اسم التفضيل

A1 — النحو

Comparative/superlative using the أفعل pattern: أكبر (bigger), أصغر (smaller), أحسن (better)

Examples

هذا البيت أكبر من ذلك. — This house is bigger than that one.
القاهرة أجمل مدينة. — Cairo is the most beautiful city.
الشاي أحسن من القهوة. — Tea is better than coffee.
هي أصغر من أخيها. — She is younger than her brother.

النحوA1

اسم التفضيل

Comparative/superlative using the أفعل pattern: أكبر (bigger), أصغر (smaller), أحسن (better)

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

هذا البيت أكبر من ذلك.

This house is bigger than that one.

القاهرة أجمل مدينة.

Cairo is the most beautiful city.

الشاي أحسن من القهوة.

Tea is better than coffee.

هي أصغر من أخيها.

She is younger than her brother.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

اسم التفضيل — Comparative & Superlative

Arabic comparatives follow the أفعل (af'al) pattern:

Adjective	Comparative	Meaning
كبير (big)	أكبر	bigger/biggest
صغير (small)	أصغر	smaller/smallest
حسن (good)	أحسن	better/best
جميل (beautiful)	أجمل	more beautiful

Comparative: X أكبر من Y (X is bigger than Y). Superlative: أكبر + definite noun (أكبر مدينة = the biggest city). The أفعل form is invariable — no gender/number agreement.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners add gender endings to the comparative (*أكبرة for feminine). The أفعل pattern is invariable — always أكبر regardless of gender or number. English speakers: Like English '-er/more,' Arabic has one pattern (أفعل) for all comparatives. No 'more' vs '-er' distinction needed. Russian speakers: Russian comparatives (больше, красивее) change form. Arabic أفعل is always the same — no agreement with the noun. Czech speakers: Czech has comparative endings (-ší, -ější). Arabic uses one fixed pattern أفعل — no declension, no gender agreement.

هذا البيت أكبر من ذلك.

This house is bigger than that one.

أكبر (bigger) from كبير (big) using the أفعل pattern. من = than. No gender change even though بيت is masculine.

القاهرة أجمل مدينة.

Cairo is the most beautiful city.

أجمل مدينة = the most beautiful city (superlative). أفعل + indefinite noun = superlative meaning.

الشاي أحسن من القهوة.

Tea is better than coffee.

أحسن (better) from حسن (good). Irregular comparatives exist but most follow the أفعل pattern regularly.

هي أصغر من أخيها.

She is younger than her brother.

أصغر (younger/smaller) — same أفعل form for 'she' as for 'he.' No feminine form *صغرى is used in comparatives.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

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Frequently asked questions

When is اسم التفضيل used?: Comparative: X أكبر من Y (X is bigger than Y). Superlative: أكبر + definite noun (أكبر مدينة = the biggest city). The أفعل form is invariable — no gender/number agreement.
What are common mistakes with اسم التفضيل?: Learners add gender endings to the comparative (*أكبرة for feminine). The أفعل pattern is invariable — always أكبر regardless of gender or number. English speakers: Like English '-er/more,' Arabic has one pattern (أفعل) for all comparatives. No 'more' vs '-er' distinction needed. Russian speakers: Russian comparatives (больше, красивее) change form. Arabic أفعل is always the same — no agreement with the noun. Czech speakers: Czech has comparative endings (-ší, -ější). Arabic uses one fixed pattern أفعل — no declension, no gender agreement.

Adjective

Comparative

Meaning

كبير (big)

أكبر

bigger/biggest

صغير (small)

أصغر

smaller/smallest

حسن (good)

أحسن

better/best

جميل (beautiful)

أجمل

more beautiful

Frequently asked questions

When is اسم التفضيل used?

Comparative: X أكبر من Y (X is bigger than Y). Superlative: أكبر + definite noun (أكبر مدينة = the biggest city). The أفعل form is invariable — no gender/number agreement.

What are common mistakes with اسم التفضيل?

Learners add gender endings to the comparative (*أكبرة for feminine). The أفعل pattern is invariable — always أكبر regardless of gender or number. English speakers: Like English '-er/more,' Arabic has one pattern (أفعل) for all comparatives. No 'more' vs '-er' distinction needed. Russian speakers: Russian comparatives (больше, красивее) change form. Arabic أفعل is always the same — no agreement with the noun. Czech speakers: Czech has comparative endings (-ší, -ější). Arabic uses one fixed pattern أفعل — no declension, no gender agreement.