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When reading myths and legends, characters are often defined by their extreme traits—they aren't just strong, they are mighty; not just deceitful, but habitual liars. Arabic expresses these intense traits or frequent actions using **Intensive Adjectives** (صيغ المبالغة). In this lesson, we will look at two of the most common patterns.

### The Pattern فَعَّال

The pattern فَعَّال emphasizes a strong habit or an intense trait. It is formed by doubling the middle root letter (adding a shadda) and placing an alif before the final root letter.

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When describing a feminine subject, adjectives on the فَعَّال pattern take the standard feminine ending ة.

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### The Pattern مِفْعَال

Another common pattern for extreme traits is مِفْعَال. It is formed by adding the prefix مِـ to the root and an alif before the final root letter.

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**Crucial rule:** Unlike most standard adjectives, words on the مِفْعَال pattern share the exact same form for both masculine and feminine nouns. You do **not** add a ة when describing a female character.

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### Combining Patterns

When you use both patterns to describe a feminine subject in the same sentence, remember their distinct rules: فَعَّال takes the ة, while مِفْعَال remains completely unchanged.

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Intensive adjectives 1 (فَعَّال / مِفْعَال)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

interrogative

noun

numeral

particle

prefix

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The definite article and locatives (الـ)

Basic noun gender (ة)

Sun and moon letters

Singular subject pronouns (أنا، أنت، هو، هي)

Indefinite nouns and nominal sentences (ـٌ)

Demonstrative pronouns for 'this' (هذا / هذه)

Separate prepositions (في، من، إلى، على)

Attributive adjectives

Predicative adjectives

Yes/No questions (هل، أ)

Basic questions (من، ما، أين)

Singular possessive pronouns (ـي، ـك، ـه، ـها)

Plural subject pronouns (نحن، أنتم، هم)

Plural possessive pronouns (ـنا، ـكم، ـهم)

Noun possession

Attached prepositions (بـ، لـ، كـ)

Pronouns with prepositions

Having and possessing (عند، لـ، مع)

Regular plural nouns (ـون، ـين، ـات)

Broken plurals

Dual nouns (ـان / ـين)

Plural and distant demonstratives (هؤلاء، ذلك، تلك)

Non-human plural agreement

Present tense singular verbs

Verbal sentences (VSO)

Present tense plural verbs

Topicalized sentences (SVO)

The indefinite accusative case (ـاً)

Verb object pronouns (-ني، -ك، -ه)

Present tense negation (لا)

Question words with verbs (متى، كيف...)

Adverbs of time and place

The future tense (سـ / سوف)

Intentions and desires (أن)

Negating states and possession (ليس)

Past tense singular suffixes

Past tense plural suffixes

Negating past events (ما)

Singular commands

Numbers 1 to 10

Number agreement for 1 and 2 (واحد، اثنان)

Asking how many (كم)

Numbers 3 to 10 (ثلاثة إلى عشرة)

Ordinal numbers 1 to 10 (الأول، الثاني)

Basic conjunctions (فـ، أو، لكن)

Ordering at a café (واحد، اثنان)

Food and drink with conjunctions (و، ف، أو، لكن)

There is and there are (هناك / ليس هناك)

Direct address (يا)

Giving reasons (لأنّ)

Relative pronouns (الذي / التي)

Quantifiers (كل / بعض)

The past tense of 'to be' (كان)

Past possession

Numbers 11 to 19 and tens to 80

Telling time (الساعة)

This book vs this is a book (هذا الكتاب، هذا كتاب)

Greetings (مرحبا، السلام عليكم)

How are you? and goodbye (كيف حالك، مع السلامة)

Nationalities (مصري، مصرية)

Roots and patterns (كتب، كتاب، مكتب)

Politeness (من فضلك، آسف)

Complex possession chains

Colors and traits (أفعل / فعلاء)

Plural colors and traits (فُعْل)

Comparative adjectives (أفعل من)

Superlative adjectives (أفعل)

Adverbs of manner (ـاً)

The nominative case (ـُ)

The genitive case (ـِ)

The accusative case (ـَ)

Dual noun cases (ـان / ـين)

Masculine plurals and 'the best of' (أفضل النجارين)

Emphasizing sentences (إنّ)

Connecting clauses (أنّ)

Reporting speech (قال إنّ)

Expressing contrast (لكنّ)

Comparison and probability (كأنّ, لعلّ)

Distant plural pointing (أولئك)

Plural relative pronouns (الذين, اللواتي)

Past habits (كان + present)

Ongoing actions (ما زال)

Masculine plurals online (مبرمجون، مؤثرون)

Perfective past (قد)

Probability (قد)

The subjunctive mood (أن)

Question	Answer
mighty	جبارjabbâr
cunning	مكارmakkâr
The witch was mighty and cunning in the legend.	كانت الساحرة جبارة ومكارة في الأسطورة.kânati s-sâhiratu jabbâratan wa makkâratan fi l-usturah.
greedy (covetous)	طماعtammâ'
liar (habitual)	كذابkaddhâb
Do not believe this greedy queen, for she is a liar.	لا تصدق هذه الملكة الطماعة، فهي كذابة.lâ tusaddiq hâdhihi-l-malikata-t-tammâ'ata, fahiya kadhdhâba
treacherous	غدارghaddâr
O commander of the army, do not trust the treacherous and cunning opponent.	يا قائد الجيش، لا تثق بالخصم الغدار والمكار.yâ qâ'ida al-jayshi, lâ tathiq bil-khasmi al-ghaddâri wal-makkâri.
intrepid	مقدامmiqdâm
The intrepid hero faced that mighty monster.	واجه البطل المقدام ذلك الوحش الجبار.wâjaha al-baṭalu al-miqdâmu dhâlika al-waḥsha al-jabbâra.
valiant	مغوارmighwâr
The valiant princess is an intrepid heroine in the battle.	الأميرة المغوار بطلة مقدام في المعركة.al-amiratu al-mighwaru batalatun miqdamun fi al-ma'rakati
bountiful	معطاءmi'tâ'
hospitable	مضيافmidhyâf
In the ancient myth, the ruler was bountiful and hospitable.	في الخرافة القديمة، كان الحاكم معطاء ومضيافا.fī al-khurâfati al-qadîmati, kâna al-ḥâkimu mitâ'an wa-miḍyâfan
Oh, what a valiant hero in this tale!	يا للبطل المغوار في هذه الحكاية!yâ lal-batali l-mighwâri fi hâdhihi l-hikâyati!
The greedy and treacherous servant stole the king's treasure.	سرقت الخادمة الطماعة والغدارة كنز الملك.saraqati al-khâdimatu at-tammâatu wal-ghaddâratu kanza al-maliki
As much as the queen is bountiful, as much as she is hospitable.	بقدر ما الملكة معطاء بقدر ما هي مضياف.biqadri mâ-l-malikatu mi'tâ'un biqadri mâ hiya midyâfun
talkative	مكثارmikthâr
This talkative neighbor is a liar too.	هذه الجارة المكثار كذابة أيضا.hâdhihi l-jâratu l-mikthâru kadhdhâbatun aydan
As much as the man is talkative, as much as he is a liar.	بقدر ما الرجل مكثار بقدر ما هو كذاب.biqadri mâ ar-rajulu mikthârun biqadri mâ huwa kadhdhâbun
devil	شيطانshaytân
In the legend, the devil tricked the king.	في الأسطورة، خدع الشيطان الملك.fi al-usṭûrati, khada'a ash-shayṭânu al-malika
The child drew a red devil.	رسم الطفل شيطانا أحمر.rasama aṭ-ṭiflu shaytânan aḥmar.

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