Breakdown of هذه أجمل مدينة في البلد.
الal
the
فيfî
in / about, regarding
مدينةmadîna
city
هذهhâdhihi
this (f)
بلدbalad
country
أجملajmal
most beautiful
Questions & Answers about هذه أجمل مدينة في البلد.
Why is أجمل (masculine) used when describing مدينة (a feminine word)?
In this specific superlative structure, the adjective always takes the fixed pattern أفعل (like أجمل) and does not change to match the gender of the noun. Even though مدينة is feminine, we use the default masculine singular form أجمل.
How does the phrase أجمل مدينة work grammatically to mean 'the most beautiful city'?
It uses an Idafa (possession) structure. By putting the superlative word (أجمل) right before an indefinite singular noun (مدينة), it creates the meaning 'the most [adjective] [noun]'. This is the standard way to express this idea in Arabic.
If أجمل مدينة is an Idafa, what are the case endings on these words?
Why is the word مدينة indefinite (without ال) if the English translation says 'THE most beautiful city'?
That is simply how this specific structure works in Arabic! When the superlative pattern أفعل is followed by an indefinite singular noun, it automatically translates as a definite phrase ('the most...') in English. Adding ال to the noun here would break this specific grammar rule.
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