22 Rules of the Arabic Language which are considered the foundational rules in Arabic Grammar. A useful resource for students of Arabic Grammar. Brief, yet concise explanation with diagrams, tables, and examples to help with understanding. Each rule also has a conclusion at the end to give a good summary and recap of the relevant rule. Insha-Allah after studying these 22 rules, it will give one a good grasp of the language. 

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Learning Arabic Grammar [Ajrumiyah] – Reference and Resource

February 7, 2023

First Essential Rule 

In the Arabic language each word will either be a noun, verb or particle. 

E.G:

– For smaller devices and screens, please view table in Horizontal mode.

* It is not appropriate and respectable to refer to Allah as a noun. Rather it is more respectable to say Lafdh [word] of Allah or anything similar. 

• A word [Kalimah] is of one of three types: 

1. Noun [اسم‎]
2. Verb [فعل]
3. Particle [حرف]

Explanation with examples

The definition of the above three types is as follows:

Noun: A word that indicates a useful meaning on its own and is not attached to one of the three tenses. For example: Muhammad, Maryam, Fruit and Book. 

Verb: A word that indicates a useful meaning on its own and is attached to one of the three tenses: Past, Present and Future. For example, he helped [past], he is helping [present] and he is going to help [future].

Particle: A word that does not indicate a useful meaning on its own, rather for it to make sense, it has to be attached to a verb or noun or verb and noun. Examples are is, in and not. 

The below table summarises the explanation above: 

3 types of words in the Arabic Language: Noun, Verb and Particle

– For smaller devices and screens, please view table in Horizontal mode.

Conclusion

Each word in the Arabic language will be either a Noun, Verb or Particle. A Noun is a word that is not attached to any tense. A verb is attached to any of the 3 tenses [past, present or future and a particle is any word which is not a noun or verb [Please see above diagram for more detailed definition]

Second Fundamental Rule 

In the Arabic language a Noun is divided into 3 types:

1. Singular
2. Dual
3. Plural

Explanation with examples

• Singular: Indicates towards one thing, for example – Muhammad, Maryam, Book and Pen.

• Dual: Indicates towards two things, for example – two books and two pens. The sign for this is that it has 2 extra letters after the original word. [كتابان]. The extra letters will be either ا and ن or ي and ن

• Plural: Indicates towards 3 or more things. The sign for this is that it has 2 extra letters after the original word. The extra letters will differ depending on the type of the plural. 

•  Example – Books, Pens and Keys. 

A plural Noun is further divided into 3 types: 

• Sound masculine plural

Indicates towards 3 or more things and is masculine. E.G: زيدون [Three Zaid’s]. The extra letters will be either و and ن  or ي  and ن

• Sound feminine plural

Indicates towards 3 or more things and is feminine. E.G: زينبات [Three Zainab’s]. The extra letters will be either ا and ت. 

• Broken plural

Indicates towards 3 or more things. E.G – رجال

Notice in this type of plural, the extra letters are not after the original word as the above two. Rather the extra letters is in between the word. The singular of رجال is رجل. [The extra ا is in between the word and not after]. 

Conclusion

A noun is divided into three types, singular, dual and plural. So the word  رَبِّ is singular and كتابان is dual and ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ is plural.

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