Questions & Answers about الحصان أسرع من البقرة.
How is the word أسرع (faster) formed from the regular Arabic word for fast?
It is built using the special comparative pattern أفعل. To make it, you take the three core root letters of the regular adjective سريع (fast) — which are س, ر, and ع — and plug them into this pattern to get أسرع.
Why are we using the word من in this sentence? Doesn't it usually mean "from"?
Yes, من usually means "from" in everyday Arabic. However, when it comes right after a comparative adjective like أسرع, it acts as the word "than". Together, أسرع من means "faster than".
The word for cow, البقرة, is feminine. Why doesn't أسرع have a feminine ending to match?
Great observation! When you use the comparative pattern أفعل followed by من (than), the adjective is locked into this default masculine, singular form. It does not change to match the gender or number of the nouns you are comparing.
Why is there no Arabic word for "is" in this sentence?
As a quick refresher, simple Arabic sentences do not use a word for "is" or "are" in the present tense. You simply state the subject, الحصان (The horse), followed directly by the new information about it, أسرع من البقرة (faster than the cow).