Language/Standard-arabic/Grammar/Adjective-agreement-and-placement

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Standard ArabicGrammar0 to A1 Course → Adjectives in Arabic → Adjective agreement and placement

In the previous lesson, we learned about adjectives in Arabic and how they are used to describe nouns. We discovered that adjectives in Arabic agree with the nouns they modify in terms of gender, number, and case. In this lesson, we will delve deeper into the topic of adjective agreement and placement in Arabic. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to correctly place and agree adjectives with the nouns they modify in Arabic. So, let's get started!

Adjective Agreement[edit | edit source]

In Arabic, adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in terms of gender, number, and case. This means that the form of the adjective changes depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun it describes. Let's take a closer look at each of these aspects of adjective agreement.

Gender Agreement[edit | edit source]

In Arabic, nouns are either masculine or feminine. Similarly, adjectives in Arabic also have masculine and feminine forms. The masculine form of an adjective is used to describe masculine nouns, while the feminine form is used to describe feminine nouns. Let's look at some examples:

  • Masculine noun: كِتَابٌ (kitābun) - "book"
 * Masculine adjective: كَبِيرٌ (kabīrun) - "big"
  • Feminine noun: مَدْرَسَةٌ (madrasatun) - "school"
 * Feminine adjective: كَبِيرَةٌ (kabīratun) - "big"

As you can see, the adjective "big" agrees with the gender of the noun it modifies. This agreement is essential to maintain grammatical correctness in Arabic sentences.

Number Agreement[edit | edit source]

In addition to gender agreement, adjectives in Arabic also need to agree with the number of the noun they modify. Just like nouns, adjectives in Arabic have singular and plural forms. Let's look at some examples:

  • Singular noun: بَيْتٌ (baytun) - "house"
 * Singular adjective: كَبِيرٌ (kabīrun) - "big"
  • Plural noun: بُيُوتٌ (buyūtun) - "houses"
 * Plural adjective: كَبَائِرُ (kabā'iru) - "big"

As you can see, the adjective "big" changes its form from singular to plural to match the number of the noun it modifies. This agreement is crucial for maintaining grammatical correctness in Arabic sentences.

Case Agreement[edit | edit source]

In Arabic, nouns and adjectives also need to agree in case. There are three cases in Arabic: nominative, genitive, and accusative. The case of a noun or an adjective depends on its grammatical function in a sentence. Let's look at some examples:

  • Nominative case noun: الطَّالِبُ (aṭ-ṭālibu) - "the student"
 * Nominative case adjective: ذَكِيٌّ (dhakiyyun) - "intelligent"
  • Genitive case noun: كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ (kitābu aṭ-ṭālibi) - "the student's book"
 * Genitive case adjective: ذَكِيٍّ (dhakiyyin) - "intelligent"
  • Accusative case noun: أَشْجَارًا (ašjāran) - "trees"
 * Accusative case adjective: كَثِيرَةً (kathīratan) - "many"

As you can see, the form of the adjective changes depending on the case of the noun it modifies. This agreement is vital for maintaining grammatical correctness in Arabic sentences.

Adjective Placement[edit | edit source]

In Arabic, adjectives usually come after the noun they modify. This is the most common placement for adjectives in Arabic sentences. However, in certain cases, adjectives can also come before the noun. Let's look at some examples:

  • Adjective after the noun: سَيَّارَةٌ حَمْرَاءُ (sayyāratun ḥamrā'u) - "a red car"
  • Adjective before the noun: حَمْرَاءُ سَيَّارَةٌ (ḥamrā'u sayyāratun) - "a red car"

As you can see, the placement of the adjective can change depending on the emphasis or stylistic choice of the speaker or writer. However, the most common placement is after the noun.

Summary[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we have learned about adjective agreement and placement in Arabic. We discovered that adjectives in Arabic need to agree with the nouns they modify in terms of gender, number, and case. We also learned that adjectives in Arabic are usually placed after the noun they modify, although they can also come before the noun in certain cases. By understanding and applying these rules of adjective agreement and placement, you will be able to construct grammatically correct Arabic sentences.

In the next lesson, we will explore comparative and superlative adjectives in Arabic. So, get ready to take your understanding of adjectives in Arabic to the next level!

Table of Contents - Standard Arabic Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Introduction to Arabic script


Nouns and gender in Arabic


Verbs and conjugation in Arabic


Numbers and counting in Arabic


Everyday Arabic vocabulary


Food and drink vocabulary


Arabic customs and traditions


Arabic music and entertainment


Adjectives in Arabic


Pronouns in Arabic


Prepositions in Arabic


Interrogatives in Arabic


Adverbs in Arabic


Transportation vocabulary


Shopping and money vocabulary


Arabic literature and poetry


Arabic calligraphy and art


Weather vocabulary


Conditional sentences in Arabic


Passive voice in Arabic


Relative clauses in Arabic


Arabic adjectives and nouns


Arabic cinema and TV


Arabic fashion and beauty


Sports and leisure vocabulary


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



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