Lesson 8: Part 1: Adjective Agreement (Gender & Definiteness) ▶ Part 2: Adjective Case Agreement Part 3: Dialogue (Adjectives in Conversation) Part 4: Exercises (Adjectives) Part 5: Vocabulary (Adjectives)

The Adjective's Third Mirror

In Lesson 8.1, you learned the adjective mirrors its noun in Gender and Definiteness. But there is a third thing it must mirror: the noun's grammatical case (Damma or Kasra).

Rule 1

Match Gender (M/F)

مُعَلِّمٌ كَبِيرٌ / مُعَلِّمَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ

Rule 2

Match Definiteness (AL / no AL)

الْمُعَلِّمُ الْكَبِيرُ

Rule 3 — NEW!

Match Case (Damma/Kasra/Fatha)

فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْكَبِيرِ

Watch the Case Shift

The same noun-adjective pair changes its ending depending on WHERE it sits in the sentence.

Context	Arabic Sentence	Noun Ending	Adjective Ending	State
Subject of sentence	الْمَسْجِدُ الْكَبِيرُ جَمِيلٌ	ـُ Damma	ـُ Damma	Marfoo'
After preposition (فِي)	فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْكَبِيرِ	ـِ Kasra	ـِ Kasra	Majroor
Subject of sentence	الْبَيْتُ الْقَدِيمُ بَعِيدٌ	ـُ Damma	ـُ Damma	Marfoo'
After preposition (عَلَى)	عَلَى الْبَيْتِ الْقَدِيمِ	ـِ Kasra	ـِ Kasra	Majroor

The Pattern: Whatever ending the noun takes — the adjective takes the same ending. The adjective is a shadow of the noun!

Practice — Pick the Right Adjective Ending! Tap to reveal.

الطَّالِبُ الْجَدِيدُ
Al-taalib al-jadeedu — Marfoo' (subject)

Subject: اَلطَّالِبُ الْجَدِيد___

Tap to reveal ending

مَعَ الطَّالِبِ الْجَدِيدِ
Ma'a al-talibi al-jadeedi — Majroor (after مَعَ)

After مَعَ: مَعَ الطَّالِبِ الْجَدِيد___

Tap to reveal ending

فِي الْمَدْرَسَةِ الْكَبِيرَةِ
Fil-madrasati al-kabeerati — Majroor (after فِي)

After فِي: فِي الْمَدْرَسَةِ الْكَبِيرَة___

Tap to reveal ending

الْمَدْرَسَةُ الْكَبِيرَةُ
Al-madrasatu al-kabeeratu — Marfoo' (subject)

Subject: اَلْمَدْرَسَةُ الْكَبِيرَة___

Tap to reveal ending