Unlike other languages like English, Arabic has a unique grammatical rule: dual (Al-Muthanna). In Arabic, this form refers to two of anything, while English uses a plural form to indicate two of anything.
In this article, we will discuss the noun dual form in Arabic and how it affects other words like verbs or adjectives whether in nominative, genitive, or accusative cases with plenty of examples for further understanding.
What Is Al-Muthanna in Arabic?
Dual, or “المثنى” (Al-Mouthanna), is a grammatical form or structure used to indicate two of something. It uses specific suffixes like “ان” or “ين” to be added to nouns, verbs, and adjectives to refer to two of something.
Dual is used for both masculine and feminine forms of words, as it applies to nouns which in turn affects verbs and adjectives accompanying that noun. So it’s important to differentiate between singular, dual, and plural in Arabic.
Arabic Dual Form:
Arabic dual is formed by adding some suffixes at the end of the word, and these suffixes are “ان” (Aan) or “ين” (Ayn) according to the grammatical situation. If it is nominative, we use the suffix “ان” (Aan), and if it is genitive or accusative, we use the suffix “ين” (Ayn).
1. Arabic Noun Dual Form:
The noun dual form depends on Arabic cases, or “إعراب” (I’erab), which applies to both masculine and feminine nouns.
A) Arabic Nominative Case:
Noun dual form in the nominative case, or “الرفع” (Al-Rafa’), requires adding the suffix “ان” (An) at the end of the noun whether masculine or feminine. Just keep in mind converting “ة” (Taa’ Marbootah) into “ت” (Taa’ Maftoohah) in the case of feminine nouns.
For Example, “طالب”, which means “A male student” and is pronounced as (Taleb), turns to “طالبان”, which means “Two male students” and is pronounced as (Taleban).
Another Example, “طالبة”, which means “A female student” and is pronounced as (Talebah), turns to “طالبتان”, which means “Two female students” and is pronounced as (Talebatan).
B) Arabic Genitive And Accusative Cases:
Noun dual form in genitive and accusative cases, or “الجر والنصب” (Al-jarr wa al-nasb), requires adding the suffix “ين” (Ayn) at the end of the noun whether masculine or feminine. And don’t forget to convert “ة” (Taa’ Marbootah) into “ت” (Taa’ Maftoohah) in the case of feminine nouns.
For Example, “طالب”, which means “A male student” and is pronounced as (Taleb), turns to “طالبين”, which means “Two male students” and is pronounced as (Taleban).
Another Example, “طالبة”, which means “A female student” and is pronounced as (Talebah), turns to “طالبتين”, which means “Two female students” and is pronounced as (Talebatan).
2. Arabic Verb Dual Form:
The verb dual form indicates an action that is done by two subjects. It differs from the noun dual form and depends on the tense of the action.
A) The Arabic Present Tense:
In the present tense, the dual form requires adding the suffix “ان” (An) at the end of the verb for both masculine and feminine genders.
For Example, “يكتب”, which means “He writes” and is pronounced as (Yaktub), turns to “يكتبان”, which means “They both write” and is pronounced as (Taleban).
Another Example, “تكتب”, which means “She writes” and is pronounced as (Taktub), turns to “تكتبان”, which means “They both write” and is pronounced as (Taktuban).
B) Arabic The Past Tense:
In the past tense, the dual form requires adding the suffix “ا” (A) at the end of the verb for both masculine and feminine genders.
For Example, “رسم”, which means “He drew” and is pronounced as (Rasam), turns to “رسما”, which means “They both drew” and is pronounced as (Rasama).
Another Example, “رسمت”, which means “She drew” and is pronounced as (Rasamat), turns to “رسمتا”, which means “They both drew” and is pronounced as (Rasamata).
C) The Arabic Future Tense:
The future tense resembles the present tense, you just add the suffix “ان” (An) at the end of the verb for both masculine and feminine genders, to convert it into a dual form.
For Example, “سيذهب”, which means “He will go” and is pronounced as (Sa-yazhab), turns to “سيذهبان”, which means “They both will go” and is pronounced as (Sa-yazhaban).
Another Example, “ستذهب”, which means “She will go” and is pronounced as (Sa-tazhab), turns to “ستذهبان”, which means “They both will go” and is pronounced as (Sa-tazhaban).
D) The Arabic Imperative And Negative Forms:
The Imperative And Negative Forms resemble the past tense, the dual form requires adding the suffix “ا” (A) at the end of the verb for both genders. In feminine gender, delete the letter “ي” before adding the suffix.
| Examples | Singular | Meaning | Dual | Meaning |
| Imperative form | “ارسم” (Ersum) | “Draw!” for male gender | “ارسما” (Ersuma) | “You two, Draw!” for both male and female genders. |
| “ارسمي” (Ersumy) | “Draw!” for female gender | |||
| Negative form | “لا تذهب” (La Tazhab) | “Don’t go!” for male gender | “لا تذهبا” (La Tazhaba) | “You two, Don’t go!” for both male and female genders. |
| “لا تذهبي” (La Tazhaby) | “Don’t go!” for female gender |
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3. The Arabic Adjective Dual Form:
The adjective dual form is used to describe two persons or things. It resembles the noun dual form, you just add the suffixes “ان” (Aan) or “ين” (Ayn) at the end of the adjective according to the Arabic cases, or “إعراب” (I’erab).
| Example | Meaning | Nominative | Genitive and Accusative |
| “ذكي” (Zakey) | Smart (Male) | “ذكيان” (Zakeyan) “Two smart boys” | “ذكيين” (Zakeyayn) “Two smart boys” |
| “جميلة” (Jamilah) | Pretty (Female) | “جميلتان” (Jamilatan) “Two pretty girls” | “جميلتين” (Jamilatayn) “Two pretty girls” |
Arabic Singular Noun to Arabic Dual Noun Conversion Examples:
| Singular | Dual | |
| Example | “رأيت الطالب في الفصل”(Ra’ayt al-taleb fi el-fasl) | “رأيت الطالبين في الفصل”(Ra’ayt al-talebayn fi el-fasl) |
| Meaning | “I saw the student in the class” | “I saw the two students in the class” |
| Explanation | In the previous example, the word “الطالب” (Al-taleb) is singular and means “the student”. In dual, it turns to “الطالبين” (al-talebayn) and means “The two students”. We added the suffix “ين” (Ayn) because it’s a dual noun in the accusative case. | |
| Singular | Dual | |
| Example | “اللاعب ذهب إلى النادي” (Al-la’eb zahab ela al-nady) | “اللاعبان ذهبا إلى النادي” (Al-la’eban zahaba ela al-nady) |
| Meaning | “The player went to the club” | “The two players went to the club” |
| Explanation | In the previous example, the word “اللاعب” (Al-la’eb) is singular and means “The player”. In dual, it turns to “اللاعبان” (Al-la’eban) and it means “The two players”. We added the suffix “ان” (An) because it’s a dual noun in the nominative case. And the word “ذهب” (Zahab) is singular and means “Went”. In dual, it turns to “ذهبا” (Zahaba) and it means “Went”. We added the suffix “ا” (A) because it’s a dual verb in the past tense. | |
| Singular | Dual | |
| Example | “فتاة لطيفة” (Fatah latifah) | “فتاتان لطيفتان” (Fatatan latifatan) |
| Meaning | “A kind girl” | “Two kind girls” |
| Explanation | In the previous example, the word “فتاة” (Fatah) is singular and means “Girl”. In dual, it turns to “فتاتان” (Two girls) and it means “The two players”. And the word “لطيفة” (Latifah) is singular and means “Kind”. In dual, it turns to “لطيفتان” (Latifatan) and it means “Kind”. We added the suffix “ان” (An) because they are dual nouns in the nominative case, And we replaced “ة” (Taa’ Marbootah) with “ت” (Taa’ Maftoohah). | |
| Singular | Dual | |
| Example | “الطفل يركض في الحديقة” (Al-tefl yarkud fi el-hadikah) | “الطفلان يركضان في الحديقة” (Al-teflan yarkudan fi el-hadikah) |
| Meaning | “The kid is running in the garden” | “The two kids are running in the garden” |
| Explanation | In the previous example, the word “الطفل” (Al-tefl) is singular and means “The kid”. In dual, it turns to “الطفلان” (Al-teflan) and it means “The two kids”. We added the suffix “ان” (An) because it’s a dual noun in the nominative case. And the word “يركض” (Yarkud) is singular and means “Is running”. In dual, it turns to “يركضان” (Yarkudan) and it means “Are running”. We added the suffix “ان” (An) because it’s a dual verb in the present tense. | |
| Singular | Dual | |
| Example | “لا تتحدث مع الغرباء!” (La tthadath ma’ al-gorabaa’) | “لا تتحدثا مع الغرباء!” (La tthadatha ma’ al-ghorabaa’) |
| Meaning | “Don’t talk to strangers!” | “You two, Don’t talk to strangers!” |
| Explanation | In the previous example, the words “لا تتحدث” (La tthadath) are singular and mean “Don’t talk”. In dual, it turns to “لا تتحدثا” (La tthadatha) and it means “You two, Don’t talk”. We added the suffix “ا” (A) because it’s a dual verb in the negative form. | |
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Conclusion:
Dual is a distinct structure in the Arabic language that refers to two persons or things. It affects nouns which in turn affects other words. Dual is formed by adding some suffixes at the end of the singular word in Arabic, like “ان” (A) or “ين” (Ayn) for nouns and adjectives, and like “ا” (A) or “ان” (An) for verbs.
It’s a unique grammatical form you must learn to use while forming correct coherent text in daily life while speaking whether formally or informally or while writing in Arabic.
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