Continuation of the explanation of Ibn Malik's (may Allah have mercy on him) statement: "And the second is the subject, and this description is the predicate *** if in other than the singular, a pattern has settled."
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Are two men standing, Zayd?
The student: It is not correct.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because of the lack of agreement.
The Shaykh : All right, because of the lack of agreement. "Are two men standing, Zayd?" Here, you cannot say that "two men standing" is a predicate placed before Zayd, nor can you say that "standing" is a description and Zayd is the subject, because this involves the dual form, whereas Zayd is singular. The point is that some constructions are not linguistically valid, and what is correct is what was previously discussed. Let us return once more to the summary of the lesson: If they agree in the singular?
The student: Both options are permissible.
The Shaykh : Both options are permissible. If they agree in the dual? It is obligatory that the description be a predicate placed before, and what follows it be a subject placed after. If they agree in the plural?
The student: Similarly.
The Shaykh : Likewise?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Likewise.
The student: Likewise.
The Shaykh : All right, the first is a predicate placed before, and the second is a subject placed after. That is complete. All right, if the first is singular, and the second is dual or plural?
The student: It is obligatory that it be a subject!
The Shaykh : It is established that the description must be the subject, and what follows it is the subject of the verb, which suffices for the predicate. Yes. However, if the first is singular, and the second is plural or dual, then it is established that the description must be the subject, and what follows it is the predicate, unless the description is of a type that can be used for both masculine and feminine, in which case both options are permissible. Let us return to the words of Ibn Malik. He says:
"And the second is a subject, and this description is the predicate": meaning, and this description. "This" is a demonstrative noun, and "description" is an attribute, a substitute, or an explanatory apposition. Yes, the predicate of "this," meaning: the second is the subject, and this description is the predicate: "If in other than the singular, a pattern has settled". What is in other than the singular? The dual and the plural. Meaning: if it settles in agreement in other than the singular, then the second is the subject, and the description is the predicate, except according to the language of the Baragith.
The student: What is that?
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: It is not correct.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because of the lack of agreement.
The Shaykh : All right, because of the lack of agreement. "Are two men standing, Zayd?" Here, you cannot say that "two men standing" is a predicate placed before Zayd, nor can you say that "standing" is a description and Zayd is the subject, because this involves the dual form, whereas Zayd is singular. The point is that some constructions are not linguistically valid, and what is correct is what was previously discussed. Let us return once more to the summary of the lesson: If they agree in the singular?
The student: Both options are permissible.
The Shaykh : Both options are permissible. If they agree in the dual? It is obligatory that the description be a predicate placed before, and what follows it be a subject placed after. If they agree in the plural?
The student: Similarly.
The Shaykh : Likewise?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Likewise.
The student: Likewise.
The Shaykh : All right, the first is a predicate placed before, and the second is a subject placed after. That is complete. All right, if the first is singular, and the second is dual or plural?
The student: It is obligatory that it be a subject!
The Shaykh : It is established that the description must be the subject, and what follows it is the subject of the verb, which suffices for the predicate. Yes. However, if the first is singular, and the second is plural or dual, then it is established that the description must be the subject, and what follows it is the predicate, unless the description is of a type that can be used for both masculine and feminine, in which case both options are permissible. Let us return to the words of Ibn Malik. He says:
"And the second is a subject, and this description is the predicate": meaning, and this description. "This" is a demonstrative noun, and "description" is an attribute, a substitute, or an explanatory apposition. Yes, the predicate of "this," meaning: the second is the subject, and this description is the predicate: "If in other than the singular, a pattern has settled". What is in other than the singular? The dual and the plural. Meaning: if it settles in agreement in other than the singular, then the second is the subject, and the description is the predicate, except according to the language of the Baragith.
The student: What is that?
The Shaykh : Huh?