottles is plural.
She gave me a piece of advice.
Advice is not normally counted directly, so piece supplies a unit.
I bought three apples.
No counting word is needed between the number and apples.
Learners whose language requires a counting word with ordinary nouns may add unnecessary unit words. Learners whose language can count nouns that English does not count directly may use forms such as two advices instead of two pieces of advice.