tive by prefixing, jezmating the first radical and feth

17

ating the second, as beautiful, I more beau

nation is, according to the rules of Permutation, as

If one of the weak letters be introduced between the second and third Radicals in the Positive, it is retrenched

in the Comparative, as

; prettier اجمل pretty جميل

,greater. For the Comparative of good أكبر great كبير

5

If the Positive begin with, or S, and is the

second letter,, or is retained and

retrenched, as

The Comparative however is invariable both in Gender and Number, whether the term of Comparison be expressed or understood, as

Then ثم قست قلوبكم وهى كا جَارَةِ أو أشد قسوةً

your hearts were hardened and were like stone, or even harder.

صل

والكات

After كالذين من قبلكم كانوا أشد قوة و اكثر أموالا

the manner of those who before you were greater in strength and more abundant in possessions, &c.

If the Adjective be derived from a Reduplicated

Verb, and of the form

in the Positive, the Weak Letter is dropped and the second and third Radicals

I

The Superlative is formed either by expressing the term of comparison, or by prefixing the Article to the Comparative.

As there are only certain adjectives, viz. the verbals derived from the primitive triliteral, whose Positives admit a change of form for the Comparative and Superlative, it is common in other cases to make the necessary distinction 3- ś 0-45 3-5

or اقل اکبر راشد for these degrees by the words

the like followed by the quality of the thing in refer

NUMBERS OF NOUNS.

The Arabs have three numbers, Singular, Dual, and Plural.

The Dual has only one form; it is derived from the Singular by affixing. This rule holds for all Nouns Masculine or Feminine; in fem. Nouns terminating in , this is changed into

استان,nation امة كتابان book كتاب .Ex

If the last Radical be a weak letter, and have been changed or suppressed in the Singular, it reappears in the Dual.

takes place when a Genitive follows in construction, as

كلبا زيد

Plurals are of two kinds, regular and irregular. The regular Plural Masculine is formed by adding terminal

to the singular; the Feminine by the addition of

If the Masculine Singular suffer contraction by the weakness of the last Radical, the Plural does so likewise,

17

..

موسی درامون casting رام قانون judging قاض

as

موسون Moses

The generality of Feminine Nouns, whether substantives or adjectives, form their plurals regularly. Some few, however, take the masculine form; these are mostly such as have for their 3rd Radical, or 8.

The restoration of the last Radical, where it is a weak letter, must not be neglected in the formation of the plural.