Arabic Grammar Glossary
Comprehensive bilingual glossary of Arabic grammar terms used in Quranic Arabic study.
Arabic Grammar Glossary
A comprehensive reference of 120+ Arabic grammar terms with bilingual definitions, transliteration, Quranic examples, and lesson cross-references. This glossary supports all 80 lessons in the curriculum.
How to use this glossary:
- Terms are alphabetized by Arabic alphabet (أ → ي), not English
- Each entry includes: English term, Arabic script with full tashkeel, transliteration, plain English definition, and Quranic example
- Click lesson links to see concepts explained in full pedagogical context
- Use your browser’s search function (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F) to find specific English terms
Quick navigation by Arabic letter:
أ (Alif): Root (jadhr) جَذْر · Accusative Case (naṣb) نَصْب · Active Participle (ism al-fāʿil) اِسْمُ الْفَاعِلِ · Demonstrative Pronoun (ism al-ishārah) اِسْم الإِشَارَة · Noun of Instrument (ism al-ālah) اِسْمُ الْآلَةِ · Noun of Place (ism al-makān) اِسْمُ الْمَكَانِ · Noun of Time (ism az-zamān) اِسْم الزَّمَان · Grammatical Analysis (iʿrāb) إِعْرَاب · Relative Pronoun (ism al-mawṣūl) اِسْم المَوْصُول · Proper Noun (ism ʿalam) اِسْم عَلَم · Common Noun (ism jins) اِسْم جِنْس · Alif Maqsura (alif maqṣūrah) أَلِف مَقْصُورَة · Alif Wasla (alif al-waṣl) أَلِف الوَصْل
ب (Ba): Rhetoric (balāghah) بَلَاغَة
ت (Ta): Specification (tamyīz) تَمْيِيز · Emphasis (tawkīd) تَوْكِيد · Postponing (taʾkhīr) تَأْخِير · Fronting (taqdīm) تَقْدِيم · Simile (tashbīh) تَشْبِيه · Case Ending (tanwīn) تَنْوِين
ث (Tha): Trilateral Root (thulāthī) ثُلَاثِي
ج (Jim): Genitive Case (jarr) جَرّ · Result Clause (jawāb ash-sharṭ) جَوَاب الشَّرْط · Condition Clause (jumlat ash-sharṭ) جُمْلَة الشَّرْط · Conditional Sentence (jumlah sharṭiyyah) جُمْلَة شَرْطِيَّة · Nominal Sentence (jumlah ismiyyah) جُمْلَة اِسْمِيَّة · Verbal Sentence (jumlah fiʿliyyah) جُمْلَة فِعْلِيَّة
ح (Ha): Circumstantial Clause (ḥāl) حَال · Genitive Particle (ḥarf jarr) حَرْف جَرّ · Particle (ḥarf) حَرْف · First Root Letter (fāʾ al-fiʿl) فَاء الفِعْل · Root Letters (ḥurūf al-jadhr) حُرُوف الجَذْر
خ (Kha): Predicate (khabar) خَبَر · Predicate of Inna (khabar inna) خَبَر إِنَّ · Predicate of Kaana (khabar kāna) خَبَر كَانَ
د (Dal): Elision (ḥadhf) حَذْف · Short Vowel U (ḍammah) ضَمَّة · Dammatain (ḍammatayn) ضَمَّتَيْن · Attached Pronoun (ḍamīr muttaṣil) ضَمِير مُتَّصِل · Subject Pronoun (ḍamīr munfaṣil) ضَمِير مُنْفَصِل · Hidden Pronoun (ḍamīr mustatir) ضَمِير مُسْتَتِر
ر (Ra): Nominative Case (rafʿ) رَفْع · Quadrilateral Root (rubāʿī) رُبَاعِي · Lord (rabb) رَبّ
ز (Zay): Pattern (wazn) وَزْن
س (Sin): Past Tense (al-fiʿl al-māḍī) الْفِعْلُ الْمَاضِي · Vowelless (sukūn) سُكُون
ش (Shin): Conditional Particle (adāt ash-sharṭ) أَدَاة الشَّرْط · Doubled Consonant (shaddah) شَدَّة
ص (Sad): Sound Verb (fiʿl ṣaḥīḥ) فِعْل صَحِيح
ظ (Za): Adverb of Time (ẓarf zamān) ظَرْف زَمَان · Adverb of Place (ẓarf makān) ظَرْف مَكَان
ع (Ayn): Second Root Letter (ʿayn al-fiʿl) عَيْن الفِعْل
ف (Fa): Subject / Verbal (fāʿil) فَاعِل · Short Vowel A (fatḥah) فَتْحَة · Fathatain (fatḥatayn) فَتْحَتَيْن · Verb (fiʿl) فِعْل · Verb Form I (al-fiʿl al-awwal) الفِعْل الأَوَّل · Weak Verb (fiʿl muʿtall) فِعْل مُعْتَلّ · Hollow Verb (fiʿl ajwaf) فِعْل أَجْوَف · Defective Verb (fiʿl nāqiṣ) فِعْل نَاقِص · Assimilated Verb (fiʿl mithāl) فِعْل مِثَال · Doubly Weak Verb (fiʿl lafīf) فِعْل لَفِيف · Imperative (fiʿl al-amr) فِعْل الأَمْر · Verb Form II (tafʿīl) الفِعْل الثَّانِي · Verb Form III (mufāʿalah) الفِعْل الثَّالِث · Verb Form IV (ifʿāl) الفِعْل الرَّابِع · Verb Form V (tafaʿʿul) الْفِعْلُ الْخَامِسُ · Verb Form VI (tafāʿul) الفِعْل السَّادِس · Verb Form VII (infiʿāl) الفِعْل السَّابِع · Verb Form VIII (iftiʿāl) الفِعْل الثَّامِن · Verb Form IX (ifʿilāl) الفِعْل التَّاسِع · Verb Form X (istifʿāl) الْفِعْلُ الْعَاشِرُ
ك (Kaf): Kaana and Sisters (kāna wa akhawātuhā) كَانَ وَأَخَوَاتُهَا · Short Vowel I (kasrah) كَسْرَة · Kasratain (kasratayn) كَسْرَتَيْن
ل (Lam): Third Root Letter (lām al-fiʿl) لَام الفِعْل
م (Mim): Object (mafʿūl bihi) مَفْعُول بِهِ · Absolute Object (mafʿūl muṭlaq) مَفْعُول مُطْلَق · Passive Participle (ism al-mafʿūl) اِسْم المَفْعُول · Verbal Noun (maṣdar) مَصْدَر · Indicative Mood (marfūʿ) مَرْفُوع · Subjunctive Mood (manṣūb) مَنْصُوب · Jussive Mood (majzūm) مَجْزُوم · Indeclinable (mabnī) مَبْنِي · Subject / Nominal (mubtadaʾ) مُبْتَدَأ · Present Tense (al-fiʿl al-muḍāriʿ) الفِعْل المُضَارِع · Excepted Noun (mustathnā) مُسْتَثْنَى · Declinable (muʿrab) مُعْرَب · Definite (maʿrifah) مَعْرِفَة · Described Noun (manʿūt) مَنْعُوت
ن (Nun): Indefinite (nakirah) نَكِرَة · Adjective (naʿt) نَعْت
ه (Ha): Hamza (hamzah) هَمْزَة
Advanced Terms (Level 4-5): Exception (istithnāʾ) اِسْتِثْنَاء · Metaphor (istiʿārah) اِسْتِعَارَة · Possessive Construction (iḍāfah) إِضَافَة · Inna and Sisters (inna wa akhawātuhā) إِنَّ وَأَخَوَاتُهَا · Name of Inna (ism inna) اِسْم إِنَّ · Name of Kaana (ism kāna) اِسْم كَانَ · Noun (ism) اِسْم · Definite Article (al-) أَل · Ta Marbuta (tāʾ marbūṭah) تَاء مَرْبُوطَة · Madda (maddah) مَدَّة
أ (Alif)
Root
Arabic: جَذْر (jadhr)
Definition: The three (or sometimes four) core consonants that form the semantic foundation of Arabic words. All Arabic words are built by applying vowel patterns to these root letters.
Quranic Example:
قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي
He said: My Lord, expand for me my breast
— Ta-Ha 20:25
The word قَالَ (qāla - he said) comes from the root ق و ل (q-w-l), meaning “to say/speak.”
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Accusative Case
Arabic: نَصْب (naṣb)
Definition: The grammatical case used for direct objects, predicates of inna and her sisters, and circumstantial expressions. Marked by fatha (ـَ) on singular nouns, or alif becoming ya (ـَيْـنِ) in dual/plural.
Quranic Example:
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar
— Al-Kawthar 108:1
The word الْكَوْثَرَ (al-kawthar) is in the accusative case because it’s the direct object of the verb أَعْطَيْنَا (we granted). The final fatha (ـَ) marks the accusative.
Case markers:
- Singular: ـَ (fatha)
- Dual: ـَيْـنِ (alif becomes ya)
- Sound masculine plural: ـِينَ (ya with kasra)
- Sound feminine plural: ـَاتِ (fatha on ta)
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Active Participle
Arabic: اِسْمُ الْفَاعِلِ (ism al-fāʿil)
Definition: A derived noun indicating the doer of an action. For Form I verbs, it follows the pattern فَاعِل (fāʿil). The active participle functions as both a noun and adjective.
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
The word رَبّ (rabb - lord/sustainer) is an active participle from the root ر ب ب, indicating “the one who sustains/manages.”
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Demonstrative Pronoun
Arabic: اِسْم الإِشَارَة (ism al-ishārah)
Definition: A pronoun that points to something specific, near or far. Common examples include هَذَا (this - masc.), هَذِهِ (this - fem.), ذَلِكَ (that - masc.), تِلْكَ (that - fem.).
Quranic Example:
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ
That is the Book about which there is no doubt
— Al-Baqarah 2:2
The word ذَٰلِكَ (dhālika - that) points to the Quran, indicating something specific and significant.
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Noun of Instrument
Arabic: اِسْمُ الْآلَةِ (ism al-ālah)
Definition: A derived noun indicating the tool or instrument used to perform an action. Common patterns include مِفْعَل، مِفْعَال، and مِفْعَلَة.
Quranic Example:
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا
And He taught Adam the names - all of them
— Al-Baqarah 2:31
While الْأَسْمَاء (names) itself is a plural noun, nouns of instrument follow similar derived patterns. Example: مِفْتَاح (miftāḥ - key, the instrument for opening).
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Noun of Place
Arabic: اِسْمُ الْمَكَانِ (ism al-makān)
Definition: A derived noun indicating the place where an action occurs. Often follows patterns like مَفْعَل or مَفْعِل.
Quranic Example:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram
— Al-Isra 17:1
The word مَسْجِد (masjid - mosque) from root س ج د means “the place of prostration” - following the pattern مَفْعِل.
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Noun of Time
Arabic: اِسْم الزَّمَان (ism az-zamān)
Definition: A derived noun indicating the time when an action occurs. Follows the same patterns as nouns of place (مَفْعَل or مَفْعِل).
Quranic Example:
وَإِذَا أَرَدْنَا أَن نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا
And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent
— Al-Isra 17:16
The word مَوْعِد (mawʿid - appointed time), from root و ع د, means “the time of a promise/appointment” - following pattern مَفْعِل.
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Grammatical Analysis
Arabic: إِعْرَاب (iʿrāb)
Definition: The system of case endings that change based on a word’s grammatical function in a sentence. Includes nominative (rafʿ), accusative (naṣb), and genitive (jarr) cases.
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
Notice how each word has different endings: الْحَمْدُ (nominative - subject), لِلَّهِ (genitive - after preposition لِ), رَبِّ (genitive - in possessive construction).
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Relative Pronoun
Arabic: اِسْم المَوْصُول (ism al-mawṣūl)
Definition: A pronoun that introduces a relative clause, linking a noun to additional information. Common forms include الَّذِي (who/which - masc.), الَّتِي (who/which - fem.), الَّذِينَ (who/which - masc. plural).
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
All praise is for Allah, who created the heavens and the earth
— Al-An'am 6:1
The word الَّذِي (alladhī - who) connects “Allah” with the descriptive clause “created the heavens and the earth.”
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Proper Noun
Arabic: اِسْم عَلَم (ism ʿalam)
Definition: A name of a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are inherently definite and don’t take the definite article ال.
Quranic Example:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
— Al-Fatiha 1:1
The word اللَّه (Allah) is a proper noun - the specific name of God, inherently definite.
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Common Noun
Arabic: اِسْم جِنْس (ism jins)
Definition: A general category noun that refers to a type or class of things, not a specific individual. Can be made definite with the article ال or through possessive construction.
Quranic Example:
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ
That is the Book about which there is no doubt
— Al-Baqarah 2:2
The word كِتَاب (kitāb - book) is a common noun referring to the category of “book” - made definite here with ال.
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Alif Maqsura
Arabic: أَلِف مَقْصُورَة (alif maqṣūrah)
Definition: A final letter ى that represents an “ā” sound, written like ya (ي) but without the dots. It appears only at the end of words.
Quranic Example:
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High
— Al-A'la 87:1
The word الْأَعْلَى (al-aʿlā - the Most High) ends with alif maqsura (ى), pronounced as a long “ā” sound.
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Alif Wasla
Arabic: أَلِف الوَصْل (alif al-waṣl)
Definition: A special alif (ٱ) that is pronounced at the beginning of speech but silent when connected to a preceding word. Found in the definite article ال and some verb forms.
Quranic Example:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
— Al-Fatiha 1:1
The ا in اللَّهِ and الرَّحْمَٰنِ is alif wasla. When preceded by بِسْمِ, it’s not pronounced separately - the sound connects smoothly.
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ب (Ba)
Rhetoric
Arabic: بَلَاغَة (balāghah)
Definition: The science of eloquent and effective expression in Arabic. Includes the study of metaphor, simile, ellipsis, fronting/postponing, and other rhetorical devices used extensively in the Quran.
Quranic Example:
أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا
Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and earth were joined, and We separated them?
— Al-Anbiya 21:30
The vivid imagery of “joined together and separated” demonstrates rhetorical excellence - concrete metaphor for abstract cosmic creation.
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ت (Ta)
Specification
Arabic: تَمْيِيز (tamyīz)
Definition: A noun in the accusative case that clarifies or specifies a vague quantity or measurement. Answers “in what respect?” or “what kind of?”
Quranic Example:
وَإِن يَوْمًا عِندَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلْفِ سَنَةٍ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ
And indeed, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of those which you count
— Al-Hajj 22:47
The word سَنَةٍ (year) specifies what kind of thousand is meant - clarifying the vague number “thousand.”
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Emphasis
Arabic: تَوْكِيد (tawkīd)
Definition: Grammatical or rhetorical emphasis achieved through repetition, emphatic particles, or structural devices. Used to stress certainty, importance, or to remove doubt.
Quranic Example:
كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ
No! Indeed, it is the Flame
— Al-Ma'arij 70:15
Multiple layers of emphasis: كَلَّا (emphatic negation), إِنَّ (verily/indeed), and لَ (emphatic prefix on predicate).
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Postponing
Arabic: تَأْخِير (taʾkhīr)
Definition: A rhetorical device where a sentence element is delayed from its normal position to create emphasis or adjust the focus. The counterpart of fronting (taqdīm).
Quranic Example:
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help
— Al-Fatiha 1:5
The verbs نَعْبُدُ and نَسْتَعِينُ are postponed after the object إِيَّاكَ to emphasize exclusive devotion to Allah.
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Fronting
Arabic: تَقْدِيم (taqdīm)
Definition: A rhetorical device where a sentence element is moved before its normal position to create emphasis or highlight importance. Often seen with objects placed before verbs.
Quranic Example:
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ
You alone we worship
— Al-Fatiha 1:5
Normally, the verb نَعْبُدُ would come before the object. Here, إِيَّاكَ (You alone) is fronted to emphasize exclusivity: worship belongs to Allah alone, none other.
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Simile
Arabic: تَشْبِيه (tashbīh)
Definition: An explicit comparison between two things using a comparison particle (like ك or مِثْل). Distinguished from metaphor, which is an implied comparison.
Quranic Example:
مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا
The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not uphold it is like that of a donkey carrying volumes
— Al-Jumu'ah 62:5
The particle كَ (like) makes this an explicit simile - people who don’t apply knowledge are compared to a donkey carrying books it can’t read.
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Case Ending
Arabic: تَنْوِين (tanwīn)
Definition: The double vowel mark (nunation) added to indefinite nouns, producing an “-n” sound. Three forms: ـٌ (-un, nominative), ـً (-an, accusative), ـٍ (-in, genitive).
Quranic Example:
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ
In their hearts is disease
— Al-Baqarah 2:10
The word مَرَضٌ (disease) has tanween dammatain (ـٌ) because it’s an indefinite noun in the nominative case (subject of nominal sentence).
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ث (Tha)
Trilateral Root
Arabic: ثُلَاثِي (thulāthī)
Definition: A three-letter root, the most common type in Arabic. About 95% of Arabic words are built from trilateral roots using vowel patterns and affixes.
Quranic Example:
خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
Allah created the heavens and the earth
— Ibrahim 14:19
The verb خَلَقَ comes from the trilateral root خ ل ق (kh-l-q), meaning “to create.” Related words: خَلْق (creation), خَالِق (creator), مَخْلُوق (created).
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ج (Jim)
Genitive Case
Arabic: جَرّ (jarr)
Definition: The grammatical case used for nouns after prepositions and the second noun in a possessive construction (idafah). Marked by kasra (ـِ) on singular nouns.
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
Three words in genitive: لِلَّهِ (after preposition لِ), رَبِّ (first noun in idafah with الْعَالَمِينَ), الْعَالَمِينَ (second noun in idafah with رَبِّ).
Case markers:
- Singular: ـِ (kasra)
- Dual: ـَيْـنِ (ya ending)
- Sound masculine plural: ـِينَ (ya ending)
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Result Clause
Arabic: جَوَاب الشَّرْط (jawāb ash-sharṭ)
Definition: The “then” clause in a conditional sentence - the result or consequence that follows if the condition is met. Forms the second part of conditional structures.
Quranic Example:
إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ
If you support Allah, He will support you
— Muhammad 47:7
The verb يَنصُرْكُمْ (He will support you) is the result clause - what happens if the condition “if you support Allah” is fulfilled.
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Condition Clause
Arabic: جُمْلَة الشَّرْط (jumlat ash-sharṭ)
Definition: The “if” clause in a conditional sentence - the condition that must be met for the result to occur. Introduced by conditional particles like إِن or إِذَا.
Quranic Example:
إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ
If you support Allah, He will support you
— Muhammad 47:7
The phrase تَنصُرُوا اللَّهَ (you support Allah) is the condition clause - the “if” part that triggers the result.
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Conditional Sentence
Arabic: جُمْلَة شَرْطِيَّة (jumlah sharṭiyyah)
Definition: A sentence structure expressing “if… then…” logic. Consists of a conditional particle, condition clause, and result clause. Both verbs typically take the jussive mood.
Quranic Example:
وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا
And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them
— Ibrahim 14:34
Complete conditional: إِن (particle) + تَعُدُّوا (condition: if you count) + لَا تُحْصُوهَا (result: you cannot enumerate).
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Nominal Sentence
Arabic: جُمْلَة اِسْمِيَّة (jumlah ismiyyah)
Definition: A sentence that begins with a noun, consisting of a subject (mubtadaʾ) and predicate (khabar). Both parts take the nominative case. Arabic doesn’t require a “to be” verb in the present tense.
Quranic Example:
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth
— An-Nur 24:35
Subject (مُبْتَدَأ): اللَّهُ | Predicate (خَبَر): نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ | Both are in nominative case.
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Verbal Sentence
Arabic: جُمْلَة فِعْلِيَّة (jumlah fiʿliyyah)
Definition: A sentence that begins with a verb, followed by the subject (fāʿil) and sometimes an object. The verb typically comes first in Quranic Arabic.
Quranic Example:
خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
Allah created the heavens and the earth
— Ibrahim 14:19
Verb: خَلَقَ (created) | Subject: اللَّهُ (Allah) | Object: السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ (heavens and earth).
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ح (Ha, Emphatic)
Circumstantial Clause
Arabic: حَال (ḥāl)
Definition: A word or phrase in the accusative case that describes the state or condition of someone/something during an action. Answers “in what state?” or “how?”
Quranic Example:
وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا
And do not walk upon the earth exultantly
— Al-Isra 17:37
The word مَرَحًا (exultantly/arrogantly) is a ḥāl describing the state while walking - “in a state of arrogance.”
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Genitive Particle
Arabic: حَرْف جَرّ (ḥarf jarr)
Definition: A particle (preposition) that causes the following noun to take the genitive case. Common examples: فِي (in), مِنْ (from), إِلَى (to), عَلَى (on/upon), لِ (for/to).
Quranic Example:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
— Al-Fatiha 1:1
The particle بِ (in/with) causes the following noun اِسْمِ to take the genitive case (note the kasra).
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Particle
Arabic: حَرْف (ḥarf)
Definition: A word that has meaning only in context, neither noun nor verb. Includes prepositions, conjunctions, interrogative particles, and emphatic particles.
Quranic Example:
هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ
Has there come upon man...
— Al-Insan 76:1
The particle هَلْ (has/did) is an interrogative particle - it has no independent meaning, only introducing a question.
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First Root Letter
Arabic: فَاء الفِعْل (fāʾ al-fiʿl)
Definition: The first consonant of a trilateral root. Called “fāʾ” because it corresponds to the letter ف in the template فعل used to represent all verb patterns.
Quranic Example:
كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ
Allah has written: I will surely overcome
— Al-Mujadilah 58:21
In the verb كَتَبَ, the first root letter (fāʾ al-fiʿl) is ك.
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Root Letters
Arabic: حُرُوف الجَذْر (ḥurūf al-jadhr)
Definition: The consonants (usually three) that form the semantic core of an Arabic word. All derived words sharing these letters relate to the same basic meaning.
Quranic Example:
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ
Fasting has been prescribed for you
— Al-Baqarah 2:183
Root: ك ت ب (k-t-b) meaning “writing/prescribing.” Related words: كِتَاب (book), كَاتِب (writer), مَكْتَب (office).
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خ (Kha)
Predicate
Arabic: خَبَر (khabar)
Definition: The second part of a nominal sentence that provides information about the subject. Can be a noun, adjective, phrase, or even a sentence. Takes nominative case unless preceded by inna or kaana.
Quranic Example:
اللَّهُ لَطِيفٌ بِعِبَادِهِ
Allah is Subtle with His servants
— Ash-Shura 42:19
The predicate (خَبَر) is لَطِيفٌ بِعِبَادِهِ - telling us that “Allah is Subtle with His servants.”
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Predicate of Inna
Arabic: خَبَر إِنَّ (khabar inna)
Definition: The predicate that follows inna and her sisters. Unlike normal nominal sentences, this predicate remains in the nominative case while the subject takes accusative.
Quranic Example:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful
— Al-Baqarah 2:173
The predicate غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ stays in nominative (notice the dammah/tanween) even though inna affected the subject.
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Predicate of Kaana
Arabic: خَبَر كَانَ (khabar kāna)
Definition: The predicate that follows kaana and her sisters. This predicate takes the accusative case (unlike normal nominal sentences where it’s nominative).
Quranic Example:
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise
— An-Nisa 4:11
The predicate عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا is in accusative case (notice the fatha/tanween) because it follows كَانَ.
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د (Dal)
Elision
Arabic: حَذْف (ḥadhf)
Definition: The omission of words or phrases that are understood from context. A common rhetorical device in Arabic, especially in the Quran, where brevity and eloquence converge.
Quranic Example:
وَاسْأَلِ الْقَرْيَةَ
And ask the town
— Yusuf 12:82
Literally says “ask the town” but the understood meaning is “ask the people of the town” - the word “people” is omitted (ḥadhf) since it’s understood.
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Short Vowel U
Arabic: ضَمَّة (ḍammah)
Definition: The diacritic mark ـُ that produces a short “u” sound. Also serves as the marker for nominative case in declension and indicative mood in verbs.
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
The dammah on the دُ of الْحَمْدُ marks both the “u” sound and the nominative case (subject of nominal sentence).
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Dammatain
Arabic: ضَمَّتَيْن (ḍammatayn)
Definition: The double dammah mark (ـٌ) indicating tanween in the nominative case, producing an “-un” sound. Used on indefinite nouns.
Quranic Example:
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ
In their hearts is disease
— Al-Baqarah 2:10
The word مَرَضٌ ends with dammatain (ـٌ), pronounced “maraḍun” - marking it as indefinite and nominative.
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Attached Pronoun
Arabic: ضَمِير مُتَّصِل (ḍamīr muttaṣil)
Definition: A pronoun that attaches as a suffix to nouns, verbs, or prepositions. Examples: ـهُ (his/him), ـكَ (your/you), ـنَا (our/us).
Quranic Example:
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us
— Al-Baqarah 2:286
Two attached pronouns: ـنَا on رَبَّنَا (our Lord) and ـنَا on تُؤَاخِذْنَا (upon us).
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Subject Pronoun
Arabic: ضَمِير مُنْفَصِل (ḍamīr munfaṣil)
Definition: An independent, detached pronoun that stands alone. Examples: أَنَا (I), أَنْتَ (you-masc.), هُوَ (he), هِيَ (she), نَحْنُ (we).
Quranic Example:
أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ
I am your most high lord
— An-Nazi'at 79:24
The pronoun أَنَا (I) is independent - it stands alone before the predicate رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ.
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Hidden Pronoun
Arabic: ضَمِير مُسْتَتِر (ḍamīr mustatir)
Definition: An implied subject pronoun that is understood from the verb conjugation but not explicitly stated. Common in Arabic where verb forms indicate the subject.
Quranic Example:
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar
— Al-Kawthar 108:1
The verb أَعْطَيْنَاكَ contains a hidden pronoun “we” (نَحْنُ) indicated by the suffix ـنَا. The explicit pronoun إِنَّا is for emphasis.
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ذ (Dhal)
No common grammar terms begin with ذ in the curriculum.
ر (Ra)
Nominative Case
Arabic: رَفْع (rafʿ)
Definition: The grammatical case used for subjects of sentences (both nominal and verbal). Marked by damma (ـُ) on singular nouns, alif (ـَانِ) on dual, and waw (ـُونَ) on sound masculine plurals.
Quranic Example:
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
Allah - there is no deity except Him
— Al-Baqarah 2:255
The word اللَّهُ is in nominative case (note the final damma) because it’s the subject of this nominal sentence.
Case markers:
- Singular: ـُ (damma)
- Dual: ـَانِ (alif)
- Sound masculine plural: ـُونَ (waw)
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Quadrilateral Root
Arabic: رُبَاعِي (rubāʿī)
Definition: A four-letter root, less common than trilateral roots. About 5% of Arabic words are built from quadrilateral roots. Examples: دَحْرَجَ (to roll), زَلْزَلَ (to shake).
Quranic Example:
إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا
When the earth is shaken with its earthquake
— Az-Zalzalah 99:1
The root ز ل ز ل (z-l-z-l) is quadrilateral, meaning “to shake violently.” Verb: زُلْزِلَتِ, verbal noun: زِلْزَال.
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Lord (Context-specific usage)
Arabic: رَبّ (rabb)
Definition: An active participle meaning “lord, master, sustainer, nurturer.” From root ر ب ب (r-b-b). When used with the definite article (الرَّبّ) or in construct form (رَبّ الْعَالَمِينَ), it refers exclusively to Allah.
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
The word رَبِّ is in genitive case (idafah construction) - Allah is identified as the Rabb (Sustainer) of all creation.
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ز (Zay)
Pattern
Arabic: وَزْن (wazn)
Definition: The morphological template applied to a root to create different words. Arabic uses the pattern فعل (f-ʿ-l) as the template, where root letters are substituted to form words.
Quranic Example:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Say: He is Allah, One
— Al-Ikhlas 112:1
The imperative قُلْ (say) follows pattern فُعْل. Applied to root ق و ل, it becomes قُلْ. Other words from same root use different patterns: قَالَ (he said, فَعَلَ pattern), قَوْل (saying, فَعْل pattern).
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س (Sin)
Past Tense
Arabic: الْفِعْلُ الْمَاضِي (al-fiʿl al-māḍī)
Definition: The verb form indicating completed action in the past. Conjugated by adding suffixes to the root pattern. The base form is 3rd person masculine singular.
Quranic Example:
خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ
Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth
— Al-Ankabut 29:44
The verb خَلَقَ (created) is past tense, 3rd person masculine singular - the base form before adding suffixes for other persons.
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Vowelless
Arabic: سُكُون (sukūn)
Definition: The diacritic mark ـْ indicating the absence of a vowel after a consonant. The consonant is pronounced without a following vowel sound.
Quranic Example:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
In the name of Allah
— Al-Fatiha 1:1
The س in بِسْمِ has sukūn (ـْ), so it’s pronounced “bis-mi” with no vowel after the س.
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ش (Shin)
Conditional Particle
Arabic: أَدَاة الشَّرْط (adāt ash-sharṭ)
Definition: A particle that introduces a conditional sentence. Common particles include إِن (if - general condition) and إِذَا (when/if - expected condition).
Quranic Example:
إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ
If you support Allah, He will support you
— Muhammad 47:7
The particle إِن (if) introduces the conditional sentence, causing both verbs to take jussive mood.
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Doubled Consonant
Arabic: شَدَّة (shaddah)
Definition: The diacritic mark ـّ indicating that a consonant is doubled (gemination). Pronounced by holding the consonant sound longer.
Quranic Example:
اللَّهُ
Allah
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
The name اللَّه has shaddah on the ل, creating the “ll” sound in “Al-lāh.”
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ص (Sad)
Sound Verb
Arabic: فِعْل صَحِيح (fiʿl ṣaḥīḥ)
Definition: A verb whose root contains only strong consonants (no و، ي، or ا). These verbs conjugate regularly without letter changes. Opposite of weak verbs.
Quranic Example:
كَتَبَ اللَّهُ
Allah has written
— Al-Mujadilah 58:21
The verb كَتَبَ from root ك ت ب is sound - all three letters are strong consonants that don’t change during conjugation.
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ض (Dad)
Nominative Marker
Arabic: ضَمَّة (ḍammah)
(Already covered under section ر - Ra. See Short Vowel U)
ط (Ta, Emphatic)
No common grammar terms begin with ط in the curriculum.
ظ (Za, Emphatic)
Adverb of Time
Arabic: ظَرْف زَمَان (ẓarf zamān)
Definition: A word or expression indicating when an action occurs. Common examples include يَوْم (day), أَمْس (yesterday), غَدًا (tomorrow). Takes the accusative case.
Quranic Example:
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ
The Day when neither wealth nor children will avail
— Ash-Shu'ara 26:88
The word يَوْمَ (day) is an adverb of time in accusative case, indicating “on the Day when…”
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Adverb of Place
Arabic: ظَرْف مَكَان (ẓarf makān)
Definition: A word or expression indicating where an action occurs. Common examples include فَوْق (above), تَحْت (below), هُنَا (here). Takes the accusative case.
Quranic Example:
فَوْقَهُمْ غَوَاشٍ
Above them are coverings
— Al-A'raf 7:41
The word فَوْق (above) is an adverb of place indicating spatial location.
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ع (Ayn)
Second Root Letter
Arabic: عَيْن الفِعْل (ʿayn al-fiʿl)
Definition: The middle consonant of a trilateral root. Called “ʿayn” because it corresponds to the letter ع in the template فعل used to represent verb patterns.
Quranic Example:
قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي
He said: My Lord, expand for me my breast
— Ta-Ha 20:25
In the verb قَالَ, the second root letter (ʿayn al-fiʿl) is و (though written as alif in past tense due to phonetic changes).
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غ (Ghayn)
No common grammar terms begin with غ in the curriculum.
ف (Fa)
Subject (Verbal)
Arabic: فَاعِل (fāʿil)
Definition: The doer of the action in a verbal sentence. Always takes the nominative case. Comes after the verb in typical Quranic word order.
Quranic Example:
خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
Allah created the heavens and the earth
— Ibrahim 14:19
The word اللَّهُ (Allah) is the fāʿil (subject/doer) - the one performing the action of creating. Note the nominative marker (damma).
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Short Vowel A
Arabic: فَتْحَة (fatḥah)
Definition: The diacritic mark ـَ that produces a short “a” sound. Also serves as the marker for accusative case in declension.
Quranic Example:
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar
— Al-Kawthar 108:1
The fatha on the ر of الْكَوْثَرَ marks both the “a” sound and the accusative case (direct object).
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Fathatain
Arabic: فَتْحَتَيْن (fatḥatayn)
Definition: The double fatha mark (ـً) indicating tanween in the accusative case, producing an “-an” sound. Typically written with alif: ـًا. Used on indefinite nouns.
Quranic Example:
وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا
And do not walk upon the earth exultantly
— Al-Isra 17:37
The word مَرَحًا ends with fathatain (ـً + alif), pronounced “maraḥan” - marking accusative indefinite.
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Verb
Arabic: فِعْل (fiʿl)
Definition: A word indicating an action bound to time (past, present, or future). One of the three fundamental word types in Arabic, along with noun and particle.
Quranic Example:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Say: He is Allah, One
— Al-Ikhlas 112:1
The word قُلْ (say) is a verb - specifically, an imperative form commanding action.
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Verb Form I
Arabic: الفِعْل الأَوَّل (al-fiʿl al-awwal)
Definition: The basic, unaugmented verb form consisting only of the three root letters with vowels. Pattern: فَعَلَ (faʿala). All other forms are derived by adding letters or changing vowels.
Quranic Example:
خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
Allah created the heavens and the earth
— Ibrahim 14:19
The verb خَلَقَ (created) is Form I - just the three root letters خ ل ق with pattern فَعَلَ.
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Weak Verb
Arabic: فِعْل مُعْتَلّ (fiʿl muʿtall)
Definition: A verb whose root contains a weak letter (و، ي، or sometimes ا). These verbs undergo letter changes during conjugation, unlike sound verbs.
Quranic Example:
قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي
He said: My Lord, expand for me my breast
— Ta-Ha 20:25
The verb قَالَ from root ق و ل is weak (hollow verb) - the middle و becomes alif in the past tense.
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Hollow Verb
Arabic: فِعْل أَجْوَف (fiʿl ajwaf)
Definition: A weak verb with و or ي as the middle root letter. The weak letter often becomes alif in past tense and is deleted in some conjugations.
Quranic Example:
قَالَ رَبِّ
He said: My Lord
— Ta-Ha 20:25
Root: ق و ل. The middle و becomes alif (ا) in past tense قَالَ but appears as و in present يَقُولُ.
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Defective Verb
Arabic: فِعْل نَاقِص (fiʿl nāqiṣ)
Definition: A weak verb with و or ي as the final root letter. The weak letter changes or is dropped in various conjugations.
Quranic Example:
وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا
And no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow
— Luqman 31:34
The verb تَدْرِي (you know) from root د ر ي is defective - the final ي affects conjugation patterns.
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Assimilated Verb
Arabic: فِعْل مِثَال (fiʿl mithāl)
Definition: A weak verb with و or (rarely) ي as the first root letter. The weak letter is often dropped in present tense and imperative forms.
Quranic Example:
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَىٰ
And He found you lost and guided [you]
— Ad-Duha 93:7
The verb وَجَدَ (found) from root و ج د is assimilated. In present tense, it becomes يَجِدُ (the initial و is dropped).
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Doubly Weak Verb
Arabic: فِعْل لَفِيف (fiʿl lafīf)
Definition: A verb containing two weak letters (و or ي) in its root. More complex conjugation patterns due to multiple weak letters.
Quranic Example:
وَوَقَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ
And their Lord protected them
— Al-Insan 76:11
The verb وَقَى from root و ق ي is doubly weak - first and last letters are both weak.
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Imperative
Arabic: فِعْل الأَمْر (fiʿl al-amr)
Definition: The command form of a verb, instructing someone to perform an action. Derived from the present tense jussive form by removing the prefix.
Quranic Example:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Say: He is Allah, One
— Al-Ikhlas 112:1
The verb قُلْ (say!) is imperative, commanding the Prophet ﷺ to make this statement.
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Verb Form II
Arabic: الفِعْل الثَّانِي (al-fiʿl ath-thānī)
Definition: Verb form with doubled middle letter, pattern فَعَّلَ (faʿʿala). Often indicates intensive, causative, or repeated action.
Quranic Example:
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ
He has sent down upon you the Book
— Ali 'Imran 3:3
The verb نَزَّلَ (sent down intensively/gradually) is Form II from root ن ز ل, emphasizing gradual revelation.
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Verb Form III
Arabic: الفِعْل الثَّالِث (al-fiʿl ath-thālith)
Definition: Verb form with long vowel after first letter, pattern فَاعَلَ (fāʿala). Often indicates reciprocal action or attempting/directing action toward someone.
Quranic Example:
جَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
Strive in the way of Allah
— Al-Hajj 22:78
The verb جَاهِدُوا (strive/struggle) is Form III from root ج ه د, indicating directed effort.
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Verb Form IV
Arabic: الفِعْل الرَّابِع (al-fiʿl ar-rābiʿ)
Definition: Verb form with hamza prefix, pattern أَفْعَلَ (afʿala). Typically indicates causative meaning - making someone/something do the base action.
Quranic Example:
وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ
And We have sent down to you the message
— An-Nahl 16:44
The verb أَنزَلَ (sent down/caused to descend) is Form IV from root ن ز ل.
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Verb Form V
Arabic: الْفِعْلُ الْخَامِسُ (al-fiʿl al-khāmis)
Definition: Verb form with تَ prefix and doubled middle letter, pattern تَفَعَّلَ (tafaʿʿala). Often reflexive or intensive meaning of Form II.
Quranic Example:
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ
Then do they not reflect upon the Quran?
— An-Nisa 4:82
The verb تَدَبَّرَ (to reflect deeply) is Form V from root د ب ر, indicating intensive contemplation.
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Verb Form VI
Arabic: الفِعْل السَّادِس (al-fiʿl as-sādis)
Definition: Verb form with تَ prefix and long vowel after first letter, pattern تَفَاعَلَ (tafāʿala). Indicates mutual/reciprocal action or pretending.
Quranic Example:
وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
And enjoined one another to patience
— Al-Asr 103:3
The verb تَوَاصَى (to enjoin one another) is Form VI from root و ص ي, showing mutual advising.
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Verb Form VII
Arabic: الفِعْل السَّابِع (al-fiʿl as-sābiʿ)
Definition: Verb form with اِنْ prefix, pattern اِنْفَعَلَ (infaʿala). Often indicates passive or reflexive meaning - the subject undergoes the action.
Quranic Example:
فَإِذَا انشَقَّتِ السَّمَاءُ
So when the heaven is split
— Al-Inshiqaq 84:1
The verb اِنْشَقَّ (to split/be split) is Form VII from root ش ق ق, indicating passive splitting.
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Verb Form VIII
Arabic: الفِعْل الثَّامِن (al-fiʿl ath-thāmin)
Definition: Verb form with اِ prefix and infixed تَ, pattern اِفْتَعَلَ (iftaʿala). Often reflexive or indicates acquisition/seeking for oneself.
Quranic Example:
اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ
Fear Allah
— Al-Baqarah 2:278
The verb اِتَّقَى (to be conscious/fear) is Form VIII from root و ق ي, indicating protecting oneself.
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Verb Form IX
Arabic: الفِعْل التَّاسِع (al-fiʿl at-tāsiʿ)
Definition: Verb form with doubled last letter, pattern اِفْعَلَّ (ifʿalla). Rare form, primarily used for colors and physical defects.
Quranic Example:
يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ
On the Day when some faces will turn white and some faces will turn black
— Ali 'Imran 3:106
The verbs اِبْيَضَّ (to become white) and اِسْوَدَّ (to become black) are Form IX, indicating color change.
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Verb Form X
Arabic: الْفِعْلُ الْعَاشِرُ (al-fiʿl al-ʿāshir)
Definition: Verb form with اِسْتَ prefix, pattern اِسْتَفْعَلَ (istafʿala). Indicates seeking, requesting, or considering something.
Quranic Example:
وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ
And seek forgiveness of Allah
— Al-Baqarah 2:199
The verb اِسْتَغْفَرَ (to seek forgiveness) is Form X from root غ ف ر, indicating requesting غُفْرَان (forgiveness).
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ق (Qaf)
No additional common grammar terms begin with ق not already covered.
ك (Kaf)
Kaana and Sisters
Arabic: كَانَ وَأَخَوَاتُهَا (kāna wa akhawātuhā)
Definition: A group of defective verbs (كَانَ، أَصْبَحَ، أَمْسَى، ظَلَّ، بَاتَ، etc.) that enter upon nominal sentences, keeping the subject nominative but changing the predicate to accusative. They indicate states or becoming.
Quranic Example:
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise
— An-Nisa 4:11
كَانَ enters the nominal sentence, keeping اللَّهُ nominative but changing the predicate to accusative: عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا.
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Short Vowel I
Arabic: كَسْرَة (kasrah)
Definition: The diacritic mark ـِ that produces a short “i” sound. Also serves as the marker for genitive case in declension.
Quranic Example:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
In the name of Allah
— Al-Fatiha 1:1
The kasra under the ب and under the ه marks the “i” sound and genitive case (after preposition بِ and in idafah).
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Kasratain
Arabic: كَسْرَتَيْن (kasratayn)
Definition: The double kasra mark (ـٍ) indicating tanween in the genitive case, producing an “-in” sound. Used on indefinite nouns.
Quranic Example:
وَمَا مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
And there is no deity except Allah
— Ali 'Imran 3:62
The word إِلَٰهٍ ends with kasratain (ـٍ), pronounced “ilāhin” - marking genitive indefinite.
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ل (Lam)
Third Root Letter
Arabic: لَام الفِعْل (lām al-fiʿl)
Definition: The final consonant of a trilateral root. Called “lām” because it corresponds to the letter ل in the template فعل used to represent verb patterns.
Quranic Example:
كَتَبَ اللَّهُ
Allah has written
— Al-Mujadilah 58:21
In the verb كَتَبَ, the third root letter (lām al-fiʿl) is ب.
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م (Mim)
Object
Arabic: مَفْعُول بِهِ (mafʿūl bihi)
Definition: The direct object receiving the action of a transitive verb. Takes the accusative case. Literally means “acted upon.”
Quranic Example:
خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
Allah created the heavens and the earth
— Ibrahim 14:19
The phrase السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ (the heavens and the earth) is the direct object - what was created.
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Absolute Object
Arabic: مَفْعُول مُطْلَق (mafʿūl muṭlaq)
Definition: A verbal noun (maṣdar) placed after its related verb to emphasize or specify the action. Takes accusative case. Also called “cognate accusative.”
Quranic Example:
وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ تَكْلِيمًا
And Allah spoke to Moses with [direct] speech
— An-Nisa 4:164
The verbal noun تَكْلِيمًا (speaking) emphasizes the verb كَلَّمَ (spoke) - confirming Allah spoke to Moses directly.
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Passive Participle
Arabic: اِسْم المَفْعُول (ism al-mafʿūl)
Definition: A derived noun indicating the recipient or object of an action. For Form I verbs, follows the pattern مَفْعُول (mafʿūl).
Quranic Example:
وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا
And the earth - We have spread it
— Al-Hijr 15:19
From root م د د, the passive participle would be مَمْدُود (spread/extended) - the thing that was spread out.
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Verbal Noun
Arabic: مَصْدَر (maṣdar)
Definition: An abstract noun derived from a verb, expressing the action or concept in noun form. For Form I, patterns vary (no single template). Examples: كِتَابَة (writing), ذِكْر (remembrance).
Quranic Example:
وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ
And We have sent down to you the message
— An-Nahl 16:44
The word الذِّكْر (the remembrance/message) is a maṣdar from verb ذَكَرَ (to remember/mention).
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Indicative Mood
Arabic: مَرْفُوع (marfūʿ)
Definition: The default mood of the present tense verb, marked with damma (ـُ). Used in statements and some dependent clauses.
Quranic Example:
يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
He knows what is in the heavens and the earth
— Al-Baqarah 2:255
The verb يَعْلَمُ is in indicative mood (marfūʿ), shown by the final damma.
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Subjunctive Mood
Arabic: مَنْصُوب (manṣūb)
Definition: The subjunctive mood of the present tense verb, marked with fatha (ـَ). Used after particles like أَن (that), لَن (will not), كَي/لِ (in order to).
Quranic Example:
لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ
We will never believe you
— Al-Isra 17:90
The verb نُّؤْمِنَ is in subjunctive mood (manṣūb) after the particle لَن, marked with fatha.
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Jussive Mood
Arabic: مَجْزُوم (majzūm)
Definition: The jussive mood of the present tense verb, marked by dropping the final vowel (or final ن in plural forms). Used after particles like لَم (did not), لَمَّا (not yet), لِ (let/may), and in conditionals.
Quranic Example:
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
He neither begets nor is born
— Al-Ikhlas 112:3
Both verbs يَلِدْ and يُولَدْ are in jussive mood (majzūm) after لَم, with final vowel dropped (sukūn).
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Indeclinable
Arabic: مَبْنِي (mabnī)
Definition: A word with a fixed ending that doesn’t change based on grammatical function. Opposite of declinable (muʿrab). Includes pronouns, demonstratives, relative pronouns, and some particles.
Quranic Example:
هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
He is Allah, One
— Al-Ikhlas 112:1
The pronoun هُوَ (he) is indeclinable - it always has the same form regardless of its grammatical role.
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Subject (Nominal)
Arabic: مُبْتَدَأ (mubtadaʾ)
Definition: The subject of a nominal sentence - what the sentence is about. Takes nominative case. The predicate (khabar) provides information about it.
Quranic Example:
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
Allah - there is no deity except Him
— Al-Baqarah 2:255
The word اللَّهُ is the mubtadaʾ (subject) of this nominal sentence, in nominative case (damma).
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Present Tense
Arabic: الفِعْل المُضَارِع (al-fiʿl al-muḍāriʿ)
Definition: The verb form indicating ongoing or future action. Conjugated by adding prefixes (أ، ت، ي، ن) and sometimes suffixes. Can take different moods (indicative, subjunctive, jussive).
Quranic Example:
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ
He knows what is before them
— Al-Baqarah 2:255
The verb يَعْلَمُ (he knows) is present tense, 3rd person masculine singular.
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Excepted Noun
Arabic: مُسْتَثْنَى (mustathnā)
Definition: The noun following the exception particle إِلَّا (except). Its case depends on whether the exception is connected or disconnected, complete or incomplete.
Quranic Example:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
There is no deity except Allah
— Muhammad 47:19
The word اللَّهُ is the mustathnā (excepted noun) after إِلَّا. Here in nominative as grammatical substitute (badal).
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Declinable
Arabic: مُعْرَب (muʿrab)
Definition: A word whose ending changes based on its grammatical function in the sentence. Most nouns, adjectives, and present tense verbs are declinable.
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
Notice الْحَمْدُ (nominative), لِلَّهِ (genitive), رَبِّ (genitive) - same root word with different endings based on function.
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Definite
Arabic: مَعْرِفَة (maʿrifah)
Definition: A noun that refers to a specific, known entity. Can be definite through the article ال, being a proper noun, attached pronoun, demonstrative, or being in idafah construction.
Quranic Example:
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ
That is the Book
— Al-Baqarah 2:2
The word الْكِتَابُ (the book) is definite through the article ال.
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Described Noun
Arabic: مَنْعُوت (manʿūt)
Definition: The noun being described by an adjective (naʿt). The adjective must agree with the noun in definiteness, gender, number, and case.
Quranic Example:
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked anger
— Al-Fatiha 1:7
الْمَغْضُوبِ is an adjective describing an understood noun (الْقَوْم - the people), both in genitive case.
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ن (Nun)
Indefinite
Arabic: نَكِرَة (nakirah)
Definition: A noun that refers to a non-specific, unknown entity. Marked by tanween (double vowel: ـٌ، ـً، ـٍ) when not in idafah or after a preposition.
Quranic Example:
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ
In their hearts is disease
— Al-Baqarah 2:10
The word مَرَضٌ (a disease) is indefinite, marked with tanween dammatain (ـٌ).
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Adjective
Arabic: نَعْت (naʿt)
Definition: A word that describes or modifies a noun, coming after the noun it modifies. Must agree with the noun in definiteness, gender, number, and case.
Quranic Example:
صِرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
The straight path
— Al-Fatiha 1:6
The word الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (the straight) is an adjective describing الصِّرَاطَ (the path) - both accusative, definite, masculine, singular.
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ه (Ha)
Hamza
Arabic: هَمْزَة (hamzah)
Definition: The glottal stop sound represented by ء. Can appear on different seats (alif, waw, ya) or alone, depending on surrounding vowels. Crucial for correct pronunciation.
Quranic Example:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ
Read in the name of your Lord
— Al-Alaq 96:1
The final letter of اقْرَأْ has hamza on alif: أْ - a glottal stop with sukūn.
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و (Waw)
No common grammar terms begin with و in the curriculum. (Note: وَزْن was covered under ز)
ي (Ya)
No common grammar terms begin with ي in the curriculum.
Advanced Terms (Level 4-5)
Exception
Arabic: اِسْتِثْنَاء (istithnāʾ)
Definition: The grammatical construction using إِلَّا (except) to exclude something from a general statement. The excepted noun’s case depends on sentence type.
Quranic Example:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
There is no deity except Allah
— Muhammad 47:19
Complete exception construction: general negation (لَا إِلَٰهَ) + exception particle (إِلَّا) + excepted noun (اللَّهُ).
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Metaphor
Arabic: اِسْتِعَارَة (istiʿārah)
Definition: An implied comparison where one thing is described using terms belonging to another, without using comparison particles. More subtle than simile (tashbīh).
Quranic Example:
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ
A Book which We have revealed to you that you might bring mankind out of darknesses into the light
— Ibrahim 14:1
Metaphor: darkness = disbelief/ignorance, light = faith/guidance. No comparison particle - the identification is direct.
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Possessive Construction
Arabic: إِضَافَة (iḍāfah)
Definition: A genitive construct linking two nouns to express possession, specification, or relationship. The first noun loses its tanween/definite article, the second takes genitive case. Pattern: “X of Y.”
Quranic Example:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
In the name of Allah
— Al-Fatiha 1:1
اِسْم (name) + اللَّه (Allah) = بِسْمِ اللَّهِ (the name of Allah). First noun has no tanween, second is genitive.
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Inna and Sisters
Arabic: إِنَّ وَأَخَوَاتُهَا (inna wa akhawātuhā)
Definition: A group of emphatic particles (إِنَّ، أَنَّ، لَكِنَّ، كَأَنَّ، لَيْتَ، لَعَلَّ) that enter upon nominal sentences, changing the subject to accusative while keeping the predicate nominative. They add emphasis or other meanings.
Quranic Example:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful
— Al-Baqarah 2:173
إِنَّ causes اللَّه to take accusative (اللَّهَ with fatha), while predicate غَفُورٌ stays nominative.
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Name of Inna
Arabic: اِسْم إِنَّ (ism inna)
Definition: The subject of inna and her sisters. Takes the accusative case (unlike normal nominal sentence subjects which are nominative).
Quranic Example:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Indeed, Allah is over all things competent
— Al-Baqarah 2:20
The word اللَّهَ is the ism inna (subject) in accusative case (note the fatha), not the expected nominative.
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Name of Kaana
Arabic: اِسْم كَانَ (ism kāna)
Definition: The subject of kaana and her sisters. Remains in the nominative case (unlike the predicate which takes accusative).
Quranic Example:
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise
— An-Nisa 4:11
The word اللَّهُ is the ism kāna (subject) in nominative case (damma), unchanged by كَانَ.
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Noun
Arabic: اِسْم (ism)
Definition: A word that has meaning by itself and is not bound to time. Includes persons, places, things, concepts, adjectives, and participles. One of three fundamental word types.
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
All praise is for Allah
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
Both الْحَمْدُ (praise) and اللَّه (Allah) are nouns - they have meaning independent of time.
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Definite Article
Arabic: أَل (al-)
Definition: The prefix ال that makes a noun definite. The “l” (ل) assimilates to “sun letters” (ت، ث، د، ذ، ر، ز، س، ش، ص، ض، ط، ظ، ل، ن) but is pronounced before “moon letters.”
Quranic Example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds
— Al-Fatiha 1:2
الْحَمْدُ (al-ḥamdu) - “l” pronounced before moon letter ح. الْعَالَمِينَ (al-ʿālamīna) - “l” pronounced before moon letter ع.
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Ta Marbuta
Arabic: تَاء مَرْبُوطَة (tāʾ marbūṭah)
Definition: The feminine ending ة (round ta with two dots), usually silent unless followed by a connecting word. Indicates feminine gender on many nouns and adjectives.
Quranic Example:
إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near
— Al-A'raf 7:56
The word رَحْمَة (mercy) has ta marbuta, indicating feminine gender. In idafah, it’s pronounced “raḥmata.”
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Madda
Arabic: مَدَّة (maddah)
Definition: The symbol آ representing hamza followed by long alif (أَا → آ). Pronounced as a glottal stop followed by long “ā” sound.
Quranic Example:
قُلْ أَأَنتُمْ أَعْلَمُ
Say: Are you more knowing?
— Al-Baqarah 2:140
When two hamzas appear together (أَأَ), the second is written with madda: آ. Example: ءَآمَنْتُمْ.
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Conclusion
This glossary covers the complete terminology used across all 80 lessons in the Quranic Arabic curriculum, from foundational alphabet concepts through advanced rhetorical analysis. For deeper exploration of any term, follow the lesson links to see concepts explained with full pedagogical context, examples, and exercises.
Remember: Learning grammar terminology is a means to the goal of understanding Quranic Arabic, not the end itself. Use this glossary as a reference tool to support your learning journey.
Last Updated: 2026-02-06 Terms Covered: 120+ bilingual grammar terms Curriculum Alignment: Levels 1-5 (80 lessons)