Introduction
In a verbal sentence, the sentence begins with a verb. For example:
وَقَتَلَ دَاوُودُ جَالُوتَ |
and David killed Goliath (2:251) |
A verbal sentence comprises a verb, subject, and object. Usually, the verb comes first, followed by the subject and then the object.
جَالُوتَ | دَاوُودُ | وَقَتَلَ |
Object | Subject | Verb |
The subject and the object are nouns. The subject is called اَلْفَاعِلُ, and the object is called اَلْمَفْعُولُ or اَلْمَفْعَلُولٌ بِهِ.
- The subject – اَلْفَاعِلُ is always in a nominative state, i.e., حَالُ الرَّفَعِ bearing dammah, or tanween dammah on it. Example: دَاوُودُ
- The object – اَلْمَفْعَلُولٌ بِهِ is always in an accusative state, i.e., حَالَةُ النّصّبِ bearing fatha, or tanween fatha on it. Example: جَالُوتَ
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When the noun follows a preposition, it will be in the genitive state, i.e., حَالَةُ الْجَرِّ with a kasrah or tanween kasrah. Examples:
قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّـهِ وَحْدَهُ |
they said,” We believe in Allah alone” (40:84) |
ذَهَبَ اللَّـهُ بِنُورِهِمْ |
Allah took away their light (2:17) |
Pronouns are not required to be mentioned separately as subjects because they are hidden in the verb itself. For example:
خَلَقْتُ |
I created |
In خَلَقْتُ, the hidden pronoun is “I.”
وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنجَيْنَاكُمْ |
And [recall] when We parted the sea for you and saved you (2:50) |
In فَرَقْنَا, the hidden pronoun is “we.”
When the object is a pronoun, it usually precedes the subject after the verb.
لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا |
they will not speak except for one whom the Most Merciful permits, and he will say what is correct. (78:38) |
If the subject is in the form of a broken plural of non-human objects, the verb used will be feminine singular:
أُولَـٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ |
They are the ones whose deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter (3:22) |
If the subject is given in a sentence (not in the form of a hidden pronoun), then a singular verb is used irrespective of the subject (singular, dual, plural). If a second verb is required, then it should be according to the subject.
وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ |
And has responded to its Lord and was obligated [to do so] (84:2) |
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا أَحْضَرَتْ |
A soul will [then] know what it has brought [with it]. (81:14) |
رَفَعَ سَمْكَهَا فَسَوَّاهَا |
He raised its ceiling and proportioned it. (79:28) |
This Arabic lesson is now finished. The next one will be insha’Allah about the hamzated verb in Arabic.
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