The preposition مثل

[Wayfinder]

If I understand it correctly, there are two ways we can use the preposition مثل:

1) It behaves solely as a preposition مثلَ and isn't declined.

2) It behaves as a noun in apposition and is declined according to the noun it follows – مثلُ، مثلِ، مثلَ

So these two translations of "a man like you" are both correct:
1) رجل مثلَك
2) رجل مثلُك

Which one is more common?

 

[Sadda7]

It is not a preposition, and its إعراب depends on where it is in the sentence.

So these two translations of "a man like you" are both correct:
1) رجل مثلَك
2) رجل مثلُك

It depends on the context, so it can be:

مرفوع: هذا رجلٌ مثلُك.
منصوب: رأيت رجلًا مثلَك.
مجرور: سلّمت على رجلٍ مثلِك.

 

[Wayfinder]

It is not a preposition, and its إعراب depends on where it is in the sentence.

It depends on the context, so it can be:

مرفوع: هذا رجلٌ مثلُك.
منصوب: رأيت رجلًا مثلَك.
مجرور: سلّمت على رجلٍ مثلِك.

But I found this example sentence on this page: The exclusion (3 of 3) - Arabic language Course - Madinah Arabic

نَجَحَ الطُّلَّابُ لاسِيَّما طَالبٍ مُجْتَهِدٍ مِثْلَكَ

Is it incorrect then?

 

[Finland]

It is not a preposition, and its إعراب depends on where it is in the sentence.

It depends on the context, so it can be:

مرفوع: هذا رجلٌ مثلُك.
منصوب: رأيت رجلًا مثلَك.
مجرور: سلّمت على رجلٍ مثلِك.

Hmm, I don't quite agree with this. At least in MSA مِثْلَ is frequently used as a preposition (in addition to the use of مِثْل as a noun in apposition). In cases such as المغاربة لا يطبخون مِثْلَ الجزائريين. @Sadda7 , are you saying, sentences like that are incorrect?

 

[Abbe]

I would think it's a sifa to a مفعول مطلق that has been omitted
لا يطبخون طبخا مثل
Or a حال

 

[Sadda7]

Is it incorrect then?

In cases such as المغاربة لا يطبخون مِثْلَ الجزائريين. @Sadda7 , are you saying, sentences like that are incorrect?

The issue isn't about the sentence being wrong or right, it's about مثل being a preposition, and this is wrong, it's not listed under prepositions even in contemporary grammar books.

As for its إعراب, that as I said depends on its position in the sentence.

نَجَحَ الطُّلَّابُ لاسِيَّما طَالبٍ مُجْتَهِدٍ مِثْلَكَ

I would read it مثلِك, or you can assume there is an omitted masdar and مثلَ is its صفة like @Abbe said, ie "...مجتهدٍ [اجتهادًا] مثلَ".

 

[Wayfinder]

The issue isn't about the sentence being wrong or right, it's about مثل being a preposition, and this is wrong, it's not listed under prepositions even in contemporary grammar books.

As for its إعراب, that as I said depends on its position in the sentence.

I would read it مثلِك, or you can assume there is an omitted masdar and مثلَ is its صفة like @Abbe said, ie "...مجتهدٍ [اجتهادًا] مثلَ".

Thank you so much. Now I understand that there may be an omitted masdar. But it may be a typographical error too.
I would like to ask as well if the dual and plural forms are used:
رجال مثله/أمثاله
Are both options correct?

 

[Sadda7]

رجال مثله/أمثاله
Are both options correct?

Yes