New Arabic Course Third Volume, Lesson Eight Translation26

The Indefinite Article: Discretion of Use

The indefinite article in Arabic, like the corresponding articles in other languages, is used to indicate that a noun is in the singular, but it differs from them in that it is not used in all cases where the indefinite article is used in those languages. In some cases, its use is optional, and in some cases, it is not used at all.

In Arabic, the indefinite article is used in the following cases:

1. When a noun is used in a general sense, the indefinite article is used before it. For example:

رأيت رجُلاً في الشارع
(I saw a man in the street)

In this example, the indefinite article is used before the noun "رجل" (man) because the noun is used in a general sense, not referring to a specific man.

2. When a noun is used in a partitive sense, the indefinite article is used before it. For example:

أريد شُربة ماء
(I want a glass of water)

In this example, the indefinite article is used before the noun "شُربة" (glass) because the noun is used in a partitive sense, referring to a part of something.

3. When a noun is used in a collective sense, the indefinite article is not used before it. For example:

رأيت جماعة في الحديقة
(I saw a group of people in the garden)

In this example, the indefinite article is not used before the noun "جماعة" (group) because the noun is used in a collective sense, referring to a group of people as a whole.

4. When a noun is used in a negative sense, the indefinite article is not used before it. For example:

لم أرَ رجلاً في الشارع
(I did not see a man in the street)

In this example, the indefinite article is not used before the noun "رجل" (man) because the noun is used in a negative sense, referring to the absence of something.

5. When a noun is used in an interrogative sense, the indefinite article is not used before it. For example:

هل رأيت رجلاً في الشارع
(Did you see a man in the street?)

In this example, the indefinite article is not used before the noun "رجل" (man) because the noun is used in an interrogative sense, asking for information about something.

The Definite Article: Discretion of Use

The definite article in Arabic, like the corresponding articles in other languages, is used to indicate that a noun is in the singular, but it differs from them in that it is not used in all cases where the definite article is used in those languages. In some cases, its use is optional, and in some cases, it is not used at all.

In Arabic, the definite article is used in the following cases:

1. When a noun is used in a specific sense, the definite article is used before it. For example:

رأيت الرجل الذي رأيته أمس
(I saw the man whom I saw yesterday)

In this example, the definite article is used before the noun "الرجل" (man) because the noun is used in a specific sense, referring to a specific man.

2. When a noun is used in a possessive sense, the definite article is used before it. For example:

هذا كتابي
(This is my book)

In this example, the definite article is used before the noun "كتابي" (my book) because the noun is used in a possessive sense, referring to something that belongs to the speaker.

3. When a noun is used in a demonstrative sense, the definite article is used before it. For example:

هذا الرجل هو أخي
(This man is my brother)

In this example, the definite article is used before the noun "الرجل" (man) because the noun is used in a demonstrative sense, referring to a specific person.

4. When a noun is used in a vocative sense, the definite article is not used before it. For example:

يا رجل!
(O man!)

In this example, the definite article is not used before the noun "رجل" (man) because the noun is used in a vocative sense, addressing someone.

5. When a noun is used in a comparative sense, the definite article is not used before it. For example:

أنت أفضل مني
(You are better than me)

In this example, the definite article is not used before the noun "مني" (me) because the noun is used in a comparative sense, comparing two things.

2024-11-06

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