Adjectives: Dual

01

Forming the Dual Adjective: Nominative Case

When the dual noun is the subject of the sentence (Nominative case), the adjective takes the suffix ⁧⁧ـَانِ⁩⁩ (-āni-āni-āni-ani). This is added to the end of the singular masculine adjective.

If the adjective is feminine and ends in a ⁧ة⁩ (tāʾ marbūṭahtāʾ marbūṭahtāʾ marbuwṭahtaʾ marbwṭah), this letter changes to a regular ⁧⁧ت⁩⁩ (tāʾtāʾtāʾtaʾ) before adding the dual suffix.

• Masculine: Add ⁧⁧ـَانِ⁩⁩ (-āni-āni-āni-ani).
• Feminine: Change ⁧ة⁩ (tāʾ marbūṭahtāʾ marbūṭahtāʾ marbuwṭahtaʾ marbwṭah)< to ⁧⁧ت⁩⁩ (tāʾtāʾtāʾtaʾ), then add ⁧⁧ـَانِ⁩⁩ (-āni-āni-āni-ani).

• ⁧هَذَانِ طَالِبَانِ ذَكِيَّانِ.⁩

  hādhāni ṭālibāni dhakiyyāni.hādhāni ṭālibāni dhakiyyāni.hādhāni ṭālibāni dhakiyyāni.hadhani ṭalibani dhakiyani.

  These are two smart students (m).

• ⁧هَاتَانِ طَالِبَتَانِ ذَكِيَّتَانِ.⁩

  hātāni ṭālibatāni dhakiyyatāni.hātāni ṭālibatāni dhakiyyatāni.hātāni ṭālibatāni dhakiyyatāni.hatani ṭalibatani dhakiyatani.

  These are two smart students (f).

02

Forming the Dual Adjective: Accusative and Genitive Cases

When the dual noun is the object of a verb (Accusative) or follows a preposition (Genitive), the ending changes. Instead of ⁧⁧ـَانِ⁩⁩ (-āni-āni-āni-ani), the adjective takes the suffix ⁧⁧ـَيْنِ⁩⁩ (-ayni).

The pronunciation changes from a long "a" sound to a diphthong "ay" sound.

• ⁧قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَيْنِ جَدِيدَيْنِ.⁩

  qara’tu kitābayni jadīdayni.qara’tu kitābayni d͟jadīdayni.qara’tu kitābayni ǧadiydayni.qara’tu kitabayni jadydayni.

  I read two new books.

• ⁧تَكَلَّمْتُ مَعَ مُهَنْدِسَيْنِ مَاهِرَيْنِ.⁩

  takallamtu ma‘a muhandisayni māhirayni.takallamtu ma‘a muhandisayni māhirayni.takallamtu ma‘a muhandisayni māhirayni.takalamtu ma‘a muhandisayni mahirayni.

  I spoke with two skilled engineers.

03

Agreement in Definiteness

The adjective must also match the noun in definiteness. If the noun has the definite article ⁧⁧ال⁩⁩ (al-al-ʾal-al-) - the, the dual adjective must also have ⁧⁧ال⁩⁩ (al-al-ʾal-al-). If the noun is indefinite, the adjective remains indefinite.

• Indefinite: Noun and adjective have no ⁧⁧ال⁩⁩ (al-al-ʾal-al-).
• Definite: Noun and adjective both have ⁧⁧ال⁩⁩ (al-al-ʾal-al-).

• ⁧رَأَيْتُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ الطَّوِيلَيْنِ.⁩

  ra’aytu al-rajulayni al-ṭawīlayni.ra’aytu al-rad͟julayni al-ṭawīlayni.ra’aytu ʾal-raǧulayni ʾal-ṭawiylayni.ra’aytu al-rajulayni al-ṭawylayni.

  I saw the two tall men.

• ⁧عِنْدِي قَلَمَانِ صَغِيرَانِ.⁩

  ‘indī qalamāni ṣaghīrāni.‘indī qalamāni ṣaghīrāni.‘indiy qalamāni ṣaghiyrāni.‘indy qalamani ṣaghyrani.

  I have two small pens.

04

Non-Human Duals

There is a special rule in Arabic for non-human plurals (3+ items), which usually take singular feminine adjectives. However, this rule does not apply to the dual.

If you are describing exactly two non-human objects (like two cars, two books, or two houses), you must use the full dual adjective, not the singular feminine.

• ⁧اِشْتَرَيْتُ سَيَّارَتَيْنِ كَبِيرَتَيْنِ.⁩

  ishtaraytu sayyāratayni kabīratayni.ishtaraytu sayyāratayni kabīratayni.ishtaraytu sayyāratayni kabiyratayni.ishtaraytu sayaratayni kabyratayni.

  I bought two big cars.

• ⁧اَلْبَيْتَانِ قَدِيمَانِ.⁩

  al-baytāni qadīmāni.al-baytāni qadīmāni.ʾal-baytāni qadiymāni.al-baytani qadymani.

  The two houses are old.