Arabic: An Essential Grammar

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(c) If the second noun (the annexer) is in the definite form, it

causes the whole


id
̇

a ̄fah construction to be definite. If the

second noun is indefinite, then the entire


id
̇

a ̄fah construction is

indefinite.

12.5 The second variant:


id
̇

a ̄fah adjective

The second variant of the


id
̇

a ̄fah construction may also be called

id
̇

a ̄fah adjective, because an adjective is construed with a definite noun

in the genitive case. The noun then expresses something with regard or

respect to which the quality of the adjective obtains (Latin: genetivus

respectus). In Arabic this construction is called ي ِةََّغ ْي ُر ْلـ َح ِقي ِق َأ ِْلإ َضا َف ُة

al-


id
̇

a ̄fatu g ̇ayru l-h
̇

aqı ̄qiyyati, which means improper annexation,

e.g.

12.6 The first adjective in the above examples may take the definite

article ...َأْلــ



al... when a noun in the definite form precedes it, although

this contradicts rule 12.4a mentioned above.

َأْلـ ُم َضا ُف َأْلـ ُم َضا ُف ِإَل ْي ِه


Annexer Annexed

noun adjective

َق ِبي ُح ْلـ َم ْن َظ ِر qabı



  • h
    ̇


u l-mand
̄ ̇

ari, one of ugly appearance, bad-looking

ّـ َب ُة ْل َقـْل ِبََطي t
̇

ayyibatu l-qalbi, one (f.) with a good heart

َك ِثي ُر ْلـ َما ِل kat
̄

ı


  • ru l-ma ̄li, wealthy man (lit. abundant of wealth)


ة ْل َو ْج ِهَج ِميَل ُ g ̆amı



  • latu l-wag ̆hi, one (f.) with a beautiful face,


fair-faced

شـ ْك ِرُّ َج ِزي ُل ل g ̆azı



  • lu sˇ-sˇukri, very thankful


ل ْو ِنََّغا ِم ُق لـ g ̇a ̄miqu l-lawni, dark- (deep-)coloured


ل ْل َع ْق ِلَقِلي ُ qalı



  • lu l-



aqli, stupid, insane (lit. one with little

intelligence)

ل َسا ِنَّط ِويَل ُة لـَ t
̇

awı


  • latu l-lisa ̄ni, a gossip (f.), insolent (lit. one with a


long tongue)

64


Id
̇

a ̄fah
construc-
tion, the

five nouns

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