LessonsConcluding the Classification of Simile: Mention, Omission, and Emphatic ForceQuiz

FormArabic exampleSubject / respect / particle1زَيْدٌ كَالْأَسَدِ فِي الشَّجَاعَةِStated / stated / stated2زَيْدٌ كَالْأَسَدِStated / omitted / stated3زَيْدٌ أَسَدٌ فِي الشَّجَاعَةِStated / stated / omitted4زَيْدٌ أَسَدٌStated / omitted / omitted5كَالْأَسَدِ فِي الشَّجَاعَةِOmitted / stated / stated6كَالْأَسَدِOmitted / omitted / stated7أَسَدٌ فِي الشَّجَاعَةِOmitted / stated / omitted8أَسَدٌOmitted / omitted / omitted

The last four forms depend on a context in which the discourse is already about Zayd and the expression supplies a description of him. These illustrate structural ellipsis, not automatic similes in the absence of a relevant context.

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Table of the eight structural patterns

Concluding the Classification of Simile: Mention, Omission, and Emphatic Force

FormArabic exampleSubject / respect / particle1زَيْدٌ كَالْأَسَدِ فِي الشَّجَاعَةِStated / stated / stated2زَيْدٌ كَالْأَسَدِStated / omitted / stated3زَيْدٌ أَسَدٌ فِي الشَّجَاعَةِStated / stated / omitted4زَيْدٌ أَسَدٌStated / omitted / omitted5كَالْأَسَدِ فِي الشَّجَاعَةِOmitted / stated / stated6كَالْأَسَدِOmitted / omitted / stated7أَسَدٌ فِي الشَّجَاعَةِOmitted / stated / omitted8أَسَدٌOmitted / omitted / omitted

The last four forms depend on a context in which the discourse is already about Zayd and the expression supplies a description of him. These illustrate structural ellipsis, not automatic similes in the absence of a relevant context.