Breakdown of أفضل أن يكون اللون أقل حمرة.
الal
the
لونlawn
color
أنan
to (with verbs)
فضلfaddala
to prefer
كانkâna
to be
أقلaqall
less
حمرةhumra
redness
Questions & Answers about أفضل أن يكون اللون أقل حمرة.
Why do we say أقل حمرة instead of just making a comparative form from the word أحمر (red)?
Words for colors and physical defects already use the أفعل pattern (like أحمر). Because of this, they cannot form a standard comparative. Instead, you must use a helper comparative like أقل (less) or أكثر (more) followed by the noun form (masdar) of the color, which here is حمرة (redness). Literally, it translates to 'less in redness'.
What case ending does حمرة take in this sentence?
It takes the accusative case (mansub), pronounced as حمرةً (humratan). When using a helper comparative, the following noun acts as an 'accusative of specification' (tamyiiz). It clarifies in what specific way the color is lesser or greater.
Why is the verb يكون included here? Can't we just drop the 'to be' verb like we usually do?
You cannot drop the verb here because of the particle أن (that). While Arabic often drops the 'to be' verb in simple present-tense sentences, أن must be followed directly by a verb in the subjunctive mood. Therefore, يكون is required to mean 'that the color be'.
How do I know what noun form (masdar) to use for a color after أقل or أكثر?
For most basic colors that use the أفعل adjective pattern, the verbal noun (masdar) is formed on the pattern فُعْلَة (fu'la). So أحمر (red) becomes حمرة (redness), أزرق (blue) becomes زرقة (blueness), and أخضر (green) becomes خضرة (greenness).
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