Sentence: الْجُمْلَةُ
The Infinite Glory and Praise stands specified eternally and exclusively for Allah the Exalted. [Ref 01:02]
Synopsis about sentence in English Grammar:
Before we learn about the Arabic sentence in the text of Grand Qur'aan, let us refresh our memory by glancing following synopsis about sentences in English grammar. It will help and facilitate us to quickly learn Arabic grammar.
In simple terms, a sentence is a set of words that contain:
It is thus evident that a sentence expresses a complete thought.
Note that the predicate always contains a verb. Sometimes, in fact, the predicate is only a verb: So we can say that a sentence must contain at least a subject and a verb.
Types of Sentences by Structure:
Simple Sentence: A simple sentence contains a single subject and predicate. It describes only one thing, idea or question, and has only one verb - it contains only an independent or alternatively called main clause. Any independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. It has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Even the addition of adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases to a simple sentence does not change it into a complex sentence.
Compound Sentence: These are made up of two or more simple sentences combined using a conjunction such as and, or or but. They are made up of more than one independent clause joined together with a coordinating conjunction.
Complex Sentence: It is a sentence that contains at least two clauses; one independent and one or more dependent clauses.
Complex-Compound Sentence: It is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Types of Sentences by Purpose
Declarative Sentence – Used to make a simple statement. Most sentences are declarative.
Interrogative Sentence – Used to ask a question. See also Rhetorical Question.
Exclamatory Sentence – Used for emphasis and emotion.
Imperative Sentence – Used for commands, with the pronoun you always implied.
Conditional Sentence – Used to express what one would do if a condition were met.
Arabic: Definition of sentence
The sentence is defined as a saying comprised of two words with ascription to one another. The sentence is either comprised of two nouns or a verb and a noun. What makes it a sentence is Isnad (الإسْنَادُ): ascription, meaning that the words have meaningful relationship between them. The sentence may be comprised of phrases and clauses in an arrangement that conveys a particular meaning.
In English sentences, the subject usually precedes the verb. In Arabic, there are two types of sentences in regard to subject and verb ordering:
Nominal Sentence: الْجُمْلَةُ الاِسْمِيَّةُ :
Verbal Sentence: الْجُمْلَةُ الْفِعْلِيَّةُ : It is a sentence that starts with the verb and the subject follows. The subject can be a noun, a pronoun, a demonstrative, or a relative clause. The defining property of a verbal sentence is that the verb precedes the subject. There are more than one possibility for verbal sentences in the presence of an object, an adverb, a prepositional phrase, etc.
Usage of Each Type of Sentences
Unlike English, where the change in the intonation of the speaker is probably the only way to emphasize or stress different elements of the sentence;
emphasis of different elements can be achieved in Arabic by alternating between the two types of sentences.Nominal sentences are used when the SUBJECT is the most important element in the sentence and which the speaker seeks to emphasize. Verbal sentences are in fact the normal tone; they are used when the speaker is not stressing anything in particular, or also when the speaker seeks to stress the verb or the ACTION.
Nominal Sentence: الْجُمْلَةُ الاِسْمِيَّةُ
Nominal sentence has two parts: the Subject; and the Predicate:
1. مُبْتَدَأ: Subject of a nominal sentence - topic;
2. خَبَر : Predicate of a nominal sentence - comment.
مُبْتَدَأ: Subject of a nominal sentence - topic
Peculiar features of مُبْتَدَأ: Subject:
مُبْتَدَأ: Subject may be a single noun;
T
(a) Prepositional phrase;
(b) Adverbial phrase
When any of above two entities appear in the beginning; location of subject of a sentence, they in fact relate to the predicate/comment and the order of the sentence has been inverted.
مُبْتَدَأ: Subject is usually definite. It can be indefinite in certain situations; we will discuss it next.
مُبْتَدَأ: Subject is always nominative.
مُبْتَدَأ: Subject may be a single noun; or it may be a phrase other than prepositional phrase; Examples:
The Infinite Glory and Praise stands specified eternally and exclusively for Allah the Exalted.
Allah the Exalted is the Sustainer Lord of the Known-Multiple universes-All that exists. [Ref 01:02]
:
It is a definite nominative noun by prefixed definite article. It is
مُبْتَدَأ: Subject of
the nominal sentence. It signifies:
The
Infinite Glory and Praise.
Proper Noun: Names can be the Subject of a nominal sentence:
Know it; Allah the Exalted is ever encompassing over those who deliberately refuse to accept. [Ref 2:19]
Allah: Proper Noun: It is the Subject of
Nominal sentence.
Muhammad [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] is the Messenger of Allah the Exalted; [Ref 48:29]
Possessive Phrases can be the Subject of a nominal sentence: Example
And remain mindful that the Iiela'aha: Sovereign Sustainer Lord of you people is Uniquely Absolute Singular Iela'aha. [Ref 2:163]
Possessive
Phrase: Noun:
Definite;
Singular; Masculine; nominative: Subject + Possessive pronoun: Second
person; plural; masculine; in genitive state.
The month of Ramadan is the month during which the Qur'aan was compositely; flash descended. [Ref 2:185]
:
Possessive Phrase: Noun:
Definite being construct state; singular; masculine; nominative:
Subject + Proper Noun: Singular; masculine, genitive
state.
مُبْتَدَأ: Subject may be a demonstrative pronoun; a pronoun; or a relative clause; Examples:
This is the Book, you will find reading it that its contents are absolutely void of peeving substance: suspicious, conjectural, whimsical, conflicting, ambiguous, anomalous, irrational, un-certain, illusory, unsubstantiated, biased and opinionated matter. [Ref 2:02]
:
It is
Demonstrative
pronoun-
اسم الإشارة:
Singular;
Masculine. Demonstrative pronouns are definite.
These are indeclinable. When acting as
مُبْتَدَأ:
Subject, they
are said to be in nominative state.
The aforementioned people are journeying-progressing towards the destination-original abode on the guidance communicated by the Sustainer Lord of them ["My Aaya'at" in the Qur'aan]. [Ref 2:05]
:
Demonstrative
Pronoun [Indeclinable Noun]:
:
Third Person Plural; and كَ
is for the addressee; second person singular.
This is one of their wishful thinking-desires-fascinations-conjectures made popular in society. [Ref 2:111]
These are the limits-restraints-demarcations prescribed by Allah the Exalted; [Ref 2:187]
:
Demonstrative
Pronoun [Indeclinable Noun]: Third
Person singular
This exclusive servitude and allegiance is the path-course of action that keeps leading safely and straight to the destination of peace and tranquility" [Ref 3:51]
: Demonstrative Pronoun: Singular;
masculine.
Demonstrative
pronouns are definite. These are indeclinable. When acting as the
مُبْتَدَأ:
Subject, they
are said to be in nominative state.
He the Exalted is the One Who has created for you people; all together-entirely, whatever is present on-in the Earth. [Ref 2:29]
They will abide therein permanently. [Ref 2:39]
They-respective wives are apparel for you people and you are apparel for them. [Ref 2:187]
These Unitary Verbal Passages are the Mother-Essence-Main Purpose of the Book. [Ref 3:07]
ضمير منفصل مبنى على الفتح
/جمع مؤنث غائب
: Personal
pronoun: third person; feminine; plural; in nominative state: Subject of
the sentence
Personal
pronoun: second person; masculine; plural,
in nominative state: Subject of the
sentence
We replicate verbally to you the Messenger [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] step by step-event by event the news about them, infallibly truthful facts. [Ref 18:13]
Those whom We had earlier given the Book recognize it/him: Qur'aan-the Messenger as they conveniently recognize their sons. [Ref 2:146]
Relative Pronoun; Plural;
masculine;
in nominative state-Subject.
مُبْتَدَأ: Subject of a nominal sentence: situations when it can be indefinite:
Subject is usually definite. The natural ordering in a nominal sentence is for the topic/subject to be first and the comment to be second. There are a few situations in which inverting the structure is prohibited; and there are others in which inverting the structure actually becomes mandatory.
1. The sentence is inverted; a prepositional phrase relating to predicate is fronted.
Pathological beliefs-a disease-psychological disorder-envy, jealousy, malice, bias, rancour is self implanted-nurtured within their hearts: locus of understanding-consciousness. [Ref 2:10]
One such situation is when the topic is purely indefinite and the comment is a prepositional or adverbial phrase. Since psychological diseases and personality disorders are various, which people may have nurtured, hence indefinite noun is the fact and ground reality.
While translating inverted sentences, care is seldom exercised with the result that the predicate of Arabic sentence is made the subject and the subject is made to seem as predicate in the target language. Thereby, it distorts the perception conveyed in the original text.
Beware; a severe punishment is in wait-prepared for them. [Ref 2:10]
:
It is a prepositional phrase: لَ
Prefixed Preposition +
Personal Pronoun: Third Person; Masculine; Plural, genitive state. This
prepositional phrase appears at the beginning. It relates to elided
fronted predicate. The Subject of the sentence is
qualified by adjective
.
Though the elided predicate is conveniently perceivable, it is also
indicated in another Ayah comprising of a verbal sentence:
Take note; He the Exalted has prepared a great torment for those who in time and space deliberately denied the infallible truth. [33:08]
All are for Him subservient-dependant-in humble attendance. [Ref 2:116]
Therefore, the Infinite Glory and Praise stands specified, eternally and exclusively, for Allah the Sustainer Lord of the Skies; and the Sustainer Lord of the Earth, [to cut short the list] the Sustainer Lord of all the Known/Existing Worlds/all that exists. [45:36]
You should always keep in mind that writing is about communication. Keeping your written work clear and simple will make it easier for the reader to understand.
Both the topic and comment are nominative. The agent that renders the topic nominative is not explicit; rather, it is the very fact that it is the topic. And the agent that renders the comment nominative is the topic.
The term مسند إليه refers to the subject and the term مسند refers to the predicate, whether the sentence is nominal or verbal. But figuring out where the subject of a sentence ends and where the predicate starts is going to become vital and a mistake in this could mean the difference between heaven and earth. Since this topic is going to be treated so rigorously, we need more specific terminology.
Consequently, if the sentence is nominal then the مسند إليه is termed مبتدأ and the مسند is termed خبر.
Similarly, if the sentence is verbal then the مسند إليه is termed فاعل and the مسند is termed فعل.
|
Definitions |
|
|
فاعل |
subject of a verbal sentence (i.e. the subject of the verb) |
|
فعل |
predicate of a verbal sentence (i.e. the verb) |
Subject of a nominal sentence can be indefinite if it is somewhat specific by adjectival description or when the indefiniteness is used for rhetoric purpose.
A sentence is a group of words divided into two piles. One of the piles of words is the thing about which something is being claimed. And the other pile is the claim itself. For example, “my youngest son is sleeping quietly” is a sentence. The first pile of words is “my youngest son” and the second is “sleeping quietly”, because “my youngest son” is the thing about which something is being claimed and “sleeping quietly” is the actual claim. This type of sentence is called جملة خبرية (informative sentence).
There is one other type of sentence. It also has two piles of words, but the second is not really a claim about the first. For example, “can I play, too?” is a sentence and the two piles of words are “can I” and “play, too”. However, nothing is being claimed. This is called جملة إنشائية (non-informative sentence).
A non-informative sentence is actually just an informative one with one of the following things done to it.
· it is turned into a question; compare “I also play” and “can I also play?”
· it is turned into a command; compare “you will play with us” and “play with us”
· it is turned into a request; compare “it won’t rain” and “I hope it doesn’t rain”
· about half a dozen others
The comment of a sentence may be a single word, a phrase, or an entire sentence. When it is an entire sentence, that sentence will have its own structure and all the rules will apply to it as well. The embedded sentence must be treated as a brand new sentence with its own internal rules, grammatical positions, and so forth.
There are two special cases.
the comment is a prepositional phrase
it is an adverbial phrase
or
If one of these two things is ready to become the comment, we will need to assume a hidden verb to which these phrases will connect. That hidden verb, along with these phrases, would then become an entire (embedded) sentence and then the comment for the greater sentence.
If the comment of a sentence is a description of the topic, it will have to correspond in gender and plurality. The comment describes the topic when it is, for example, an adjective or an embedded verbal sentence. Gender and plurality correspondence is a complicated issue which cannot be taken up here. But it is important to remember that the rules for these two grammar concepts will apply to the topic and comment relationship.
Consider the following, paying attention to correspondence.
|
Translation |
Example |
|
“Unique” and “special” are synonyms |
فريدة ونفيسة مترادفتان |
|
We are waiting/expecting |
نحن نتربّص |
If, however, the comment is not describing the topic, it will match in plurality but not necessarily in gender. The comment does not describe the topic when, for example, it is a gerund or static noun. Consider the following examples.
|
Translation |
Example |
|
The she-camel is an animal |
الناقة حيوان |
|
Famine and drought are problems |
المجاعة والجفاف مشاكل |
|
The gobbling (of a turkey) is a funny sound |
الجعجعة صوت مضحك |
|
This religion is thee advice |
الدين النصيحة |
Notice how the topics and comments in the above examples match in plurality, but not necessarily in gender. Where they do match in gender, it is simply out of coincidence.