Breakdown of هو أفضل المقاولين في الشركة.
الal
the
فيfî
in / about, regarding
هوhuwa
he / his / him (attached)
شركةsharika
company
أفضلafdal
best / better
مقاولmuqâwil
contractor
Questions & Answers about هو أفضل المقاولين في الشركة.
Why does the Arabic sentence say "the contractors" (plural) when the English says "the best contractor" (singular)?
In Arabic, this superlative structure is formed using an Idafa (possession or "of" relationship). You use the superlative word أفضل (best) followed by a definite plural noun. So, you are literally saying "he is the best of the contractors."
Why does المقاولين end in ـين (-een) instead of ـون (-oon)?
Because it is the second part of the Idafa structure, it must take the genitive case. For regular (sound) masculine plural nouns, the genitive ending is ـين (-een). The ـون (-oon) ending is only used when the noun is in the nominative case (like when it is the subject of a sentence).
If we changed the subject to a woman ("She is the best contractor"), would أفضل change to a feminine form?
No, it stays exactly the same! When a superlative (the أفعل pattern) is followed by a definite noun in an Idafa, it locks into its default masculine singular form. You would simply change the pronoun: هي أفضل المقاولين (She is the best of the contractors).
The word for contractor, المقاولين, looks like it shares a root with "to say" (قال). Is that right?
Yes! The root is ق-و-ل (q-w-l), which is all about speaking or words. A مقاول (muqawil) is someone who makes a verbal agreement or pledges terms, which is how it became the standard word for a "contractor."
Learn هو أفضل المقاولين في الشركة and more in Arabic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free