Arabic Grammar Terminology and Rules

Arabic grammar consists of two main parts: (An-Nahw), which deals with syntax and sentence structure, and (As-Sarf), which deals with morphology and word formation. Understanding these components is essential for mastering the Arabic language.

Basic Parts of Speech

Arabic has three primary parts of speech:

• Noun ( - Ism): A word that denotes a person, place, thing, or idea.
• Verb ( - Fi'l): A word that expresses an action or state of being.
• Particle ( - Harf): Words that serve grammatical functions but have independent meaning.

Grammatical Cases

Arabic nouns and pronouns change their endings based on their grammatical function. There are three cases:

Case	Arabic Name	Function	Ending Marker
Nominative	(Ar-Raf')	Subject of a sentence	(Damma)
Accusative	(An-Nasb)	Object of a sentence	(Fatha)
Genitive	(Al-Jarr)	After prepositions	(Kasra)

Sentence Structure

Nominal Sentences

A nominal sentence ( ) begins with a noun. It consists of:

• Subject ( - Al-Mubtada'): The initial noun of the sentence
• Predicate ( - Al-Khabar): Information about the subject

Verbal Sentences

A verbal sentence ( ) begins with a verb. It consists of:

• Verb ( - Al-Fi'l)
• Subject ( - Al-Fa'il)
• Object ( - Al-Maf'ul bihi) (optional)

Number and Agreement

Arabic has three numbers:

• Singular ( - Al-Mufrad)
• Dual ( - Al-Muthanna): For exactly two items, formed by adding or
• Plural ( - Al-Jam'): For three or more items

There are two types of plural:

• Sound plural ( ): Formed by adding or for masculine and for feminine
• Broken plural ( ): Formed by changing the internal structure of the word

Gender

Arabic has two genders:

• Masculine ( - Al-Mudhakkar)
• Feminine ( - Al-Mu'annath): Often indicated by ( ) at the end of the word

Definiteness

Arabic nouns can be either indefinite or definite:

• Indefinite ( - Nakira): Ends with (tanween)
• Definite ( - Ma'rifa): Prefixed with (Al)

Personal Pronouns

Arabic has separate pronouns for each person, number, and gender combination:

Person	Gender	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	-	(Ana)	(Nahnu)	(Nahnu)
Second	Masculine	(Anta)	(Antuma)	(Antum)
Second	Feminine	(Anti)	(Antuma)	(Antunna)
Third	Masculine	(Huwa)	(Humaa)	(Hum)
Third	Feminine	(Hiya)	(Humaa)	(Hunna)

Pronoun Suffixes

Arabic uses attached pronouns ( ) to indicate possession or object relationships:

Pronoun	Suffix Form	Example
My		(My house)
Your (m. sing.)		(Your house)
Your (f. sing.)		(Your house)
His		(His house)
Her		(Her house)
Our		(Our house)
Your (dual/pl.)		(Your house)
Their		(Their house)

Prepositions

Arabic prepositions ( ) govern the genitive case:

• (min) - from
• (ila) - to
• (ala) - on
• (fi) - in
• (an) - about
• (ma'a) - with
• (bi) - with/by
• (li) - for/to
• (ka) - like/as

Verb Forms and Patterns

Arabic verbs are derived from triliteral (three-consonant) roots. There are primarily ten forms ( ) that modify the root to create different meanings:

Form	Pattern	Meaning Modification	Example
I		Basic form	(wrote)
II		Causative/intensive	(made write/wrote many)
III		Reciprocal	(corresponded with)
IV		Causative	(honored)
V		Reflexive of form II	(signed up)
VI		Reflexive of form III	(corresponded with each other)
VII		Passive reflexive	(was broken/broke)
VIII		Reflexive/acquired property	(gathered)
IX		Color or defect	(turned red)
X		Request/seek	(asked forgiveness)

Verb Tenses

Arabic has two main verb tenses:

• Perfect ( - Al-Madi): Past tense, completed action
• Imperfect ( - Al-Mudari'): Present/future tense, incomplete action

There is also the imperative ( - Al-Amr) for commands.

Passive Voice

The passive voice in Arabic is formed by modifying the vowel pattern of the verb:

• For perfect tense: Change to
• For imperfect tense: Change to

Negation

Arabic uses different particles to negate sentences depending on the tense and sentence type:

• (la): Negates nominal sentences
• (lam): Negates verb form (jussive)
• (lan): Negates future (subjunctive)
• (ma): General negation
• (laysa): "Is not"

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns ( ) connect clauses to nouns:

• (alladhi) - who/that (m. sing.)
• (allati) - who/that (f. sing.)
• (alladhayni) - who/that (m. dual)
• (allatayni) - who/that (f. dual)
• (alladhina) - who/that (m. plural)
• (allati) / (allai) - who/that (f. plural)

Adjectival Phrases (Idafa)

The idafa () construction expresses possession or relationship between two nouns:

• First noun is indefinite but grammatically definite through relationship
• Second noun is in genitive case
• If second noun is definite, the whole phrase is definite

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns ( ) point to specific items:

Distance	Gender	Singular	Dual	Plural
Close	Masculine	(hatha)	(hadhan)	(ha'ula'i)
Close	Feminine	(hadhihi)	(hatan)	(ha'ula'i)
Distant	Masculine	(dhalika)	(dhaniaka)	(ula'ika)
Distant	Feminine	(tilka)	(tanaka)	(ula'ika)

Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences contain a condition () and consequence (), using particles like:

• (idha) - if (when)
• (in) - if
• (law) - if (hypothetical)
• (lawla) - if it were not for

Numbers

Arabic numbers follow complex agreement rules:

• Numbers 1-2: Agree with the counted noun in gender
• Numbers 3-10: Opposite gender of the counted noun
• Numbers 11-19: First parts agree, second parts (units) disagree
• Numbers 20-90: Opposite gender of the counted noun

Study of Arabic grammar requires patience and practice, as these rules form the foundation of the language's rich and precise expression system.