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Arabic case system (الإعراب)
Arabic case system (الإعراب)
Introduction
Nominative case
Genitive case
Accusative case
Additional notes
Introduction
First, what are case endings in Arabic? They are little markings ( حركاتHarakaat) that are attached to the ends of words to indicate the
words' grammatical function. That is, if a word is the subject of a sentence, you use a case ending to indicate that; if a word is the
object of a verb, you use another case ending to indicate that. So clearly, using case endings correctly requires a solid knowledge of
grammar. If you're a native English speaker who hasn't studied a language with a case system, like Latin or Russian, getting used to this
may be difficult.
Case endings are usually not written (with one exception) outside of the Qur'an/Bible and children's books. But you will hear
newscasters pronounce them, and if you want to speak fuSHa well, it's a good idea to be familiar with the case system. Each case
marker corresponds to one of three different cases — nominative ( مرفوعmarfū3), genitive ( مجرورmajrūr), and accusative (منصوب
manSūb) — and is pronounced as a short vowel. Here are the three case markers:
( ضمةDamma). It resembles a tiny و, goes above the end of a word, and is pronounced as a short "u." It marks words
On the left is the
in the nominative case. In the middle is the ( كسرةkasra), which goes below the end of a word and is pronounced as a short "i." It marks
words in the genitive case. On the right is the ( فتحةfatHa), which goes above the end of a word and is pronounced as a short "a." It
marks words in the accusative case.
Note: If the word you're marking is an indefinite adjective or noun, the case marker will be nunated. That is, the Damma will be
pronounced "-un" instead of "-u," the kasra will be pronounced "-in" instead of "-i," and the fatHa will be pronounced "-an" instead of "-
a." And the markings will look like this:
Some examples:
( اللقاَءal-liqaa'a) ( لقاًءliqaa'an)
( المكتُبal-maktabu) ( مكتٌبmaktabun)
( المكتبَةal-maktabata) ( مكتبًةmaktabatan)
( طاولِةTaawilati) ( طاولٍةTaawilatin)
Note: If a word in the accusative case (i.e. that needs a fatHa) is nunated and does not end in a taa marbuuTa or hamza, it would take
an alif along with the nunated fatHa.
( الولَدal-walada) ( ولداwaladan)
( البنَتal-binta) ( بنتاbintan)
( السعيَدas-sa3iida) ( سعيداsa3iidan)
( الحزيَنal-Haziina) ( حزيناHaziinan)
So when exactly do you use these case markers? Let's go on to discuss the three cases.
This case is marked by a Damma. Words that fall into the following categories are nominative:
2. المبتدأ والخبر في جملة اسمية- the subject and predicate of a nominal sentence
.( الولُد طويٌلal-waladu Tawīlun.)
The boy is tall. Note that طويلis nunated (-un instead of just -u) because it is indefinite.
4. The nominative case is also the default for words that are on their own.
5. It's also used with certain adverbs regardless of their position in the sentence.
( منُذmundu)
since; ago
( حيُثHaytu)
where; whereas
This case is marked by a kasra. Words that fall into the following categories are genitive:
1. The object of a preposition
( في المكتبِةfi l-maktabati)
in the library
This case is marked by a fatHa. Words that fall into the following categories are accusative:
2. المفعول فيه- adverbial expressions of time, place, and manner, indicating the circumstances under which an action takes place
.( تستمُر يوما واحداtastamirru yooman wāHidan.)
It lasts one day.
3. المفعول المطلق- the internal object or cognate accusative structure. What does that mean? It's just a way of intensifying an action
by following the verb with its corresponding verbal noun ( مصدرmaSdar) and an adjective modifying it.
.( حّلت الموضوَع حال جذرياHallati l-mawDū3a Hallan jidriyyan.)
It solved the issue fundamentally.
4. الحال- the circumstantial accusative. This is a way to describe a condition/action going on at the same time as the main action.
.( رفَع يَد ه معترضاrafa3a yadahu mu3tariDan.)
He raised his hand objecting.
5. المفعول ألجله- shows the purpose of an action, usually using an indefinite مصدر.
.( القواُت تشُن حملًة بحثا عن أسلحٍةal-quwwātu tašunnu Hamlatan baHtan 3an asliHatin.)
The forces are launching a campaign searching for weapons.
( خالَل حفلِة استقباٍل أقاموها تكريما لهxilāla Haflatin istiqbālin aqāmūha takrīman lahu)
during a reception they gave in his honor
6. التمييز- the accusative of specification; often answers the question "in what way?" Includes the comparative/superlative and
counted nouns between 11 and 99.
.( كانْت أكبَر عاصمٍة جاها وفخامًةkānat akbara 3āSimatin jāhan wa-faxāmatan.)
It was the greatest capital in fame and splendor.
Those are the main instances where you use the accusative. There are also other, special words that shift words into the accusative
case:
A couple of notes:
With feminine plural nouns ending in ـات, change any fatHa that would ordinarily go at the end to a kasra.
Note that dual and regular plural nouns like ( بنتانbintān, two girls) or ( مصريونmiSriyūn, Egyptians) change endings in the genitive
case; the ( ـانān) becomes ( ـين-ein), and the ( ـونūn) becomes ( ـين-īn).
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