Language/Sanaani-arabic/Grammar/Adjectives
Hi Sanaani Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about adjectives in Sanaani Arabic. Adjectives are used to describe or modify nouns. Just like in English, adjectives must agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify. For example, if the noun is feminine singular, then the adjective must also be feminine singular.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Plurals & Pronouns.
Forms of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Sanaani Arabic, adjectives have two forms: the masculine form and the feminine form. The masculine form is used to describe masculine nouns, while the feminine form is used to describe feminine nouns.
To form the feminine form of the adjective, we add the suffix "ة" to the masculine form. For example:
| Sanaani Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| جديد (jadid) | /d͡ʒa.diːd/ | new (masculine) |
| جديدة (jadida) | /d͡ʒa.di.da/ | new (feminine) |
As we can see with the example above, the only difference between the adjective forms is the addition of the suffix "ة" to the masculine form to create the feminine form.
Placement of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Sanaani Arabic, adjectives are placed after the noun they modify. For example:
- "البيت الجديد" (al-bayt al-jadid) - "the new house"
Here, "الجديد" (al-jadid) modifies "البيت" (al-bayt) to mean "new house".
Agreement of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
As mentioned earlier, adjectives must agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify.
Agreement in Gender[edit | edit source]
If the noun is masculine, then the adjective must be in the masculine form. If the noun is feminine, then the adjective must be in the feminine form. For example:
- "الكتاب الجديد" (al-kitab al-jadid) - "the new book" (masculine noun)
- "المدرسة الجديدة" (al-madrasa al-jadida) - "the new school" (feminine noun)
Agreement in Number[edit | edit source]
If the noun is singular, then the adjective must be in the singular form. If the noun is plural, then the adjective must be in the plural form. For example:
- "المنزل الجديد" (al-manzil al-jadid) - "the new house" (singular noun)
- "المنازل الجديدة" (al-manazil al-jadidah) - "the new houses" (plural noun)
Comparison of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Sanaani Arabic, adjectives have three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative. To form the comparative and superlative degrees, we use certain particles.
Positive Degree[edit | edit source]
The positive degree of an adjective is used to describe a noun without making any comparisons. For example:
- "البيت الجميل" (al-bayt al-jamīl) - "the beautiful house"
Comparative Degree[edit | edit source]
The comparative degree of an adjective is used to compare two nouns. To form the comparative degree, we use the particle "أكثر" (akthar) before the adjective. For example:
- "هذا البيت أكثر جمالًا من ذلك" (hādhā al-bayt akthar jamālan min dhālik) - "this house is more beautiful than that one"
Superlative Degree[edit | edit source]
The superlative degree of an adjective is used to express the highest degree of comparison. To form the superlative degree, we use the particle "أكثر" (akthar) before the adjective, and the particle "من" (min) after the adjective. For example:
- "هذا البيت الأجمل من كل البيوت" (hādhā al-bayt al-ajmal min kul al-buyūt) - "this is the most beautiful house of all houses"
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To see adjectives in context, here is an example dialogue:
- Person 1: هذا السيارة الجديدة (hādhā al-sayyārah al-jadīdah) - "this is the new car"
- Person 2: أووووه، إنها مذهلة! (awwww, 'innahā madhahlah) - "wow, it's amazing!"
- Person 1: شكرًا! قد اشتريتها اليوم (shukran! qad ishtaraytuhā al-yawm) - "thank you! I bought it today"
Summary[edit | edit source]
In conclusion, adjectives in Sanaani Arabic are used to describe or modify nouns, and they come in two forms: masculine and feminine. Adjectives must agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify, and they can also be compared using the comparative and superlative degrees. To improve your Sanaani Arabic Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
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