Arabic Grammar From 30,000 Feet

All the words in Arabic grammar can be placed into three exact categories. Either the word will be a Noun(اسم), Verb(فعل), or Particle(حرف). The following is a high level overview definitions and examples. The identified signs will be mentioned. Through these signs any word can be identified.

Definitions

1. Noun – الاسم – is a word that is not associated with any tense (past, present, future).  For example proper names, places, things, and other items more expansive than the English noun. This is the largest group.
2. Verb – الفعل – is a word that is associated with a tense (past, present, future).
3. Particle – الحرف is a word that has no meaning without either an اسم or فعل. Basically any word which is neither a noun or verb will fall into this category.

Examples of Nouns

• Something that can be talked about
  • Zaid is standing.
  • زيد قائم
• Something that can be possesive
  • Zaid’s servant
  • غلام زيد
• Something in which alif lam(definitive) can be added
  • The man
  • الرجل
• Something in which can be jar and have tanwin(nunation)
  • With Zaid
  • بزيد
• Something that can be dual
  • The two men
  • الرجلان
• Something that can be plural
  • Men
  • رجال
• Something that is descriptive
  • Zaid is an knowledgeable.
  • زيد عالم
• Something that can be diminutive
  • Young man
  • رجيل
• Something that can be called
  • Oh Zaid!
  • يا زيد

Sings of Verbs

• Can talk about something with it
• Following can come before it
  • قد
    • قد ضرب
    • He has hit.
  • سين
    • سيضرب
    • He will hit soon.
  • سوف
    • سوف يضرب
    • He will hit soon.
  • جرم
    • He will not hit.
    • لم يضرب
• Can be in the form of a command
  • ًWrite!
  • اكتب
• Can have have suffixed pronouns
  • ًI wrote.
  • َضربت

Signs of Particles

These are words that connect words between اسم and فعل.

• Cannot be talked about or with it.
• Does not accept the signs of the اسم or فعل.
• Examples:
  • سرت من البصرة إلى الكوفة
  • I traveled from basra to kufa.