دو + Singular Noun

Nouns After Numbers

Level 2

دو کتاب means two books, and سه دوست means three friends. The number already supplies the count.

How It Works

Count with a singular-form noun. یک کتاب is one book, دو کتاب is two books, and ده کتاب is ten books. English pluralizes “book” after two or ten; ordinary Persian counting does not need ـها there.

An adjective stays unchanged too: دو کتابِ خوب, “two good books.” Ezafe links the singular-shaped counted noun to its adjective; خوب receives no plural agreement ending.

A counting word can stand between the number and noun. سه جلد کتاب means “three volumes of books; three books,” and everyday دو تا کتاب means “two books.” The counted noun remains کتاب in these beginner examples.

This is the normal pattern for a plain count. Do not turn it into a claim that every noun near a number is forbidden to be plural. Colloquial speech can identify a known plural set with a number and a plural noun; a phrase referring back to existing items is a different teaching context.

Keep the noun’s number form separate from the verb’s agreement choices. A singular-shaped counted noun can still refer to several people.

Examples (4)

  1. دو کتاب

    two books

    The number supplies the count; کتاب stays singular-shaped.

  2. سه دوست

    three friends

    A human noun uses the same plain-count pattern.

  3. دو کتابِ خوب

    two good books

    Ezafe attaches the adjective, which also stays unchanged.

  4. سه جلد کتاب

    three books; three volumes

    جلد is a counting word between number and noun.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

دو + Singular NounLevel 2Nouns After Numbers

Learn This First

Use a singular-form noun in a plain cardinal count, and keep that pattern distinct from contextual references to a known plural set.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.