الولد المجتهد طالب جديد.al-waladu al-mujtahidu tâlibun jadîdun.
The hardworking boy is a new student.
Breakdown of الولد المجتهد طالب جديد.
الal
the
جديدjadeed
new
طالبtâlib
student
مجتهدmujtahid
hardworking
ولدwalad
boy
Questions & Answers about الولد المجتهد طالب جديد.
Why does the word for hardworking have 'al-' (ال) attached to it?
In Arabic, adjectives must match the noun they describe in definiteness. Because الولد (the boy) has ال (the) at the beginning, its adjective المجتهد (hardworking) must also take ال. Together, الولد المجتهد means 'the hardworking boy'.
Why doesn't the word for new (جديد) have 'al-' (ال) like the first adjective?
The adjective جديد describes طالب (a student). Since طالب is indefinite (it does not have ال), its adjective must also be indefinite. So we write طالب جديد (a new student) without adding ال to either word.
Where is the word for 'is' in this sentence?
There is no word for 'is' in basic Arabic sentences like this. The 'is' is understood from the jump between the definite subject phrase (الولد المجتهد, the hardworking boy) and the indefinite predicate phrase (طالب جديد, a new student).
Why do the adjectives come after the nouns they describe?
In English, we put the adjective before the noun (like 'new student'). In Arabic, attributive adjectives follow the noun they describe. That is why the sentence is ordered as الولد المجتهد (literally 'the boy the hardworking') and طالب جديد (literally 'student new').
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