Noun/Equational Sentences (Part 2) ((الجمل الأسمية (جءز٢)
Noun/Equational sentences in Arabic have the following structure:
<<<<<<-----------------
The Subject and Predicate are separated by no actual verb, but an inferred "to be" verb (indicated by the equals sign above). So how does one know where to separate the two parts and know where to infer the verb? The answer is through Definiteness.
Look at the example below. It consists of only two words هذا and كتاب
These words, in this order, convey the meaning "This is a book." The inferred "to be" verb, "is", occurs between the first and second word. Examine the aspects of definiteness of these two words.
Definite -هذا :. From a previous article about definiteness, we know that
demonstrative pronouns, such as هذا, indicate definiteness.
Indefinite- كتاب : The second word, كتاب , is NOT definite because it is by itself and does not have the definite particle اذ (-al) attached.
So, we can see that هذا is definite while كتاب is indefinite.
Also, knowing the meaning of the sentence, we can see that هذا "this" is the person/place/object of the sentence being described by كتاب "a book" which is the Predicate.
Noun/Equational Sentence Structure:
Altogether the structure of this sentence has revealed that: the subject, the person/
place/object being talked about is definite. While the predicate, the things being said about the subject is indefinite. This is the general rule for all Noun/Equational sentences of this type.
Here are several more examples of this kind of sentence
<<<<<<<---------------------
Sentence Meaning: This is a girl.
Sentence Meaning: My book is heavy.
Sentence Meaning: The table is very big.
Sentence Meaning: Maha is beautiful.
Sentence meaning: His name is Mahmood.
In the above sentence, the proper noun, Mahmood, is the predicate and that may seem contradictory, because a) it has been established that Proper Nouns are definite BUT b) the predicate is supposed to be indefinite.
This structure is acceptable is because Mahmood, in this sentence, is not referring to the person Mahmood but the name "Mahmood".
His name is (the name) "Mahmood" vs His name is (the person) Mahmood.
When a name is representing the person it is referring to, it is definite. When it is simply representing itself as a name can be indefinite.
<<<<<<-----------------
| Predicate | = | Subject |
The Subject and Predicate are separated by no actual verb, but an inferred "to be" verb (indicated by the equals sign above). So how does one know where to separate the two parts and know where to infer the verb? The answer is through Definiteness.
Look at the example below. It consists of only two words هذا and كتاب
| Arabic | Transcription | Literal Meaning | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| .هذا كتاب | haadha kitaab. | this (a) book | This is a book. |
These words, in this order, convey the meaning "This is a book." The inferred "to be" verb, "is", occurs between the first and second word. Examine the aspects of definiteness of these two words.
Definite -هذا :. From a previous article about definiteness, we know that
demonstrative pronouns, such as هذا, indicate definiteness.
Indefinite- كتاب : The second word, كتاب , is NOT definite because it is by itself and does not have the definite particle اذ (-al) attached.
So, we can see that هذا is definite while كتاب is indefinite.
Also, knowing the meaning of the sentence, we can see that هذا "this" is the person/place/object of the sentence being described by كتاب "a book" which is the Predicate.
Noun/Equational Sentence Structure:
| .Predicate | = | Subject |
| كتاب | = | هذا |
Altogether the structure of this sentence has revealed that: the subject, the person/
place/object being talked about is definite. While the predicate, the things being said about the subject is indefinite. This is the general rule for all Noun/Equational sentences of this type.
Here are several more examples of this kind of sentence
<<<<<<<---------------------
Sentence Meaning: This is a girl.
| Predicate | = | Subject | |
| .فتاة | هذه | Arabic Sentence | |
| fataat | haadhihi | Transcription | |
| a girl | This | Literally |
Sentence Meaning: My book is heavy.
| Predicate | = | Subject | |
| .ثقيل | كتابي | Arabic Sentence | |
| thaqiil | kitaabii | Transcription | |
| heavy | My book | Literally |
Sentence Meaning: The table is very big.
| Predicate | = | Subject | |
| كبيرة جدّاً | الطاولة | Arabic Sentence | |
| kabiira jiddan | aTTaawila | Transcription | |
| very big | The table | Literally |
Sentence Meaning: Maha is beautiful.
| Predicate | = | Subject | |
| جيملة | ماها | Arabic Sentence | |
| jamiila | Mahaa | Transcription | |
| beautiful | Maha | Literally |
Sentence meaning: His name is Mahmood.
| Predicate | = | Subject | |
| .محمود | إسمه | Arabic Sentence | |
| Mahmood | ismuhu | Transcription | |
| Mahmood | His name | Literally |
In the above sentence, the proper noun, Mahmood, is the predicate and that may seem contradictory, because a) it has been established that Proper Nouns are definite BUT b) the predicate is supposed to be indefinite.
This structure is acceptable is because Mahmood, in this sentence, is not referring to the person Mahmood but the name "Mahmood".
His name is (the name) "Mahmood" vs His name is (the person) Mahmood.
When a name is representing the person it is referring to, it is definite. When it is simply representing itself as a name can be indefinite.
|
Related Links: Arabic Noun/Equational Sentences(الجمل الأسمية) Hundreds and Thousands(مائِة و أَلاف) |