The Clarifying Noun
The tamyīz (التمييز) is a 'specification' noun. It answers the question 'In what respect?' or 'Of what?' when a preceding word or sentence is ambiguous. It is always indefinite and usually ends in the accusative case (-an).
How It Works
The tamyīz is a fundamental part of Modern Standard Arabic syntax. It is categorized into two main types based on what it clarifies:
1. Specification of a Word (Tamyīz al-Dhāt):
This clarifies a specific noun that represents a vague quantity. It is used in the following cases:
- Numbers: For all numbers from 11 to 99, including tens and compound numbers, the counted noun must be a singular tamyīz in the accusative case.
- Measurements: Used after units of weight, volume, area, or distance. While the accusative is standard, these specific types can also be expressed via Possession (Iḍāfa) or the preposition from (من).
- Vague Quantities: After Interrogative Kam (How many). Note that this differs from Exclamatory Kam, which indicates 'so many' and takes a genitive noun.
2. Specification of a Relationship (Tamyīz al-Nisba):
This clarifies the ambiguity of a whole sentence and is strictly accusative (manṣūb). It often appears after:
- Comparatives: When using comparative adjectives to specify a quality (e.g., 'He is more patient than I am').
- Verbs of Change/Fullness: Verbs like 'to fill' or 'to increase' require a tamyīz to specify what is filling or increasing.
- Praise and Blame: Nouns following نعم (what a great...) and بئس (what a terrible...) function as tamyīz ONLY if they are indefinite and accusative.
Advanced Note: Transformed vs. Non-Transformed
Grammarians distinguish between muḥawwal (transformed), where the tamyīz was originally a subject, object, or even a Mubtada', and ghayr muḥawwal (non-transformed).
Grammatical Rules:
To function as tamyīz, the word must be:
- Indefinite: It cannot have the definite article.
- Accusative: It must take the accusative case ending.
- Singular: The noun remains singular even for large quantities.
- Substantive (Jāmid): Unlike the circumstantial accusative (ḥāl) which is usually a derived adjective, tamyīz is typically a static noun.
- Completion (Faḍla): It must appear after the basic pillars of the sentence (the subject and verb/object or Mubtada' and Khabar) are already complete.
Examples (5)
- في الصفِّ أحدَ عشرَ طالباً.
There are eleven students in the classroom.
Word by Word: In the class eleven student.
The word 'طالباً' (student) is the tamyīz clarifying the number 11. Note it is singular and accusative.
- أنا أكثرُ منكَ خِبرةً.
I have more experience than you.
Word by Word: I more than you experience.
Here, 'خِبرةً' (experience) clarifies in what respect the speaker is 'more' than the other person.
- اشتريتُ كيلوغراماً تفاحاً.
I bought a kilogram of apples.
Word by Word: I bought kilogram apples.
The word 'تفاحاً' (apples) specifies the unit of weight 'kilogram'.
- ازدادَ الطالبُ علماً.
The student increased in knowledge.
Word by Word: Increased the student knowledge.
The verb 'izdāda' (increased) is vague; 'علماً' (knowledge) specifies what exactly increased.
- كم كتاباً قرأتَ؟
How many books did you read?
Word by Word: How many book you read?
After the interrogative 'kam', the noun must be a singular accusative tamyīz.
Common Mistakes
Using a plural noun for numbers 11-99.
عشرون كتباًعشرون كتاباًIn Arabic, the specification (tamyīz) for numbers 11-99 must always be singular, even though the meaning is plural.
Making the clarifying noun definite.
هو أكثر مني الخبرةهو أكثر مني خبرةًThe tamyīz must be indefinite. Adding 'al-' makes it grammatically incorrect in this construction.
Confusing tamyīz with a direct object.
امتلأ الكوبُ الماءَامتلأ الكوبُ ماءًWhile both are accusative, 'water' is not being 'acted upon' by the cup; it is specifying what the cup is full of, so it must be indefinite tamyīz.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the Clarifying Noun (التمييز), you need to be familiar with the accusative case (mansub) and how indefinite nouns are marked with tanwin. It is also helpful to have seen specific instances of this structure, such as the noun following 'How many' (كم).
Related Patterns
- The Object Ending
The tamyīz is one of the primary nouns that always takes the accusative case ending.
Level 2 - أفعل (التفضيل)Bigger and Better
Comparative adjectives frequently require a tamyīz to specify the quality being compared.
Level 2 - Tens From Twenty to Ninety
These numbers, along with 11-19, require the counted noun to be in the tamyīz form.
Level 2 - Two Uses of كم
Learners must distinguish between the interrogative 'kam' (which takes tamyīz) and the informative 'kam' (which takes a genitive noun).
Level 5 - Describing How the Action Happened
Both are indefinite and accusative, but while al-ḥāl describes a state, al-tamyīz clarifies a vague noun or relationship.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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