Grammar

Question 1

What is the concept of ‘Indefiniteness’ in arabic?

Answer 1

It refers to a noun that is non-specific and general
- ie. ‘a’ book rather than ‘the’ (specific) book

Question 2

What are the indefinite articles?

Answer 2

1. There are no indefinite articles in arabic
2. In the absenceof an “ال” (al-) - ‘The’ -it is assumed that the ‘a/an’ is before the indefinite noun

Question 3

What indicates an indefinite noun in arabic?

Answer 3

• The absence of an “ال” (al-) - ‘The’
• The presence of a tanween at the end of the noun

Question 4

What is the concept of ‘definiteness’ in arabic?

Answer 4

It refers to a noun that is specific and ‘known’ to the listener

Question 5

What are the definite articles?

Answer 5

• “ال” (al-) is the definite article which is added to a noun

Question 6

What is the relationship between pronouns and nouns?

Answer 6

• Pronouns referring to the noun must match the noun in :
• Gender
• Plurality

Question 7

What is the typical word order of a sentance?

Answer 7

A typical Arabic sentence consists of a subject (S), verb (V), and object (O) in that order

“I study Arabic” where “أنا” (Ana) is the subject, “أدرس” (adrus) is the verb, and “اللغة العربية” (al-lughah al-ʿarabiyyah) is the object

Question 10

Translate

‘a beautiful car’

Answer 10

“سيارة جميلة” (sayyāra jamīla)

o “سيارة” (sayyāra) (Indefinite noun) : A Car (F)
o جميل (jamil(m)) (adjective) : جميلة (jamila) } match feminine noun (sayyāra)

Question 11

What are ‘Demonstrative pronouns’?

Answer 11

o Demonstratives are words like “this” or “that.”
o In Arabic, they act like definite articles (making the noun specific).

Question 12

What are the demonstrative pronouns for ‘This is’ singular masculine and femenine nouns?

Answer 12

1. ** هذه (hadha)**
   * This (is)..(referring to male noun)
2. **”هذه” (haḏhi) **
   * This (is)..(referring to feminine noun)

Question 13

What are the demonstrative pronouns for ‘That is’ singular masculine and femenine nouns?

Answer 13

(ḏālik) : That (is)..M
تلك (til.ka) : That (is)..F

Question 14

How do demonstrative pronouns interact with definite nouns?

Answer 14

• When you combine a demonstrative with a definite noun you get a specific phrase.

e.g. (hā.dhā Al-wa.lad) : This is THE boy

Question 15

How do demonstrative pronouns interact with indefinite nouns?

Answer 15

o When you combine a demonstrative with an indefinite noun, it makes a general non specific phrase

e.g. (hādhā walad) means “This is a boy.”

Question 16

How is possession shown in arabic?
Possessor/Posessession
* Order of words?
* Definiteness?

Answer 16

1. Order of Words:
   o The thing owned comes first.
   o The owner comes second.
2. Definiteness:
   o The second word (the owner) decides if the whole phrase is definite or indefinite.
   o The first word (the thing owned) is usually without “the” unless it’s already definite.

Question 17

“The man’s house”

Answer 17

“The house of the man” : bayt ar-rajul

• بيت (bayt) means “house” (thing owned).
• الرجل (ar-rajul) is definite and means “the man” (owner).

Question 18

“A man’s house”

Answer 18

“bayt rajul” means :
* “a house of a man” or “a man’s house”

Question 19

How do you indicate the “possession” of a noun and what is it determined by?

Answer 19

o Suffixes are attached to the end of the possessed noun to indicate possession
* The suffix is determined by the gender of the possessor

Question 20

Possessive suffix

where is the possessive pronoun placed relative to the noun it modifies?

Answer 20

• The possessive pronoun always comes after the possessed noun
• whether it is a suffix or a person’s name

Question 21

What is the possessive suffix for “my”?

Answer 21

The possessive suffix for “my” is -ي “ee”

Question 22

(masculine singular)

How do you say “your” using a possessive suffix?

Answer 22

The possessive suffix for “your “ is -كَ (“ka”)

Question 23

(feminine singular)

What is the Arabic possessive suffix for “your”?

Answer 23

The possessive suffix for “your is -كِ (“ki”)

Question 24

How do you form the possessive for “his”?

Answer 24

The possessive suffix for “his” is -هُ (“hu”)

Question 25

What suffix is used for “her” in possessive forms?

Answer 25

The possessive suffix for “her” is -ها (“ha”)

Question 26

How do you say “our” using a possessive suffix?

Answer 26

The possessive suffix for “our” is -نا (“na”)

Question 27

What is the possessive suffix for “your (plural)”?

Answer 27

The possessive suffix for “your (plural)” is -كم (“kum”)

Question 28

How do you form the possessive for “their”?

Answer 28

The possessive suffix for “their” is -هم (“hum”)

Question 29

How does the possessive suffix for “your” differ between masculine and feminine possessors in Arabic?

Answer 29

• For masculine possessors, the suffix is -كَ (ka)
• For feminine possessors, it is -كِ (ki)

Question 30

What is the rule for showing possession of femenine nouns?

Answer 30

1. Feminine nouns end with the taa marbuta (ة).
2. When a possessive suffix is added to a noun ending with taa marbuta
3. the taa marbuta (ة) changes to a **regular taa (ت) **and is pronounced as /t/

Question 31

What are the possessive suffixes for femenine nouns?
* Your (m)
* Your (f)

Answer 31

• Your (m) : -tu.ka
• Your (f) : -ti.ki

Question 32

What are the possessive suffixes for femenine nouns?
* His
* Her

Answer 32

• His : -tuhu
• Her : -tu.ha

Question 33

Define what a ‘nominal sentance’ is?

Answer 33

Nominal sentences ;
* Give information about a subject
* without using an action/verb.

Question 34

What are the two main parts of a nominal sentence?

Answer 34

Subject and Predicate

Question 35

What is the rules of structuring of a nominal sentance?

Answer 35

• Starts with the Subject ie. a noun/pronoun
• Ends with the Predicate
• The subject determines the ‘gender’ and the Predicate must match

Question 36

What does a nominal sentence in Arabic start with?

Answer 36

A noun or pronoun.

Question 37

Does a nominal sentence in Arabic require a verb and why?

Answer 37

• No, it does not need a verb.
• The meaning “is” or “are” is implied

Question 38

What is the predicate in a nominal sentance?

Answer 38

1. Refers to the information about the subject
2. the predicate can be a noun, adjective, or phrase.

Question 39

Nominal sentance

“she’s his friend”
* Translate
* Identify the subject and predicate

Answer 39

Hiya sadiqa.thu.hu
1. Subject : “هي” (hiya - she)
2. Premedicate : صديقَتُهُ (ṣadīqatuhu)
* The possessive suffix “ـهُ” (his) is attached to the male noun “صديقة” (friend) to form “صديقَتُهُ” (his friend).

Question 40

What is the idhaafa construction?

Answer 40

A type of phrase to show possession that is made up of two nouns only* (no verbs or particles ever)*
* The first noun describes the second noun, showing a possessive relationship similar to “of” in English.
* For example, “house of the man

Question 41

How do you recognise a idhaafa construction?

Answer 41

It uses two nouns together without any words between them
* The first noun : The possession ie. what is owned
* The second noun : The possessor ie.who owns it.

Question 42

What is the rule of in/definiteness within an indaafa construction?

Answer 42

1 . The first noun (Possession) does not have “الـ” (the)
* It is always indefinite

2 . The second noun (the owner) can have “الـ” (the).
* Can be definite or indefinite

Question 43

“My mum’s car”

Answer 43

1. Idaafa construction
2. sayyāratu ummī

Question 44

This is my mother’s car

Answer 44

haḏihi sayyāratu ummī – “The car of my mother”
* Demonstrative pronoun ‘Hadhihi’ is femenine reflecting the gender of ‘Sayarah’