Arabic case system

Introduction Nominative case Genitive case Accusative case Additional notes

Introduction
First, what are case endings in Arabic? They are little markings ( Harakaat) that are attached to the ends of words to indicate the words' grammatical function. That is, if a word is the subject of a sentence, you use a case ending to indicate that; if a word is the object of a verb, you use another case ending to indicate that. So clearly, using case endings correctly requires a solid knowledge of grammar. If you're a native English speaker who hasn't studied a language with a case system, like Latin or Russian, getting used to this may be difficult. Case endings are usually not written (with one exception) outside of the Qur'an/Bible and children's books. But you will hear newscasters pronounce them, and if you want to speak fuSHa well, it's a good idea to be familiar with the case system. Each case marker corresponds to one of three different cases nominative ( marf3), genitive ( majrr), and accusative (manSb) and is pronounced as a short vowel. Here are the three case markers:

On the left is the ( Damma). It resembles a tiny , goes above the end of a word, and is pronounced as a short "u." It marks words in the nominative case. In the middle is the ( kasra), which goes below the end of a word and is pronounced as a short "i." It marks words in the genitive case. On the right is the ( fatHa), which goes above the end of a word and is pronounced as a short "a." It marks words in the accusative case.

Note: If the word you're marking is an indefinite adjective or noun, the case marker will be nunated. That is, the Damma will be pronounced "-un" instead of "-u," the kasra will be pronounced "-in" instead of "-i," and the fatHa will be pronounced "-an" instead of "-a." And the markings will look like this:

Some examples:

( al-liqaa'a) ( al-maktabu) ( al-maktabata) ( Taawilati)

( liqaa'an) ( maktabun) ( maktabatan) ( Taawilatin)

Note: If a word in the accusative case (i.e. that needs a fatHa) is nunated and does not end in a taa marbuuTa or hamza, it would take an alif along with the nunated fatHa.

( al-walada) ( al-binta) ( as-sa3iida) ( al-Haziina)

( waladan) ( bintan) ( sa3iidan) ( Haziinan)

So when exactly do you use these case markers? Let's go on to discuss the three cases.

Nominative case - ( al-marf3)

This case is marked by a Damma. Words that fall into the following categories are nominative: 1. - the subject of a verbal sentence

.( dahaba l-waladu ila l-madrasati.)

The boy went to school. 2. - the subject and predicate of a nominal sentence

.( al-waladu Tawlun.)
The boy is tall. Note that is nunated (-un instead of just -u) because it is indefinite.

.( beitu l-binti kabrun.)

The girl's house is large. Again, note the nunation of the indefinite adjective . 3. - the vocative (addressing someone directly)

...( ayyuha s-sayyidtu was-sdatu...)

Ladies and gentlemen... 4. The nominative case is also the default for words that are on their own.

( a-arqu l-awsaTu)
the Middle East 5. It's also used with certain adverbs regardless of their position in the sentence.

( mundu)
since; ago

( Haytu)
where; whereas

Genitive case - ( al-majrr)

This case is marked by a kasra. Words that fall into the following categories are genitive: 1. The object of a preposition

( ila l-yamni)
to the right

( fi l-maktabati)
in the library 2.

- the object of a locative adverb ( taHta nri -amsi)

under the sunlight (lit. light of the sun)

( qabla ayymin)
[a few] days ago (lit. before days) - Note the nunation of the indefinite noun . 3. - the second term of an iDfa

( mudru l-mu'assasati)
the foundation's director (or "the director of the foundation")

( urfatu t-tijrati)
the chamber of commerce

Accusative case - ( al-manSb)

This case is marked by a fatHa. Words that fall into the following categories are accusative: 1.

- the object of a transitive verb ( la tu3il nran)

Don't light a fire. Again, is nunated because it is indefinite. It has an alif because it ordinarily would have a regular fatHa, and doesn't end in a taa marbuuTa or hamza.

( HaDar l-liq'a)
They attended the meeting. 2.

- adverbial expressions of time, place, and manner, indicating the

circumstances under which an action takes place

.( tastamirru yooman wHidan.)

It lasts one day.

.( j' fajra yoomi l-iqtir3i.)

They came at dawn on the day of balloting.

.( HaSaltu Hadtan 3ala l-jinsiyyati.)

I recently obtained citizenship.

3.

- the internal object or cognate accusative structure. What does that

mean? It's just a way of intensifying an action by following the verb with its corresponding verbal noun ( maSdar) and an adjective modifying it.

.( Hallati l-mawD3a Hallan jidriyyan.)

It solved the issue fundamentally.

.( sham mushamatan fa33latan.)

They [dual] participated effectively. 4.

- the circumstantial accusative. This is a way to describe a condition/action

going on at the same time as the main action.

.( rafa3a yadahu mu3tariDan.)

He raised his hand objecting.

.( daxala S-Saffa muta'axxiran.)

He entered class late.

. (qafazat mad3ratan.)
She jumped, frightened.

...( wa-qla raddan 3ala su'lin...)

[And] he said, replying to a question... 5.

- shows the purpose of an action, usually using an indefinite . .( al-quwwtu taunnu Hamlatan baHtan 3an
asliHatin.) The forces are launching a campaign searching for weapons.

( xilla Haflatin istiqblin

aqmha takrman lahu) during a reception they gave in his honor 6.

- the accusative of specification; often answers the question "in what way?"
Includes the comparative/superlative and counted nouns between 11 and 99.

.( nu3linu dka qawlan wa-fi3lan.)

We announce that in speech and action.

. (knat akbara 3Simatin jhan wafaxmatan.) It was the greatest capital in fame and splendor.

( f 3irna mujalladan)
in twenty volumes

( 3ala mada xamsata 3ara 3man)

for fifteen years Those are the main instances where you use the accusative. There are also other, special words that shift words into the accusative case:

- -
Click here for more information on that.

A couple of notes:

With feminine plural nouns ending in , change any fatHa that would ordinarily go at the end to a kasra.

.( asala l-rajulu s-sayyrti.)

The man washed the cars. It has to be sayyrti, not sayyrta!

Note that dual and regular plural nouns like or

( bintn, two girls)

( miSriyn, Egyptians) change endings in the genitive case; the ( n) becomes ( -ein), and the ( n) becomes ( -n).

( hdni l-kitaabaanu)
these two books

( f hdeini l
kitbeini) in these two books

.( 3aqada l-mudru ijtim3an ma3a lmuwaZZafna.) The director held a meeting with the employees.

Special converters to accusative

Introduction

( kna wa-axawtuha) (inna wa-axawtuha) (Zanna wa-axawtuha)

Introduction
There are three categories of words that shift what follows into the accusative case (). But first, let's pick a simple nominal sentence ( )to work with as an example:

( al-waladu Tawiilun)
The boy is tall.

Each part of this sentence the subject (), al-walad, and the predicate (), Tawiil is in the "default" nominative case (). Now, if we put a word

at the beginning of this sentence, it will shift a part of the sentence into the like or
accusative case ().

to be to not be; used for negatio

(kna wa-axawtuha)

( kna)

( laysa)

n to becom e to remain to continu e to be/still be

(aSbaH
a)

( Sra)

(bt
a)

(ams
a)

( Zalla)

( baqiya
)

( ma
zla)

| ( dma/
ma dma)

If you put any of these words in a sentence, it will change the predicate ( )from the nominative case ( )to the accusative case ().

( al-waladu Tawiilun)

( kaana l-waladu Tawiilan)

The boy is tall.

( haada l

The boy was tall.

( haada l-

kitaabu jayyidun) This book is good.

( aT

kitaabu laysa jayyidan) This book is not good.

( aSbaHat aT

Taalibatu naajiHatun) The student is successful.

( a-

Taalibatu naajiHatan) The student became successful.

( ma zaala -

a3bu mutafaa'ilun) The people are optimistic.

a3bu mutafaa'ilan) The people are still optimistic.

(inna wa-axawtuha)
(inna) (anna) (laakinna) ( li'anna) ( ka'anna) ( la3alla)

indeed used for emphasis or that* that* but because as if perhaps

If you put any of these words in a sentence, it will change the subject ( )from the nominative case ( )to the accusative case ().

( al

waladu Tawiilun) The boy is tall.

( al

(inna l-walada Tawiilun)

[Indeed] the boy is tall.

( qaalat al-binta innaha

bintu muriiDatun) The girl is sick.

( an

muriiDatun) The girl said [that] she is sick.

najaaHu qariibun) Success is near.

and * The difference between : (inna): Uses of
1. Follows to mean "to say that"

( la3alla an-najaaHa qariibun)

Perhaps success is near.

2. May come at the beginning of a sentence, for emphasis; like "indeed"

(anna): Uses of

 1. Reports factual information after a verb of perception (to believe

that); (to hear that) or a verb of communication (to announce

that); (to mention that).

(Zanna wa-axawtuha)

These verbs include verbs of perception and verbs of transformation: to believe, suppose to consider to see, perceive, deem to find, deem to consider, deem to convert to make to to take, adopt (as) to leave

(Zanna) ( i3tabara) ( ra'a) ( wajada) ( 3adda) ( Sayyara) ( ja3ala) ( ittaxada) ( taraka)

If you put any of these words in a sentence, it will change both the subject ( )and the predicate ( )to the accusative case ().

( al-ijtimaa3u

( na3atabiru l-ijtimaa3a

Daruuriyyun) The meeting is necessary.

Daruuriyyan) We consider the meeting [to be] necessary.

( taraka l-baaba

( al-baabu

maftuuHun)

maftuuHan)

The door is open.

( al-qiyaadatu

He left the door open.

( Zanna aHmad al

sahlatun) Driving is easy.

qiyaadata sahlatan) Ahmed believed driving was easy.

Possessive pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

Possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, our, their) are used to indicate ownership of something. In Arabic, as with object pronouns, these take the form of suffixes; they are attached to the noun that's owned.

( beiti)
my house

( kitaabu)
his book

( uxtuhum)
their sister

Note: If the noun that's owned ends in a taa' marbuuTa (), the taa' marbuuTa must be "untied" and made into a

before the pronoun suffix is added: and then add the pronoun suffix:

( xaala) - maternal aunt

Untie the taa' marbuuTa to get

( xalti) - my maternal aunt

The object and possessive pronoun suffixes are exactly the same except for the first person singular.

Possessive pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic:

English my your (masc.) Singular your (fem.) his her our Dual your their our your (masc.) Plural your (fem.) their (masc.) their (fem.)

Standard Arabic

Egyptian Arabic

(-i) (-ka) (-ki) (-u) (-ha) (-na) (-kuma) (-huma) (-na) (-kum) (-ku/-kum) \ (-kunna) (-hum) (-hom) (-hunna) (-ak) (-ik)

Note: In standard Arabic, if the noun that's owned is dual (ends in or if the noun has a sound masculine plural suffix ( -uun or drop the final

-aan or -ein),

-iin), you need to

before adding the pronoun suffix.

( waali
daan) two parents

( waalida
ahum) their parents

( mu'ayy
iduun) supporters

( mu'ayyi
duuh) his supporters

( yadein)
two hands

( yadeiha)
her hands

( mudar
risiin) teachers

( mudarri
siyya) my teachers

Note: In Egyptian Arabic, if a noun, verb, or preposition ends in a vowel that is not a taa' marbuuTa, some of the pronoun suffixes you'll need to use with it will change. For object/possessive pronouns:

( -ni) stays the same. ( -i) ( -ak) ( -ik) ( -u)

( -ya) ( -k) ( -ki) ( -h)

Also, the final vowel in the noun/verb/whatever will need to be lengthened. Some examples:

( wara)

( waraaya)

( Hawaali)

( Hawaleiyya)

behind

behind me

around

around me

( li-)
for

( liik)
for you (masc. sing.)

( warra)
to show

( warraak)
he showed you (masc. sing.)

( 3ala)
on

( 3aleiki)
on you (fem. sing.)

( baaba)
dad

( babaaki)
your dad (fem. sing.)

( ma3a)
with

( ma3aah)
with him

( fi)
in

( fiih)
in him

Note: In colloquial Arabic, when used with possessive suffixes, the words "father," and u vowel is lengthened before the suffix is added.

( ab),

( ax), "brother," take the form (abu) and ( axu). Again, the final -

( abuuya)
my father

( axuuya)
my brother

( abuuk)
your (masc. sing.) father

( axuuk)
your (masc. sing.) brother

( abuuki)

( axuuki)

your (fem. sing.) father

your (fem. sing.) brother

( abuuh)
his father

( axuuh)
his brother

etc.

Note: Usually, you do not use possessive pronoun suffixes with dual nouns in Egyptian Arabic. Instead, you say "il-[noun]ein bituu3[possessive pronoun suffix]."

my two books

( il-kitabein bituu3i)

There are, however, a few exceptions:

( 3eineiyya)
my (two) eyes

( rigleiyya)
my (two) legs

( iideiyya)
my (two) hands

( 3eineik)
your eyes

( rigleik)
your legs

( iideik)
your hands

etc.

Subject and object pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

( Damaa'ir al-faa3il) Object pronouns - ( Damaa'ir al-maf3uul bihi)

Subject pronouns -

Subject pronouns

Subject pronouns (I, you, we, he, she, we, they) take the place of a noun and function as the subject of a sentence.

( ana min amriika)

I am from the US.

( howwa mohandis)
He is an engineer.

Note: In Arabic, the subject pronoun is frequently dropped. You can tell from a verb conjugation who the subject is, so it's not really necessary to use the subject pronoun in such cases except for emphasis. However, in equational (verbless) sentences like the two above, you do need the subject pronoun.

Subject pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

English Singular I

Standard Arabic

Egyptian Arabic

)ana(

you (masc.) you (fem.) he she we Dual you they we you (masc.) Plural you (fem.) they (masc.) they (fem.)

)anta( )anti( )howwa( )heyya( )naHnu( )antuma( )humaa( )naHnu( )antum(

)inta( )inti(

)eHna(

)intu( )antunna( )homa( )homa( )hunna(

Note: In English, there is only one second-person pronoun, "you," which is used whether you're talking to one person, two people, or more. But in Arabic, as you see above, there are masculine and feminine versions of "you," as well as singular, dual

\ if you're addressing one person, if you're addressing two (in standard Arabic), and \if you're addressing three or more people. Note that the dual "you" ( )is the same regardless of gender. In standard Arabic, there is also a dual version of "they" ( - which is
(standard Arabic only), and plural versions: gender-indiscriminate as well) and masculine and feminine versions of the plural "they" ( and

).

Note that Egyptian Arabic has fewer pronouns than standard Arabic, since it has no dual pronouns; it just has plural pronouns that are used to talk about two or more people, of any gender. And the colloquial

and are gender-neutral.

Object pronouns

Object pronouns (me, you, us, him, her, them) are used when you do something directly to someone or something else. In Arabic, these pronouns are suffixes that are attached to the verb:

( Darabatu)
She hit him.

( yakuruuni)
They thank me.

Object pronouns in standard and Egyptian Arabic

English me you (masc.) Singular you (fem.) him her

Standard Arabic

Egyptian Arabic

(-ni) (-ka) (-ki) (-u) (-ha) (-ak) (-ik)

us Dual you them us you (masc.) Plural you (fem.) them (masc.) them (fem.)

(-na) (-kuma) (-huma) (-na) (-kum) (-ku/-kum) \ (-kunna) (-hum) (-hom) (-hunna)

Note: In colloquial Arabic, than the latter.

and are both used, but the former is more colloquial

Here are some examples of object pronoun usage, using the verb ask."

( sa'al) - "to

English He asked me He asked you Singular (masc.) He asked you (fem.)

Standard Arabic

Egyptian Arabic (sa'alni)

(sa'alaka)

(sa'alak)

(sa'alaki)

(sa'alik)

He asked him

(sa'alahu [more standard] or sa'alu [more colloquial]) (sa'alaha [more standard] or sa'alha [more colloquial]) (sa'alna) (sa'alkuma) (sa'alhuma) (sa'alna)

He asked her

He asked us Dual He asked you He asked them He asked us He asked you (masc.) He asked you Plural (fem.) He asked them (masc.) He asked them (fem.)

(sa'alkum) (sa'alku/sa'alkum) \ (sa'alkunna)

(sa'alhum) (sa'alhom) (sa'alhunna)

Articles and the sun and moon letters in Egyptian Arabic

Articles Sun and moon letters

Articles

Definite articles
A definite article "the," in English specifies something in particular, usually something that has already been mentioned, as opposed to something general (the book, as opposed to any book). In Arabic, there is a definite article ( -il, "the") that is invariable; it is used for singular and plural, masculine and feminine nouns.

( oft il-walad illi saakin gambi)

I saw the boy who lives next to me.

Note: While English doesn't use articles to refer to generic nouns or general concepts, Arabic uses the definite article in these instances.

( baHebb il-aflaam il-agnabiyya)

I like foreign films (lit. the foreign films, since we're referring to foreign films in general)

( is-salaam aHsan min il-Harb)

Peace is better than war (lit. the peace, the war)

Indefinite articles
An indefinite article refers to non-specific/non-particular nouns. English has two definite article, "a" and "an." Arabic has no indefinite article. So while we would say "He is an engineer" or "She is a teacher" in English, in Arabic we would say:

( howwa mohandis)
He is an engineer (lit. He engineer)

( heyya mudarrisa)
She is a teacher (lit. She teacher)

Note: Arabic does not use a present-tense form of "to be."

Sun and moon letters

Sun letters
If a word begins with one of the "sun letters" (), and is definite, the "l" of the definite article is assimilated into the following consonant. So instead of pronouncing

as "il-ams," you say "i-ams." ( it-taman) ( iT-Taalib) ( id-duniya) ( iD-Deif) ( is-sitt) ( iS-Seif) ( i-erka) ( iz-zeit) ( iZ-Zarf)
the price the student the world the guest the woman summer the company oil the envelope

( t) ( T) ( d) ( D) ( s) ( S) ( ) ( z) ( Z)

( ) (the French "j") ( n) ( r)

( i-akitta) ( in-nuur) ( ir-raagil)

the jacket the light the man

In Egyptian Arabic, there are two more letters that may or may not be assimilated:

( g) ( k)

( ig-gamal or il-gamal) ( ik-kitaab or il-kitaab)

the camel the book

Moon letters
With "moon letters" (), however, the definite article is not assimilated into the following letter.

( a)

( il-ax) ( il-'ahwa)

the brother the coffee the door the party vegetables the car lunch the hotel

( b) ( H) ( x) ( 3) ( ) ( f)

( il-baab) ( il-Hafla) ( il-xoDaar) ( il-3arabiyya) ( il-ada) ( il-fundu')

( q) ( m) ( w) ( h) ( y)

( il-qariya) ( il-mayya) ( il-waadi) ( il-hidiyya) ( il-yunaan)

the village the water the valley the present Greece

Adverbs in Egyptian Arabic

An adverb modifies a verb (or an adjective or adverb) and answers questions like how, when, where, why, and to what degreesomething was done. Here is a list of some common adverbs; all usually come after the expression they're modifying, except for, which usually comes before the modified expression. Adverbs of time Adverbs of place

today

( innahaarda)

here there

( hina) ( hin
aak)

yesterda y tomorrow now

( imbaar
iH) outside

( bukra) ( dilwa'ti
) inside

( barra
)

( guw
wa)

later

( ba3dein

up,

( foo')

) a long time ago recently/ soon always never early late

upstair s down,

( zamaan) '( ariib/'or

ayyib)

( taHt
)

downst airs in front

( dayman) ( abadan) ( badri) ( waxri) ( mit'axx

ar)

'( udd
aam)

of behind

( wara
)

finally usually

( axiiran) ( 3aadatan
)

usually, for the most part sometim es

( aaliban)

( aHyaan
an)

( sa3aat
)

Adverbs indicating degree

very

'( awi)

( il-film da 3agibni 'awi) - I liked that movie a lot. ( di Suura Helwa 'awi) - This is a really nice picture.
very/at all

( xaaliS)

( howwa mi 3aaref Haaga xaaliS) - He

doesn't know a thing.

( il-balad di xarbaana xaaliS) - This country is

totally messed up. very

( giddan)

( kalaamak gamiil giddan) - What you're saying is really

good. a lot; often

( kitiir)

( il-xabar da 'ala'ni kitiir) - This news really worried

me. totally

( moot) * This is very slangy.

( il-aaani di gamda moot) - These songs are

really cool. more, in

( kamaan)

addition

( istanna kamaan wayya) - Wait a little more.

nearly

( ta'riiban)

( fiDilna ta'riiban noSS saa3a) - We had almost

half an hour left.

( xiliS ramaDaan ta'riiban) - Ramadan is almost

over. nearly

( Hawaali) * Usually comes before the

expression being modified.

( ana ba'aali Hawaali saa3a mistanniyya

kida) - I've been waiting like this for about an hour. a little

( wayya)

( il-mumassil da laazim tixtaar

adwaaru aHsan wayya) - That actor should pick his roles a bit better.

Adverbs of manner

like this, in this way

( kida)

( mi 3arfa bit3aamilni kida leih) - I don't

know why you're treating me like this. in this way/manner

( bi-akle da)

( izzaayy tistigri tkallemni bi-akle da?)

- How do you dare talk to me like that? quickly

( bi-sur3a)

( kunte maai fi-aari3

bis-sur3a 3aaan alHa' awSal) - I was walking down the street fast so I could make it on time. quickly, in a short time

'( awaam)

( yalla nibda' 3aaan nixallaS 'awaam) - Come

on, let's get started so we can finish quickly. slowly

( biwei)

( biwei iwayya, mista3gil 3ala eih?) [Go] slowly, what are you in a hurry for? right away, immediately

( Haalan)

!( ana 3awza r-rudd Haalan!) - I want the answer

right away! presently, at this time

( Haaliyyan)

( ana Haaliyyan muqiima fi almanya) - Right now

I'm living in Germany. together

( sawa)

( kullina fil-hawa sawa) - We're all in the same boat (lit.

"We are in the air together").

alone, by oneself

( li-waHd- + pronoun
suffix)

( bafaDDal askun li-waHdi) - I prefer to live by

myself. straight ahead; right away; continuously; forever

( 3ala Tuul)

( imi 3ala Tuul li-Hadde

matlaa'i g-gaami3 3ala maalak) - Go straight until you find the mosque on your left.

( di'ii'a wa-gayy 3ala Tuul) - Just a minute, I'm

coming right away.

( inta waHeni 3ala Tuul) - I miss you all the

time.

( ana msafra qaTar ba3d il-faraH

3ala Tuul) - I'm going to Qatar right after the wedding.

( howwa mi hayifDal yiksib 3ala Tuul) He won't keep winning forever. deliberately, on purpose

( 3amdan)

( bitfakkar inni 3amelte kida 3amdan?) - Do

you think I did that deliberately?