Arabic Grammar Rules (قَوَاعِد اللُّغَة العَرَبِيَّة) #
Notes from my lectures.
A list of useful Arabic grammar rules compiled for reference and memorisation.
| # | Rule / Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Negative verbs use the present tense — there’s no past tense negative form. |
| 2 | Possessive suffixes are used with prepositions and nouns to show ownership. |
| 3 | Verbs on the pattern أَفْعَلَ usually mean “helping someone do the action.” |
| 4 | Prefix مـ indicates a place or tool (e.g. كَتَبَ → مَكْتَب). |
| 5 | If a weak verb starts with و, the weak letter is dropped in present tense (e.g. وَعَدَ → يَعِدُ). |
| 6 | كَانَ / كُنْتُ is used for nominal sentences or past continuous (e.g. was reading). |
| 7 | مَعَ – with people; بِـ – with tools or means. |
| 8 | لَيْسَ negates adjectives; it has present meaning but is conjugated as past. |
| 9 | Active participle (اسم الفاعل) shows the one doing the action (e.g. كَاتِب – writer). |
| 10 | Adjective agreement: noun before adjective; both match in definiteness (ال or no ال). |
| 11 | الإِضَافَة (Idāfah): “the … of …” structure (e.g. كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ). |
| 12 | Number rules: 11–19 no “و”; 21+ use “و” between unit and ten (e.g. خمسة وعشرون). |
| 13 | Imperative (الأمر): derived from present tense; e.g. يَكْتُبُ → اُكْتُبْ (write!). |
| 14 | Comparative/Superlative (اسم التفضيل): pattern أَفْعَلُ (كَبِير → أَكْبَر). |
| 15 | Prepositions (من، إلى، عن، على، في، بـ، لـ، كـ) make the following noun kasrah-ending (ـِ). |
| 16 | أنْ is used before verbs; أنَّ before nouns. |
| 17 | Spend: أَنْفَقَ (money), قَضَى / أَمْضَى (time). |
| 18 | على + noun → on something; على أن + verb → that something happens. |
| 19 | Because: لِأَنَّ (because), بِسَبَبِ (due to). |
| 20 | Verb Patterns: كَسَرَ – كَاسِر – مَكْسُور (verb, active participle, passive participle). |
| 21 | Conditional sentences: لو … لَـ (past hypothetical), لو … فَـ (future condition). |
| 22 | If verb precedes noun, verb remains in “he” form (e.g. يَزُورُنَا جَدِّي). |
| 23 | Diminutive (التَّصْغِير): add يّ with shadda to show smallness/affection — بَحْر → بُحَيْرَة (sea → lake), كِتَاب → كُتَيِّب (book → small book). |