Basic Arabic Grammar
Basic Arabic Grammar
Basic Arabic Grammar
[ ]
Most Arabic words are derived from three base letters that join together
to establish a meaning. Placing these letters on various patterns produces
different, but related words. Lessons Eleven through Fifteen cover several
commonly encountered noun forms.
PRINCIPLE ONE
The active participle has both masculine and feminine forms.29 Placing the
three base letters on the pattern produces the masculine form of the
) , ain ( ) , and lm
( ) positions in this pattern with --( to worship) creates ( a male
active participle. For example, replacing the f (
29
All Arabic nouns, both living and non-living, are classified as either masculine or feminine.
masculine form is used to refer to male beings or masculine objects. The feminine form is used to
refer to female beings or feminine objects.
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FIGURE 11.1
55
Arabic words enter four grammatical states (lesson five). Of these, nouns
).
enter three30: (1) rafa ( ), (2) nasb (), and (3) jarr (
Nouns express these states through either (1) changes in voweling on the
last letter of the word or (2) changes in lettering at the end of the word.
PRINCIPLE FIVE
fathahs ( ) indicate the state of nasb (), and two kasrahs ( ) indicate
PRINCIPLE SIX
Like verbs, Arabic nouns also have a dual form.32 The dual is produced
from the singular by (1) altering the voweling of the last letter and (2)
adding a designated ending. This ending reflects the grammatical state of
is
the word. If the word is in the state of rafa ( ) then the suffix
added; whereas if the word is in either the state of nasb () or jarr
), the ending
(
30
These grammatical states result from the interactions of nouns with other words in a
sentence. For example, if a noun is the subject of the sentence, it takes on the grammatical state
of rafa ( ). The goal of the beginner is to realize that grammatical states exist and to memorize
their various forms. A discussion of the roles of words in sentences and what causes their
grammatical states is found in advanced Arabic grammar books.
31
32
56
PRINCIPLE SEVEN
The plural form of Arabic nouns is produced in two distinct ways: the
broken plural and the sound plural. The broken plural is formed
by (1) breaking apart the singular word, (2) inserting or removing
letters, and (3) changing voweling. A set pattern for these changes does
not exist. Therefore, each broken plural must be individually memorized.
(book) is
(mosque) is
(books), while the broken plural for the singular
For example, the broken plural for the singular
(mosques). In each case the singular form was separated, letters were
inserted or removed, and voweling was changed.
PRINCIPLE EIGHT
The second type of Arabic plural is called the sound plural, and it is
used by the active participle. 33 The sound plural is formed from the
singular by (1) making slight alterations to the last letter of the singular
and (2) adding a designated ending. This suffix varies between masculine
and feminine forms and reflects the grammatical state of the word (table
11.2). In the case of the masculine sound plural, if the word is in the state
of rafa ( ), the suffix
Some singular words only use the broken plural, others only use the sound plural. Rarely, a
singular word will use both the sound and broken plurals. For the most part, active participles
use the sound plural.
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In the case of the feminine sound plural, if the word is in the state of rafa
( ), then the suffix is added; whereas if the word is in either nasb
), the ending
() or jarr (
ESSENTIAL NOTE
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TABLE 11.1
FORMING THE DUAL
BASE
FORM
A male doer
Masculine
singular in rafa
A male doer
Masculine
singular in nasb
A male doer
Masculine
singular in jarr
A female doer
Feminine
singular in rafa
A female doer
Feminine
singular in nasb
A female doer
Feminine
singular in jarr
FINAL
GOAL
STEP
ONE
MASCULINE
DUAL IN
RAFA
Change
vowel
of the
last
letter to
fathah
MASCULINE
DUAL IN
NASB
Change
vowel
of the
last
letter to
fathah
MASCULINE
DUAL IN
JARR
Change
vowel
of the
last
letter to
fathah
FEMININE
DUAL IN
RAFA
Change
vowel
of the
last
letter to
fathah
FEMININE
DUAL IN
NASB
FEMININE
DUAL IN
JARR
Change
vowel
of the
last
letter to
fathah
Change
vowel
of the
last
letter to
fathah
RESULT
ENDING
DUAL
+
+
Masculine dual
in rafa
Masculine dual
in nasb
Two male doers
Masculine dual
in jarr
Two female
doers
Feminine dual in
rafa
Two female
doers
Feminine dual in
nasb
Two female
doers
Feminine dual in
jarr
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TABLE 11.2
FORMING THE SOUND PLURAL
BASE
FORM
A male doer
Masculine
singular in rafa
A male doer
Masculine
singular in nasb
A male doer
Masculine
singular in jarr
A female doer
Feminine
singular in rafa
A female doer
Feminine
singular in nasb
A female doer
Feminine
singular in jarr
FINAL
GOAL
STEP
ONE
MASCULINE
SOUND
PLURAL IN
RAFA
Change
vowel of
the last
letter to
dammah
MASCULINE
SOUND
PLURAL IN
NASB
Change
vowel of
the last
letter to
kasrah
MASCULINE
SOUND
PLURAL IN
JARR
Change
vowel of
the last
letter to
kasrah
FEMININE
SOUND
PLURAL IN
RAFA
Drop
final ta
marbutah
FEMININE
SOUND
PLURAL IN
NASB
Drop
final ta
marbutah
FEMININE
SOUND
PLURAL IN
JARR
Drop
final ta
marbutah
RESULT
SOUND
PLURAL
ENDING
Many male doers
Masculine plural
in rafa
Many male doers
Masculine plural
in nasb
Many male doers
Masculine plural
in jarr
Many female
doers
Feminine plural
in rafa
Many female
doers
Feminine plural
in nasb
Many female
doers
Feminine plural
in jarr
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TABLE 11.3
THE ACTIVE PARTICIPLE
FEMININE
SOUND
PLURAL
DUAL
MASCULINE
SINGLE
SOUND
PLURAL
DUAL
female doers
two female
doers
a female doer
female doers
two female
doers
a female doer
female doers
two female
doers
a female doer
male doers
male doers
male doers
SINGLE
a male doer
a male doer
a male doer