.: July 2007

The Definite Article ال

ال makes a noun definite. For example Baabun (door) is A door, any door, not a specific door whereas Al-Baabu is THE door - a specific door. More examples are as follows:

معرفة - Definite نكرة - Indefinite

Definite article is often used in place names –

القاهرة

This is true in English as well “The Netherlands”

“The Sudan” although the English definite wouldn’t match the Arabic definite.

So in Arabic each must be learnt with or without ال as the case may be.

الأَسمَاء الاِشَارَة

It is what indicates something which is near or far

Example	Used for…	Ism al Isharah
هَذَا مَكتَب	مفرد, مذكّر,عاقل أو غير عاقل	هَذَا
هِذِهِ مَدينَة	مفردة, مؤنثة,عاقلة أو غير عاقلة	هَذِهِ
هَذِهِ كُتُب	جَمع مُذكّر أو مُؤَنَّث غير عَاقِل	هَذِهِ
هَذِهِ لُغَات
هَذِهِ مَناتِق
هَذَانِ كِتَابَان	مُثَنَّى, مُذكَّر عَاقِل أو غير عاقل	هَذَانِ
هَاتَانِ وَالِدَتَان	مُثَنَّى, مؤَنَّث عَاقِل أو غير عاقل	هَاتَانِ
هَؤُلاَءِ أولاد	جَمع مذَكَّر عاقِل	هَؤُلاَءِ
هَؤُلاَءِ طَالبات	جَمع مُؤنث عاقِل	هَؤُلاَءِ

المُذكّر و المُؤنّث

What do we know about feminine and masculine words?

All Arabic words are from one of the following catogories:

حرف - This type of word does not have much of a meaning on its own but needs to be attached or with something else to make sense for example - لا - و - ب
اسم - This type of word is a noun - name of place or object or is a quality and it is not affected by time.
فعل - This is a word which indicates an action or occurance.

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