An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives as Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n

Nayef Jomaa; Amal Jomaa

An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives as Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n

Abstract

Adjectives are an essential part of all languages that are used as modifiers to add extra meanings to the described noun. However, the Arabic language lacks theories that clearly explain how adjectives can be arranged when having more than one adjective. Therefore, this study aims to explore the order of multiple adjectives in the Holy Qur’an. A qualitative analysis was adopted, focusing mainly on verses with nouns that were described by more than one individual adjective. Inductive as well as analytical approaches were utilized in explaining the semantic and syntactic structure of these adjectives. Adjectives that describe the angels, Prophet Mohmmad, Qura’n, believing women, trees, fruits, milk, and wine were analysed in this study. The results revealed that the order of adjectives is based on encompassing adjectives first, and specification and/or emphasizing next. For foods and drinks, colours come first, and taste comes next. Using nouns as modifiers instead of adjectives was also identified as a rhetorical style in the Holy Qura’n. Theoretically, these results form a basis for establishing a linguistic theory that explains the order of adjectives in the Arabic language. Pedagogically, the results can help learners and non-native speakers of Arabic in understanding part of the rhetorical style employed.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

British and Irish Language, Literature and Culture, World Languages, Literature and Culture (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Nayef Jomaa ^*
0000-0001-8952-5812
Oman

Amal Jomaa
0009-0004-9514-9242
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

December 17, 2025

Publication Date

December 17, 2025

Submission Date

November 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 13, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 7 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74FN86TA

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Jomaa, N., & Jomaa, A. (2025). An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives as Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature, 7(2), 126-146. https://izlik.org/JA74FN86TA

AMA

1.Jomaa N, Jomaa A. An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives as Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n. EJELL. 2025;7(2):126-146. https://izlik.org/JA74FN86TA

Chicago

Jomaa, Nayef, and Amal Jomaa. 2025. “An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives As Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n”. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature 7 (2): 126-46. https://izlik.org/JA74FN86TA.

EndNote

Jomaa N, Jomaa A (December 1, 2025) An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives as Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature 7 2 126–146.

IEEE

[1]N. Jomaa and A. Jomaa, “An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives as Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n”, EJELL, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 126–146, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA74FN86TA

ISNAD

Jomaa, Nayef - Jomaa, Amal. “An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives As Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n”. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature 7/2 (December 1, 2025): 126-146. https://izlik.org/JA74FN86TA.

JAMA

1.Jomaa N, Jomaa A. An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives as Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n. EJELL. 2025;7:126–146.

MLA

Jomaa, Nayef, and Amal Jomaa. “An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives As Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n”. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature, vol. 7, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 126-4, https://izlik.org/JA74FN86TA.

Vancouver

1.Nayef Jomaa, Amal Jomaa. An Interpretation of the Order of Multiple Adjectives as Post-Modifiers in Arabic: Examples from the Holy Qura’n. EJELL [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;7(2):126-4. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA74FN86TA