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Comparative and Superlative
By ArabicTree | March 8, 2008
In English, when you have an adjective (a word that describes a noun), you can derive a comparative and superlative from that word. For example, for the root word “small,” the comparative is “smaller,” and the superlative is “smallest.” You can apply this to any adjective to create the comparative (eg. smaller, wetter, whiter) or the superlative (eg. smallest, wettest, whitest).
In Arabic, we also have comparative and superlative. Both fall on the same pattern (sort of), so they’re called أسمُ تَفضِيلِ (ism tafdiyl).
For ism tafdiyl, both the comparative and the superlative follow the pattern of أفعَلُ (af’alu). So tawiyl becomes atwalu (أطوَلُ), katheer becomes aktharu (أكثَرُ), etc.
Since both follow the pattern of af’alu, how can you differentiate between them? The difference is that the comparative uses min (sometimes a hidden min), while in the superlative, the superlative is mudaf ilayh to some mudaf.
Let’s look at some examples to make things more clear. First, some comparative sentences. Look for min, which tells you what you’re comparing to:
- أنا أطوَلُ مِنكَ (anaa atwalu minka): I am taller then you. Note the use of min to show who we’re taller than.
- المَسجِدُ أقرَبُ مِن السُوق (al-masjidu aqbaru min as-suwq): The masjid is closer then the mall. Again, min denotes WHAT we’re closer than.
- هَاذِهِ البَطَّةً أجمَلُ مِن تِلكَ القِطَّةِ (haadhihi al-battatu ajmalu min tilka al-qittati): This duck is prettier then that cat. Again, notice the use of min to mark WHO we’re comparing to. And here, note an important point–the pattern doesn’t change regardless of gender (or number)–it’s always af’alu.. And qittatu here is majruwr because of min; hadhihi is badl.
Next, some examples of the superlative. Here, look for the mudaf ilayh–you’ll know it by its sign (majruwr), and it will follow the ism tafdiyl. The superlative is the mudaf, and the noun is the mudaf ilayh. Observe:
- عَالِيَةُ أحسَنُ طَالِبَة (’aliyatu ahsanu taalibatin): ‘Aliyah is the best student. Here, notice the mudaf/mudaf ilayh: ahsanu taalibatin, the best student. And again, notice the pattern is the same regardless of gender.
- بَيتُ سَلمَانِ أكبَرُ بَيتٍ (baytu salmaani akbaru baytin): Salmaan’s house is the biggest house. Again, notice the mudaf ilayh–house–which tells us the biggest WHAT.
- هَاأُلَاءِ الفِتيَةُ أطوَلُ حُجَّاجٍ (haolaai al-fityatu atwalu hujjaajin): These students are the tallest hujjaaj (pilgrims). Again, notice the mudaf ilayh–hujjaaj–which tells us the tallest WHAT. And notice the af’alu doesn’t change for plurals–it’s still atwalu.
And that’s comparative and superlative in a nutshell–the pattern of af’alu, either with min, or with a mudaf ilayh.
Topics: Grammar, Intermediate | 2 Comments »
March 8th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Incidentally, husna is also a superlative–so when Allah says “lillahi al-asmaa al-husna,” it means to him belong the BEST names–names with no negative connotations or weaknesses. Subhanallah!
September 12th, 2008 at 11:55 am
[...] word Akbar is categorized as ‘ism tafdeel‘ in Arabic grammar, which means it is the superlative. So Akbar can mean greater or [...]