1.
Diptotes ( ممنوع من الصرف- Mamnu' min al-Sarf)
A diptote is a noun that does not accept tanwin (nunation) or the kasra (the vowel for the
genitive case). Its inflection is limited to two cases:
Damma in the nominative case (for raising).
Fatha in both the accusative (for )نصبand genitive (for )جرcases.
It becomes a triptote ()منصرف, meaning it can be declined with a kasra in the genitive case, if
the definite article '( 'الal-) is added to it or if it is in an idafa (possessive construction) with a
word that has ''ال.
Reasons for a Noun to be a Diptote
A poet summarized the nine reasons in two lines of poetry: "Modification, adjectival quality,
femininity, definiteness; foreignness, then plural, then compound structure. An extra 'nun'
preceded by an 'alif'; and the pattern of a verb—this is an approximation."
1. ( عدلAdl - Modification)
Simple Definition: The word has been intentionally altered from its original form or
pattern.
Example: The word ع َمر ُ (Umar) was originally عامر
ِ (Aamir) but was modified to this
pattern. Similarly, ( ُزفَرZufar) was originally (زافِرZaafir).
2. ( وصفWasf - Adjectival Quality)
Simple Definition: The word describes something; it is an adjective.
Example: (أحمدAhmad) on the pattern of af'al (a descriptive pattern); (أبيضabyad -
white) (an adjective of color).
3. ( تأنيثTa'nith - Femininity)
Simple Definition: The word is feminine.
Example: (فاطمةFatimah) (feminine with a ta' marbuta); (سعادSu'ad) (feminine
without a visible sign); (صحراءsahra' - desert) (feminine with the extended alif of
feminization).
4. ( معرفةMa'rifah - Definiteness/Proper Noun)
Simple Definition: The word is definite or known.
Example: (محمدMuhammad) (a proper name for a specific person); (الكتابal-kitab -
the book) (made definite with 'al-').
5. '( عجمةUjmah - Foreign Origin)
Simple Definition: The word is not of Arabic origin; it comes from another language.
Example: (إبراهيمIbrahim - Abraham); (لندنLondon); (فاروقFaruq) (all are foreign
names).
6. ( جمعJam' - Plural)
Simple Definition: The word indicates a plural in a specific pattern (not a regular
masculine or feminine plural, but the "ultimate plural" form).
Example: (مساجدmasajid - mosques); (مصابيحmasabih - lamps); (صناديقsanadiq -
boxes). This is called the "ultimate plural form" (sighat muntaha al-jumu'), which
follows patterns like mafa'il or mafa'il.
7. ( تركيبTarkib - Compound)
Simple Definition: The word is formed from two parts that have been blended into a
single word.
Example: (بعلبكBaalbek) from Ba'l and Bak; (حضرموتHadhramaut) from Hadhr and
Mawt.
8. ( ألف ونون زائدتانAlif and Nun Zaidatan - Extra Alif and Nun)
Simple Definition: The word ends with an extra 'alif' and 'nun' that are not part of the
root word.
Example: '(عثمانUthman) (root is 'athama); (فرحانfarhan - happy) (root is 'fariha');
(ظمآنdham'an - thirsty) (root is 'dhami'a).
9. ( وزن فعلWazn al-Fi'l - Pattern of a Verb)
Simple Definition: The word has a pattern that is similar to a verb pattern.
Example: (أحمدAhmad) (on the pattern af'al, which is common for both nouns and
verbs); (يزيدYazid) (on the pattern yaf'al, which can also be a verb).
2. Inflection ( اإلعراب- Al-I'rab) and Indeclinable Words ( البناء- Al-Bina')
Definition of Inflection (I'rab): Inflection is the change in the endings of words (nouns and
present tense verbs) due to the different grammatical factors affecting them and the change in
their syntactic functions.
Definition of Indeclinable (Bina'): An indeclinable word has a fixed ending that does not
change, regardless of its position in the sentence or the grammatical factors affecting it. The
indeclinable word maintains a single vowel or a sukun.
Indeclinable Nouns ()األسماء المبنية:
Pronouns: e.g., ( هوhuwa), ( هيhiya), ( أناana), ( أنتanta).
Demonstrative Nouns: e.g., ( هذاhadha), ( هذهhadhihi), ( هؤالءha'ula'i). (Except for the
dual forms هاتان/ هذانwhich are inflected).
Relative Nouns: e.g., ( الذيalladhi), ( التيallati), ( الذينalladhina). (Except for the dual
forms اللتان/ اللذانwhich are inflected).
Conditional Particles: e.g., ( لوlaw), ( إذاidha), ( إنin), ( منman). (Except for )أي.
Interrogative (Question) Nouns: e.g., ( منman), ( ماذاmadha), ( أينayna), ( كيفkayfa).
(Except for )أي.
Some Adverbs: e.g., ( حيثhaythu), ( اآلنal-an), ( أمسamsi).
Compound Adverbs: e.g., ( صباح مساءsabaha masa'a - morning and evening).
Verbal Nouns (Active Participles used as commands): e.g., ( هيهاتhayhat), صه
(sah), ( آمينamin).
3. The Grammatical Cases of Nouns
A. The Nominative Case ( المرفوعات- Al-Marfu'at)
These are nouns whose primary inflectional sign is the damma or what substitutes it. They
include:
1. The Subject ( الفاعل- al-Fa'il): The one who performs the action or is characterized by
it.
o Example: جاء الول ُد. (Ja'a al-waladu - The boy came).
2. The Deputy-Subject ( نائب الفاعل- Na'ib al-Fa'il): A noun that replaces the subject
after it has been omitted, following a passive verb.
o Example: ج ُ ُكسِر الزجا. (Kusira al-zujaju - The glass was broken).
3. The Topic/Nominal Subject ( المبتدأ- al-Mubtada'): The noun that a nominal
sentence usually begins with.
o Example: ء صافية ُ السما. (Al-sama'u safiyah - The sky is clear).
4. The Predicate ( الخبر- al-Khabar): What informs about the subject and completes the
meaning of the sentence.
o Example: السماء صافية. (Al-sama'u safiyatun - The sky is clear).
5. The Noun of 'Kana' and its Sisters ()اسم كان وأخواتها: The subject of a nominal
sentence after 'Kana' or one of its sisters enters it.
o Example: كان الجو جميلا. (Kana al-jawwu jamilan - The weather was beautiful).
6. The Predicate of 'Inna' and its Sisters ()خبر إن وأخواتها: The predicate of a nominal
sentence after 'Inna' or one of its sisters enters it.
o Example: إن هللا غفور. (Inna Allaha ghafurun - Indeed, Allah is Forgiving).
7. The Follower of a Nominative Noun ()التابع لمرفوع: A noun that follows another
nominative noun in its case (e.g., adjective, conjunction, emphasis, apposition).
o Example (Adjective): حضر الطالبُ المجته ُد. (Hadara al-talibu al-mujtahidu - The
hardworking student attended).
B. The Accusative Case ( المنصوبات- Al-Mansubat)
These are nouns whose primary inflectional sign is the fatha or what substitutes it. The most
famous are:
1. The Direct Object ( المفعول به- al-Maf'ul bihi): The one upon whom the action of the
subject falls.
o Example: الكتاب
َ قرأ محمد. (Qara'a Muhammadun al-kitaba - Muhammad read
the book).
2. The Absolute/Cognate Object ( المفعول المطلق- al-Maf'ul al-Mutlaq): A verbal noun
(masdar) derived from the verb, used to emphasize it, or to specify its type or number.
o Example: فهمتُ الدرس فه ًما. (Fahimtu al-darsa fahman - I understood the lesson
with understanding).
3. The Object of Cause/Reason ( المفعول ألجله- al-Maf'ul li-Ajlihi): A verbal noun that
explains the reason for the verb's occurrence.
o Example: أدرس رغبةً في النجاح
ُ . (Adrussu raghbatan fi al-najah - I study out of a
desire for success).
4. The Adverb of Time and Place ( المفعول فيه- al-Maf'ul Fihi): A noun indicating the
time or place of the action.
o Example (Time): ًسافرتُ ليل. (Safartu laylan - I traveled at night).
o Example (Place): وقفتُ أما َم الباب. (Waqaftu amama al-bab - I stood in front of
the door).
5. The Circumstantial Adverb/Condition ( الحال- al-Hal): An indefinite, accusative
noun that describes the state of its owner at the time of the action.
o Example: ً عاد القائد ُ منتصرا. ('Ada al-qa'idu muntasiran - The commander
returned victorious).
6. The Specification/Distinction ( التمييز- al-Tamyiz): An indefinite, accusative noun
that removes ambiguity from a preceding word or sentence.
o Example: ً اشتريتُ عشرين كتابا. (Ishtaraytu 'ishrina kitaban - I bought twenty
books).
7. The Exception ( المستثنى- al-Mustathna): A noun that comes after a particle of
exception.
o Example: ً حضر الطلبُ إال خالدا. (Hadara al-tullabu illa Khalidan - The students
attended, except for Khalid).
8. The Vocative ( المنادى- al-Munada): A noun that comes after a particle of address.
o Example: اجتهد،العلم
ِ طالب َ يا. (Ya taliba al-'ilmi, ijtahid - O student of
knowledge, strive hard).
9. The Predicate of 'Kana' and its Sisters ()خبر كان وأخواتها:
o Example: ًكان الجو جميل. (Kana al-jawwu jamilan - The weather was beautiful).
10. The Noun of 'Inna' and its Sisters ()اسم إن وأخواتها:
o Example: إن للاَ غفور. (Inna Allaha ghafurun - Indeed, Allah is Forgiving).
11. The Follower of an Accusative Noun ()التابع لمنصوب:
o Example (Adjective): رأيتُ الرجل الطوي َل. (Ra'aytu al-rajula al-tawila - I saw the
tall man).
C. The Genitive Case ( المجرورات- Al-Majrurat)
These are nouns whose primary inflectional sign is the kasra or what substitutes it. There are
three types:
1. Preceded by a Preposition ()المجرور بحرف الجر: Any noun preceded by a preposition
(e.g., ل, ك, ب, في, على, عن, إلى,)من.
o Example: ذهبتُ إلى المدرس ِة. (Dhahabtu ila al-madrasati - I went to the school).
2. The Possessed Noun in an Idafa ()المضاف إليه: A noun attributed to a preceding noun
(the mudaf) to define or specify it.
o Example: ب ِ هذا كتابُ الطال. (Hadha kitabu al-talibi - This is the student's book).
3. The Follower of a Genitive Noun ()التابع لمجرور:
o Example (Adjective): الكريم ِ مررتُ بالرج ِل. (Marartu bi-al-rajuli al-karimi - I
passed by the generous man).
4. The Exception with 'Ghayr' and 'Siwa' ()المستثنى بغير وسوى:
o Example: جاء الطلبُ سوى زيد. (Ja'a al-tullabu siwa Zaydin - The students came
except for Zayd).
5. The Specification of the Exclamatory 'Kam' ()تمييز كم الخبرية: Can be singular or
plural and is in the genitive case.
o Example: ( !كم رجل قتله الفقرKam rajulin qatalahu al-faqr! - How many a man
has poverty killed!).
4. Arabic Rhetorical Styles ( أساليب- Asalib)
The Style of Oath ()أسلوب القسم: A style used for swearing, using particles like , ب,و
ت.
o Example: وللاِ ألذاكرن هذا العام. (Wallahi la'udhakiranna hadha al-'am - By Allah,
I will surely study this year).
The Style of Praise and Dispraise ()أسلوب المدح والذم: A style using immutable verbs
to express praise (like نِ ْعمand )حبَّذاor dispraise (like بِئْسand )ال حبَّذا.
o Example (Praise): الخلق الحل ُمُ نِ ْع َم. (Ni'ma al-khuluqu al-hilmu - The best of
characters is forbearance).
o Example (Dispraise): الزور ِ ُ ْس القو ُل شهادةَ ِبئ. (Bi'sa al-qawlu shahadatu al-zuri -
The worst of speech is false testimony).
The Style of Amazement/Exclamation ()أسلوب التعجب: A style to express surprise,
with standard forms, the most famous being " "!ما أفعلهand ""!أفعل به.
o Example: ( !ما أجم َل سماء مصرMa ajmala sama'a Misr! - How beautiful is the
sky of Egypt!).
The Style of Warning ()أسلوب التحذير: A style to alert the addressee to something that
should be avoided, often using the word "" ِإيَّا.
o Example: إياكَ التسرع. (Iyyaka al-tasarru'a - Beware of haste).
The Style of Specification ()أسلوب االختصاص: A style where an explicit noun is
mentioned after a pronoun (like علينا, نحن, )أناto clarify the pronoun's intent.
o Example: األنبياء ال نورثِ معاشر
َ نحن. (Nahnu ma'ashira al-anbiya'i la nurathu -
We, the community of prophets, do not inherit).
5. Translation Exercises & Examples
ولد في الصف/ أول طالب-> 1st boy/student in the class.
عيادة/ مركز طبي/ عشرون مستشفى وأربعون مستوصف-> 20 hospitals and 40 clinics/medical
centers.
ولد في تسعة عشر يونيو-> He was born on the 19th of June.
٠٢٠٢ الثامن عشر من ديسمبر سنة-> The 18th of December, 2024.
سنة الفين وأربعة وعشرون-> The year two thousand and twenty-four (2024).
سنة ألف وتسع مائة وواحد وسبعون-> The year one thousand, nine hundred and seventy-one
(1971).
اثنان ومائة-> One hundred and two (102).
Text Passage 1 (Economics)
English: In the home market there is a considerable reduction in the rate of incoming
orders, particularly for those consumer goods affected by the increase in VAT from 8
to 14 per cent. With no appreciable upturn expected in the home market, the ability to
keep most of the factories properly loaded will be dependent upon continuing success
in obtaining orders from abroad. In this respect a world-wide distribution network is
of vital importance.
Arabic: وخاصة بالنسبة لتلك البضائع االستهلكية،هناك انخفاض كبير في الطلبات الواردة للسوق المحلي
فإن، وبدون زيادة ملحوظة متوقعة في السوق المحلي.٪٤١ إلى٨ التي تأثرت بارتفاع ضريبة المبيعات من
القدرة على االحتفاظ بمعظم المصانع محملة (بالطلبات) سوف يعتمد على استمرار النجاح في الحصول على
فإنه من األهمية بمكان وجود شبكة توزيع عالمية، وبهذا الخصوص.الطلبات من الخارج.
Text Passage 2 (History/Science)
English: Copernicus, Nicolaus (1473-1543), a Polish astronomer, was the founder of
modern astronomy. Born in Prussia, he studied optics and mathematics at the
University of Cracow. In 1496, he went to Italy to read church law. The next year he
was made canon of Frauenburg, though it was some years before he went there, and in
1507 he became physician to his uncle, the bishop of Ermland, where he stayed for
five years. Copernicus spent many years formulating a new theory of the universe. In
his great work, De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, published at the end of his
life, he showed that the Earth and the other planets revolve round the Sun, and not the
other way round.
Arabic: ولد في. وهو مؤسس علم الفلك الحديث،) هو فلكي بولندي٤٤١٧ - ٤١٣٧( نيكوالوس كوبرنيكوس
ثم ذهب إلى إيطاليا لدراسة القانون،٤١٤١ ودرس البصريات والرياضيات في جامعة كراكاو عام،بروسيا
أصبح٤٤٥٣ وفي عام، إال أنه مرت سنوات قبل ذهابه إلى هناك، وفي العام التالي رسم قسا ا لفراونبرج.الكنسي
أنفق كوبرنيكوس سنوات عديدة في تكوين نظرية جديدة عن. حيث بقى خمس سنوات،طبيبا ا لعمه أسقف إيرملند
أوضح أن األرض وباقي، والذي نشر في نهاية عمره،" وفي مؤلفه العظيم "عن دوران األجسام السماوية.الكون
الكواكب تدور حول الشمس وليس العكس.
