LessonsThe Seven Compound Modalities and the Negations of Permanence and NecessityQuiz

«والاعتبار في تسميتها موجبة أو سالبة للجزء الأول»
A compound proposition is called affirmative or negative according to its first component.

In “Every writer moves the fingers while writing, but not permanently,” the first component affirms a predicate. The whole form is therefore affirmative, even though its latter component denies permanence.

If the initial part denies a predicate—such as the absence of stillness while writing—the whole construction is negative. Thus an ending like “not always” does not automatically classify the compound proposition as negative.

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Which component determines affirmation or negation?

The Seven Compound Modalities and the Negations of Permanence and Necessity

«والاعتبار في تسميتها موجبة أو سالبة للجزء الأول»
A compound proposition is called affirmative or negative according to its first component.

In “Every writer moves the fingers while writing, but not permanently,” the first component affirms a predicate. The whole form is therefore affirmative, even though its latter component denies permanence.

If the initial part denies a predicate—such as the absence of stillness while writing—the whole construction is negative. Thus an ending like “not always” does not automatically classify the compound proposition as negative.