Huu Door
Arabic Basics
Arabic Basics
Arabic - Agreement of Vowels
10. Nunation and the Definite & Agreement
When you add nunation to a word it makes it like an adjective,
or what grammar calls indefinite.
Indefinite takes 3 forms, en – un – an. Add the "an, in, un" to the word.
The definite article is the "al-" that is in front of the tri-literal word.
Definite = as-salaamu – the peace
Indefinite = salaamun – a peaciful
Agreement Follows Along the Vowels
To recognize what adjective belongs to what verb or construct, look for agreement.
Correct = Salaamun khayrun – a peaciful, a good – a good peace
Incorrect = salaamun khayrin – in and un don’t agree.
It’s not wrong but incomplete.
Completed = Allaahu yakhaliqu qadirun al-insani khayrin
God, He, a Powerful, creates the man, a good
Phrase = salaamun khayrun = a good peace
Sentence = al-insanu ul-khayru = the man (is) the good
Fragment = al-insanu khayrun = the man, a good
Word Order
This is only a short explanation of grammatical agreement and order, but it will
allow you to associate which objects, verbs, and adjectives go together. Arabic
often does different things, which look different to English readers. You have to
get used to different word orders.
We would read: John walks. Arabic would read: walks, John.
See how it works?
1. Generally the verb comes first and then a sort of poetic random order of words
follows (simplified).
2. Agreement comes from the diacritical marks (vowels).
13:27 = wa yaquwlu al-ladhiyna kafaruwna……….
and say (pl), the ones (pl) the disbelieving (pl) obstructors (pl)….......
See the verb “say” is first. See that “the ones, disbelievers” agree with “a” at the
end rather than “iy” or “uu”. So those that end in “aa” , and that means that they
go together, or associate. Also note that these are all plurals, so that agrees as well.
How do you read it ?
These are characteristics that make the Qur’an “clear”, as in so few words many
things can be seen. This is also why there are so many different translations. This
is called tajaliy, or ilham; inspiration; different for each one. It is enough to say
that your inner state will determine what the words mean to you. No 2 people will
understand in the exact same way, although they may be reading and reciting
according to the rules. There are some people who would say that the original
meanings have been partially lost or reconstructed. Even native Arabic speakers
will have differences because of cultural influences.
Back Top Next
When you add nunation to a word it makes it like an adjective,
or what grammar calls indefinite.
Indefinite takes 3 forms, en – un – an. Add the "an, in, un" to the word.
The definite article is the "al-" that is in front of the tri-literal word.
Definite = as-salaamu – the peace
Indefinite = salaamun – a peaciful
Agreement Follows Along the Vowels
To recognize what adjective belongs to what verb or construct, look for agreement.
Correct = Salaamun khayrun – a peaciful, a good – a good peace
Incorrect = salaamun khayrin – in and un don’t agree.
It’s not wrong but incomplete.
Completed = Allaahu yakhaliqu qadirun al-insani khayrin
God, He, a Powerful, creates the man, a good
Phrase = salaamun khayrun = a good peace
Sentence = al-insanu ul-khayru = the man (is) the good
Fragment = al-insanu khayrun = the man, a good
Word Order
This is only a short explanation of grammatical agreement and order, but it will
allow you to associate which objects, verbs, and adjectives go together. Arabic
often does different things, which look different to English readers. You have to
get used to different word orders.
We would read: John walks. Arabic would read: walks, John.
See how it works?
1. Generally the verb comes first and then a sort of poetic random order of words
follows (simplified).
2. Agreement comes from the diacritical marks (vowels).
13:27 = wa yaquwlu al-ladhiyna kafaruwna……….
and say (pl), the ones (pl) the disbelieving (pl) obstructors (pl)….......
See the verb “say” is first. See that “the ones, disbelievers” agree with “a” at the
end rather than “iy” or “uu”. So those that end in “aa” , and that means that they
go together, or associate. Also note that these are all plurals, so that agrees as well.
How do you read it ?
These are characteristics that make the Qur’an “clear”, as in so few words many
things can be seen. This is also why there are so many different translations. This
is called tajaliy, or ilham; inspiration; different for each one. It is enough to say
that your inner state will determine what the words mean to you. No 2 people will
understand in the exact same way, although they may be reading and reciting
according to the rules. There are some people who would say that the original
meanings have been partially lost or reconstructed. Even native Arabic speakers
will have differences because of cultural influences.
Back Top Next
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Hudoor Home
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
