Core
Match a singular adjective to a masculine or feminine noun.
A
Why this matters لِمَاذَا هَذَا مُهِمٌّ؟
Adjective control affects the accuracy of descriptions in every Cambridge topic: people, clothes, homes, school, travel, weather, work and opinions.
Develop
Use agreement accurately in noun phrases and nominal sentences.
Stretch
Handle adjectives whose feminine form involves more than simply adding ة.
B
Diagnostic start
Try this short check before reading the explanations. Incorrect answers are information, not failure.
🔎 Entry Check
0/51. Choose agreement for بِنْتٌ
بنت is feminine singular.
2. Choose agreement for كِتَابٌ
كتاب is masculine singular.
3. Complete السَّيَّارَةُ ...
The predicate agrees with the feminine noun.
4. Choose “the small school”
Both words are definite in the phrase.
5. Which principle best supports this lesson?
The noun controls adjective agreement.
1
Learn the system step by step
Read one explanation, study the worked examples, then pause for the mini-check.
1. The agreement principle
An Arabic adjective describes a noun and normally agrees with it in gender. The common classroom shortcut is useful: many feminine adjectives add ـَةٌ to the masculine form.
وَلَدٌ صَغِيرٌ ← بِنْتٌ صَغِيرَةٌ
بَيْتٌ كَبِيرٌ ← مَدْرَسَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ
طَالِبٌ مُجْتَهِدٌ ← طَالِبَةٌ مُجْتَهِدَةٌ
بَيْتٌ كَبِيرٌ ← مَدْرَسَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ
طَالِبٌ مُجْتَهِدٌ ← طَالِبَةٌ مُجْتَهِدَةٌ
2. Do not add ة mechanically
The base rule works often, but learners must notice the actual feminine form. Some adjectives alter their shape or belong to special patterns.
جَمِيلٌ / جَمِيلَةٌ · سَرِيعٌ / سَرِيعَةٌ · أَحْمَرُ / حَمْرَاءُ
The colour pair is taught fully in Lesson 3.
The colour pair is taught fully in Lesson 3.
3. Phrase or sentence?
Agreement is the same, but meaning changes according to definiteness. An indefinite noun followed by an indefinite adjective usually forms “a … noun”. A definite noun followed by an indefinite adjective normally forms a sentence.
بَيْتٌ كَبِيرٌ = a big house
الْبَيْتُ كَبِيرٌ = the house is big
الْبَيْتُ الْكَبِيرُ = the big house
الْبَيْتُ كَبِيرٌ = the house is big
الْبَيْتُ الْكَبِيرُ = the big house
High-frequency model bank
- وَلَدٌ ذَكِيٌّ
- بِنْتٌ ذَكِيَّةٌ
- سَيَّارَةٌ سَرِيعَةٌ
- طَعَامٌ لَذِيذٌ
Misconception clinic
- Adding ة to the noun rather than the adjective.
- Using masculine agreement after a feminine noun such as شَمْسٌ.
- Confusing a noun phrase with a full nominal sentence.
2
Guided practice and transformation
Do not only recognise the answer. Say what changed and why.
🧩 Guided check
0/41. Choose agreement for بِنْتٌ
بنت is feminine singular.
2. Choose agreement for كِتَابٌ
كتاب is masculine singular.
3. Complete السَّيَّارَةُ ...
The predicate agrees with the feminine noun.
4. Choose “the small school”
Both words are definite in the phrase.
Transformation drill
- Copy each model from the lesson.
- Change the noun’s gender, number or definiteness as appropriate.
- Change every adjective feature controlled by that noun.
- Translate the new phrase or sentence accurately.
- Explain one change using the grammar vocabulary from this lesson.
🎯 Pattern game
Replay the four patterns twice; the order changes each round.
Press Start.
3
Apply through four skills
📖 Reading and noticing
فِي مَدِينَتِي أَمَاكِنُ جَمِيلَةٌ وَشَوَارِعُ وَاسِعَةٌ. هَذِهِ الْمَدْرَسَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ قَرِيبَةٌ، وَذَلِكَ الْمَتْحَفُ الْقَدِيمُ مُثِيرٌ لِلِاهْتِمَامِ.
Underline each adjective, draw an arrow to its noun, and label the agreement feature that made the form correct.
🎧 Listening without audio
Ask a partner or teacher to read the model paragraph twice. First record the nouns; second record the adjectives. Reconstruct the correct pairs and explain the agreement.
🗣️ Speaking
Describe two people, places or objects for 45–60 seconds. Include at least six accurate adjective structures from this lesson.
🛠️ Editing clinic
Write four deliberately incorrect adjective phrases, exchange them with a partner, then correct and explain every error.
✍️ Extended writing workshop
Write 90–120 words describing a person, place, object or experience. Include at least eight target adjective structures from this lesson and underline them after writing.
Quality check: identify the head noun first, then check gender, number, definiteness and any lesson-specific form.
Create a labelled grammar map or handwritten draft. Connect every adjective to its noun.
Complete the task on paper. Underline the target forms and annotate the rule used.
✓
Final mastery check اِخْتِبَارُ الْإِتْقَانِ
Complete this without reopening the teaching cards.
⭐ Mastery Check
0/81. Choose agreement for بِنْتٌ
بنت is feminine singular.
2. Choose agreement for كِتَابٌ
كتاب is masculine singular.
3. Complete السَّيَّارَةُ ...
The predicate agrees with the feminine noun.
4. Choose “the small school”
Both words are definite in the phrase.
5. Choose agreement for بِنْتٌ
بنت is feminine singular.
6. Choose agreement for كِتَابٌ
كتاب is masculine singular.
7. Complete السَّيَّارَةُ ...
The predicate agrees with the feminine noun.
8. Choose “the small school”
Both words are definite in the phrase.
Interpret your result
Below 70%: revisit the misconception clinic and guided check. 70–89%: replay the transformation game and improve one paragraph. 90–100%: continue, then complete a spaced retrieval check in 3–7 days.