tive by prefixing, jezmating the first radical and feth

- uš

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 pretty, Jual prettier;

,greater. For the Comparative of good أكبر great كبير

If the last letter of the Positive be, or it is

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

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

2

كا لجارة أو أشد قسوة قست قلوبكم وهى Then ثم

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

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

coalesce in the Comparative, as little, Jös less;

قليل

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 -} 6-05 -s

اکبر راشد for these degrees by the words or ,أقل

the like followed by the quality of the thing in refer

أشد الحرب ence to which the comparison is made, as

gent = greater in understanding. The term of compari

son is expressed by

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 .

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

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 ون

terminal, or the substitution of for if the

Noun end in 8.

,pretty جميل كاتبون writing, Part كاتب .Ex

كاتبات .writing, Fem. Part كاتبة جميلون

تقلب كاتبات

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.

J-

سنة

Ex. a year, w; though such Nouns may

5-

also have the regular Fem. Plu., as diw,

سنوات

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