Lesson 5 – الدَّرْسُ الْخَامِسُ

Introduction - مُقَدِّمَةٌ

• In this lesson we will learn the following things:
• In part one of this lesson we will learn the expression which shows ownership of one thing over another - e.g., "The teacher's car". This is called The Possessive Expression in English and /Muđâf and Muđâf  Ilaihi/ in Arabic:

English:	Transliteration:	Arabic:
The book of the student	/Kitabuŧ ŧâlibi /	كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ
On the desk of the teacher	/ξala maktabil mudarrisi/	عَلَىٰ مَكْتَبِ الْمُدَرِّسِ

• In Arabic the letter /Alif/ is used in two different ways. One of them is called /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/ and the other is called /Hamza tul Waŝl/. Hamza tul Qaŧξ is the one which is pronounced while Hamza tul Waŝl is the one which is not pronounced:

Translation:	Transliteration:	Arabic:	Type of Alif
Where are you from	/Min aina anta/	مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟	هَمْزَةُ الْقَطْعِ
He is the teacher's son	/Howab nul mudarrisi/	هُوَ ٱبْنُ ٱلْمُدَرِّسِ	هَمْزَةُ الْوَصْلِ

• In Arabic, words normally change their cases with different causes (see Lesson 4-section 2).  We will look at the “indeclinable” words which do not change their case with different causes and maintain their vowel ending:

Translation:	Indeclinable Words /Mabni/ الْكَلِمَاتُ الْمَبْنِيَّةُ
This (masculine)	هَـٰذَا
Who	مَنْ
He	هُوَ

• The rule for the use of the vocative particle (the word used to call someone like Oh):

Translation:	Transliteration:	Arabic:
Oh Muhammad	/Yaa Muhammadu/	يَا مُحَمَّدُ
Oh Allah	/Yaa Allahu/	يَا اللهُ
Oh teacher	/Yaa Ustadhu/	يَا أُسْتَاذُ

The Possessive Expression - الإضَافَةُ

• In this lesson we will cover a new principle which is called the principle of “Possessive Expression” in English , In-Shā’-Allâh (God-Willing). This expression is a type of the Arabic term which is called  /Iđâfa/.
• The /Iđâfa/ literally means (adding or annexing). It means adding one noun to another to form a relationship of possession or belonging (one noun being owned or belonging to the other noun – e.g. teacher’s book). Consider the following examples showing the difference between the possession and the belonging in the /Iđâfa/:

Possession /Iđâfa/		Belonging /Iđâfa/
Arabic	English	Arabic	English
كِتَابُ الْمُدَرِّسِ	The teacher’s book	مَدِينَةُ رُومَا	The city of Roma
قَلَمُ مُحَمَّدٍ	Muhammad’s pen	قِمَّةُ الْجَبَلِ	The top of the mountain

·      This principle is applied when two nouns are joined together to make one structure.

·      In the  possessive expression, one noun is the "possessor" called /Muđâf  Ilaihi/ while the other is the "possessed" called /Muđâf/ in Arabic. For example, if we say “the teacher's book”, "the teacher" is the possessor and "the book" is possessed.

·      In English this type of expression is constructed with the preposition (of) or using the letter (s) with an apostrophe before it i.e., 's. The examples of such type of constructions are:

o  The book of Hamid

o  Hamid's book.

·      In Arabic however, the possessed noun (e.g., book) comes before the possessor so it would literally read "Book teacher's".

·      Let us analyze an example below and we will explain how the rules are applied:

o  /Kitāb -ul-Mudarrisi/

·      The first part is the possessed noun (called /Muđâf/  - مُضَافٌ) – in our example this is /Kitāb/ (book) as we have already discussed.  The rules of the possessed noun are:

1. Although /kitāb/ is not definite - in other words, 'al' (the) - does not come before the noun, it is implied.  Hence this means 'the book' and not 'a book' even though ‘al’ is not written before /kitāb/.
2. The possessed noun can be in any case (genitive - with /kasrah/, accusative - with /fatħah/, or nominative - with /đammah/). We do not need to worry about this at the moment, in normal cases it is nominative so it ends with a /đammah/ but if preceded by a preposition it takes the genitive case so it ends with a /kasrah/.
3. Since the possessed noun is definite therefore it cannot take /tanwīn/ i.e., it cannot take double /đammah/

·      The second part is the possessor (called /Muđâf Ilaihi/ –مُضَافٌ إِلَيْهِ ) – this is /Al Mudarrasi/ (the teacher) in our example.  The possessor can be either:

A.   Definite or indefinite (e.g. /Al-mudarrisi/ or /mudarrisin/ - the teacher or a teacher)

B.   The possessor is always in genitive case (therefore the last letter originally takes a /kasrah/ or /kasratain/).

Rule:	Example:
	English:	Arabic:
The Possessed noun /Muđâf / takes different cases while the /Muđâf  ilaihi/ takes the genitive case only.	The book of the student	كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ
	On the desk of the teacher	عَلَىٰ مَكْتَبِ الْمُدَرِّسِ
The Muđâf can be definite (when it is annexed to a definite Muđâf  ilaihi) and it can be indefinite (when it is annexed to an indefinite Muđâf  ilaihi). In all cases the /Muđâf/ is never prefixed with (al)	The house's door	بَابُ الْبَيْتِ
	An Imam of a mosque	إِمَامُ مَسْجِدٍ

·      Carefully read the following text and take a particular look at the vowel endings of the words:

Picture	Translation	Arabic
	Saeed: Is this Muhammad's book? Yasir: No, this is Hamid's book	سَعِيدٌ: أَكِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ هَـٰذَا؟ يَاسِرٌ: لاَ، هَـٰذَا كِتَابُ حَامِدٍ.
	Saeed: Where is Muhammad's book? Yasir: It is there on the desk	سَعِيدٌ: أيْنَ كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ؟ يَاسِرٌ: هُوَ عَلَىٰ الْمَكْتَبِ هُنَاكَ.
	Saeed: Where is Ammar's notebook? Yasir: It is on the teacher's desk	سَعِيدٌ: أَيْنَ دَفْتَرُ عَمَّارٍ؟ يَاسِرٌ: هُوَ عَلَىٰ مَكْتَبِ الْمُدَرِّسِ.
	Saeed: Whose pen is this? Ali: This is the teacher's pen.	سَعِيدٌ: قَلَمُ مَنْ هَـٰذَا؟ عَلِيٌّ: هَذَا قَلَمُ الْمُدَرِّسِ.
	Saeed: Where is the teacher's bag? Ali: It is under the desk.	سَعِيدٌ: أَيْنَ حَقِيبَةُ الْمُدَرِّسِ؟ عَلِيٌّ: هِيَ تَحْتَ الْمَكْتَبِ

Hamza tul Wasl  - هَمْزَةُ الْوَصْلِ 

·      In this part of lesson we will learn about a new concept which is the use of letter Alif in Arabic. In Arabic the letter "Alif" has two types:

o  One type of Alif is called "Hamza tul Qaŧξ". This type of Alif is always pronounced irrespective of whether it is preceded by some word or letter.

o  While the other form of Alif is called "Hamza tul Waŝl". This form of Alif appears in the beginning of a word but if preceded by some word or letter it is not pronounced even if written.

·      Please read the following examples:

Translation:	Transliteration:	Arabic:	Type of /Alif/
He is the teacher's son	/Huwab nul mudarrisi/	هُوَ ٱبْنُ ٱلْمُدَرِّسِ.	هَمْزَةُ الْوَصْلِ
And the girl's name is Aminah	/Was mul binti Aaminatu/	وَٱسْمُ ٱلبِنْتِ آمِنَةُ.	هَمْزَةُ الْوَصْلِ

·      In the above mentioned examples the letter /Alif/ of the words are written but they are not pronounced. In the first example, the letter /alif/ of the word /ibn/ (meaning son) is written yet not pronounced and the letter /ba/ is joined together with letter /wa/ of /howa/ and is pronounced /huwabnu/. This is similar to the letter /alif/ of the word /almudarrisi/, the letter /alif/ is written yet not pronounced and the letters /nūn/ of /Ibn/ (meaning son) and /lām/ are joined together to become /nul/ and the sentence becomes /huwab-nul mudarrisi/.

·      Similarly in the second example the letter /wa/ is joined with the word /Ism/ whose /alif/ is written but not pronounced and the word becomes /wasm/ and the /Alif/ of /Albinti/ is written but not pronounced so they become /was-mul-binti/. Therefore the sentence becomes /Was-mul-binti Aaminatu/.

Translation:	Transliteration:	Arabic:	Type of Alif
I am Ahmad	Ana Aħmadu	أَنَا أَحْمَدُ.	هَمْزَةُ الْقَطْعِ
Where are you from	Min aina anti	مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتِ؟	هَمْزَةُ الْقَطْعِ
Who are you	Man anta	مَنْ أَنْتَ؟	هَمْزَةُ الْقَطْعِ

• In these examples the letter /Alif/ of the words Ahmad, /Aina/ and /Anta/ are written and are pronounced. No letters are merged together. This type of /Alif/ is called /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/.
• There is no specific rule for recognizing /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/ and /Hamza tul Waŝl but the pronouns, the interrogative articles and the nouns beginning with /Alif/ have /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/.
• It must be however remembered that when /Hamza tul Waŝl/ is written in the beginning of a sentence and is not preceded by any letter or word, it is pronounced. It is dropped only when it is preceded by some letter or word. /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/ is always written and pronounced and is not affected if preceded by any letter or word.
• Please read the following sentences carefully and then click on the words to hear the speech, i.e. how the words should be pronounced.

Pictures:	English:	Arabic:
	Who are you? I am the son of Abbas	مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ أَنَا ٱبْنُ عَبَّاسٍ.
	And whose son is he? He is the son of Khalid	وَٱبْنُ مَنْ هُوَ؟ هُوَ ٱبْنُ خَالِدٍ.
	The teacher's name is Saeed and the engineer's name is Khalid	اِسْمُ الْمُدَرِّسِ سَعِيْدٌ. وَٱسْمُ الْمُهَنْدِسِ خَالِدٌ.
	Ammar's son is a student and Yasir's son is a trader	اِبْنُ عَمَّارٍ طَالِبٌ وَٱبْنُ يَاسِرٍ تَاجِرٌ.
	Where is the son of the engineer? He is in the university	أَيْنَ ٱبْنُ الْمُهَنْدِسٍ؟ هُوَ فِي الْجَامِعَةِ

• In the next part of the lesson we will  In-Shā’-Allâh (God-Willing) learn a new concept which is the use of Vocative Articles.
  
  
  The Indeclinable Words الْكَلِمَاتُ الْمَبْنِيَّةُ
  • In this part of lesson, we will learn a new concept of Arabic Grammar In-Shā’-Allâh (God-Willing). You have already learned that in Arabic language the words take different cases i.e., nominative (đammah/đammatain), accusative (fatħah/fatħatain) or genitive (kasrah/kasratain) on their last letter. A word takes single case when it appears with the definite article /al/ and double case when it is without the definite article /al/.
  • There are certain words however which have to indicate their function therefore they do not change their case and maintain their vowel ending. The words which do not change their vowel endings in order to indicate their function are called indeclinable words and have to remain unchanged. 
  • The following are few examples of the indeclinable words (we will study this in detail in later lessons so this is only an introduction):

  Rule	Translation	الْكَلِمَاتُ الْمَبْنِيَّةُ (The Indeclinable Words)
  The interrogative articles are indeclinable	1. Who	۱. مَنْ
  	2. Where	۲. أَيْنَ
  	3. What	٣. مَاذَا
  The directing words are mostly indeclinable	1. This (masculine)	۱. هَـٰذَا
  	2. That (masculine)	۲. ذَلِكَ
  	3. This (feminine)	٣. هَـٰذِهِ
  The prepositions are indeclinable	1. On	۱. عَلَىٰ
  	2. In	۲. فِي
  	3. To	٣. إِلَىٰ
  The pronouns are always indeclinable	1. He	۱. هُوَ
  	2. She	۲. هِيَ
  	3. You	٣. أَنْتَ

  • The indeclinable words do not take different cases for different causes and do not take /tanwīn/ as well.

  Picture:	Translation:	Arabic:
  	This is a man	هَـٰذَا رَجُلٌ.
  	Who are you?	مَنْ أَنْتَ؟
  	Whose bag is this?	حَقِيْبَةُ مَنْ هَذِهِ؟
  	This is a duck	هَذِهِ بَطَّةٌ.
  	Where is the lion?	أَيْنَ الأَسَدُ؟
  	What is on the desk	مَاذَا عَلَىٰ الْمَكْتَبِ؟
  	The teacher is in front of students	الْمُدَرِّسُ أَمَامَ طُلابٍ

  • Read the following sentences carefully while taking particular care of the vowel endings
  • Please note that we will introduce sentences related to Islam occasionally within this course for the benefit of Muslims studying this course.   Those students who are not Muslim may find it beneficial to learn about Islamic belief which is the main religion in the Arab world and indeed many other parts of the world.:

  English:	Arabic:
  Where is the teacher's house? It is far away	أَيْنَ بَيْتُ الْمُدَرِّسِ؟ هُوَ بَعِيدٌ.
  The Quraan is the book of Allah (God)	الْقُرْآنُ كِتَابُ اللهِ.
  The Ka'ba is Allah's (God’s) house	الْكَعْبَةُ بَيْتُ اللهِ.
  The teacher went out of the principal's room	خَرَجَ الْمُدَرِّسُ مِنْ غُرْفَةِ الْمُدِيرِ.
  Abbas's car is in the street	سَيَّارَةُ عَبَّاسٍ فِي الشَّارِعِ.
  The door of the mosque is opened	بَابُ الْمَسْجِدِ مَفْتُوحٌ.
  Where is the dog? It is under the car	أَيْنَ الْكَلْبُ؟ هُوَ تَحْتَ السَّيَّارَةِ.
  This is the house of Hamid and that is the house of Khalid	هَـٰذَا بَيْتُ حَامِدٍ وذَلِكَ بَيْتُ خَالِدٍ

  
  

  The vocative particle النِّدَاءُ 

  • In this part of lesson No. 5 we will In-Shā'-Allâh (God Willing) learn about the following things:
  • Vocative Particle: A word that is used for calling someone is called the vocative particle and is calledحَرْفُ النِّدَاءِ  or simply النِّدَاءُ .  In Arabic language the word used is يَا.   The word following the vocative particle is called الْمُنَادَىٰ and it takes (mostly) the nominative case. However it takes only one /đammah/ whether it is definite or indefinite e.g., in order to call a boy it is يَا وَلَدُ and not يَا وَلَدٌ.
  • Carefully read the following text and take a particular look at the vowel endings of the words:

  A Teacher: O teacher	أُسْتَاذٌ: يَا أُسْتَاذُ	Allah (God): O Allah (God)	اللهُ: يَا اللهُ
  A Shaikh: O shaikh	شَيْخٌ: يَا شَيْخُ	Abbas: O Abbas	عَبَّاسٌ: يَا عَبَّاسُ
  Yasir: O Yasir	يَاسِرٌ: يَا يَاسِرُ	A Man: O Man	رَجُلٌ: يَا رَجُلُ
  A doctor: O doctor	دُكْتُورٌ: يَا دُكْتُورُ	Ammar: O Ammar	عَمَّارٌ: يَا عَمَّارُ
  Ali: O Ali	عَلِيٌّ: يَا عَلِيُّ	Khalid: O Khalid	خَالِدٌ: يَا خَالِدُ

  
  

  Revision - مُرَاجَعَةٌ

  • In this lesson we have learnt the following things:
  • Construction of the Possessive Expressions الإضَافَةُ.
  • The rules of constructing expressions using Vocative particle حَرْفُ النِّدَاءِ and the vowel ending of the words preceded by the vocative particle.
  • The indeclinable words الْمَبْنِيُّ which maintain their vowel ending whatever their case may be.
  • Pronunciation of هَمْزَةُ الوَصْلِ.      

  Vocabulary Revision – مُرَاجَعَةُ الْمُفْرَدَاتِ
  English	Arabic	English	Arabic
  The Prophet	الرَّسُولُ	The Ka’bah	الْكَعْبَةُ
  The name	الاسْمُ	The son	الابْنُ
  The paternal uncle	الْعَمُّ	The maternal uncle	الْخَالُ
  The bag	الحَقِيبَةُ	The car	السَّيَّارَةُ
  The road	الشَّارِعُ	Closed	مُغْلَقٌ
  Under	تَحْتَ	There	هُنَاكَ
  Above	فَوْقَ	In front of	أَمَامَ
  Behind	خَلْفَ	The female teacher	الْمُدَّرِسَةُ

  • Now that you have covered this lesson, please also try some of the additional features we have including: