Rules

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

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).

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Arabic Grammar Rules (قَوَاعِد اللُّغَة العَرَبِيَّة) #