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Chapter 8

Definite article ...َأْلـ

al...,

nominal sentences, verbal

sentences, word order and

adjectives

8.1 The definite article َأْلـ...

al... is the only definite article in Arabic.

It is used for all noun cases, genders and numbers by attaching it to the

beginning of a noun or adjective. There is no indefinite article, but only

an indefinite form, which has already been covered in chapter 5.

Note: Concerning writing hamzah over the

alif (أ) in the definite article, see the

final note in chapter 9.

8.2 When the indefinite form becomes definite, it loses its nunation

/...n/, and only one vowel is written on or under the final consonant, e.g.

8.3 The basic functions of the three noun cases are as follows:

• The nominative case is used for the subject and predicate noun or

adjective.

• The accusative case is used for the direct object, predicative

complement in verbal sentences, and for most adverbs.

Indefinite Definite

Nominative: َب ْي ٌت َأْل َب ْيـ ُت

baytun, a house

al-baytu, the house

Accusative: َب ْي ًتا َأْل َب ْيـ َت

baytan, a house

al-bayta, the house

Genitive: َب ْي ٍت َأْل َب ْيـ ِت

baytin, of a house

al-bayti, of the house