Essential Arabic Lesson 23: Relative Pronouns and Indirect Speech299

Introduction

In this Arabic language lesson, we will delve into the realm of relative pronouns, also known as relative clauses or dependent clauses, which link two sentences by introducing more information about a specific noun or pronoun. Additionally, we will explore the concept of indirect speech, which involves reporting the words of another person without directly quoting them.

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns in Arabic are used to connect two sentences, creating a dependent clause that provides further details about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. The most common relative pronoun in Arabic is "الذي" (alladhī), which can be translated as "who, which, or that." It is used when the antecedent (the noun or pronoun it refers to) is definite (that is, preceded by the definite article "ال").

Example:

الكتاب الذي تقرأه مثير للاهتمام

(al-kitāb alladhī taqraʼuhu mithīrun lil-iḥtimām)

The book that you are reading is interesting

For indefinite antecedents, the relative pronoun used is "الذي" (allaḏī), which translates as "whoever, whichever, or whatever." It is used when the antecedent is indefinite or unknown.

Example:

أي شخص يدرس اللغة العربية مجتهد

(ayyu shakhṣin yadrusu l-lughata l-ʿarabiyya mujtahid)

Whoever studies Arabic is diligent

Position and Agreement of Relative Pronouns

In Arabic, relative pronouns come after the antecedent and agree with it in gender, number, and definiteness. For example:

السيارة التي اشتريتها جديدة

(as-sayyārah alladhī ishtaraytuhā jadīdah)

The car that I bought is new (feminine, singular, definite)

الأطفال الذين يلعبون في الحديقة سعداء

(al-aṭfālu alladhīna yalʿabūna fī l-ḥadīqah saʿidūn)

The children who are playing in the garden are happy (masculine, plural, definite)

Indirect Speech

In English, indirect speech involves reporting the words of another person indirectly, without using quotation marks. In Arabic, indirect speech is constructed using the verb "أن" (an), followed by the mood subjunctive.

Example:

قال خالد: "أنا أحب اللغة العربية"

(qāla khālid: "anā uḥibbu l-lughata l-ʿarabiyya")

Khalid said, "I love the Arabic language"

Indirect speech in Arabic:

قال خالد أن يحب اللغة العربية

(qāla khālid an yaḥubba l-lughata l-ʿarabiyya)

Sequence of Tenses in Indirect Speech

When reporting past speech, the tense of the verb in the indirect speech changes according to the following sequence:
Past tense becomes the past tense of the subjunctive
Present tense becomes the present tense of the subjunctive
Future tense becomes the future tense of the subjunctive

Example:

قال المعلّم: "أدرس اللغة العربية"

(qāla l-muʿallimu: "adrūsu l-lughata l-ʿarabiyya")

The teacher said, "I teach Arabic"

Indirect speech in Arabic:

قال المعلّم أن يدرس اللغة العربية

(qāla l-muʿallimu an yudrisu l-lughata l-ʿarabiyya)

Exercises
Translate the following sentence into Arabic using the relative pronoun "الذي": "The student who studies hard will succeed."
Convert the following sentence into indirect speech: "The doctor said, 'I will examine you tomorrow.'"
Complete the following sentence with the appropriate form of the relative pronoun "الذي": "الأشخاص _______ يجيدون اللغة العربية.."
Translate the following sentence into Arabic using indirect speech: "My friend told me that she had traveled to Egypt."
Complete the following sentence with the correct form of the verb in the indirect speech: "قال الأستاذ أن _______ اللغة العربية لغة غنية" (present tense of the subjunctive).

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have gained a deeper understanding of Arabic relative pronouns and indirect speech. Relative pronouns allow us to connect two sentences and provide additional information about a noun or pronoun, while indirect speech enables us to report the words of others indirectly. By mastering these concepts, we can enhance our Arabic communication skills and effectively express complex ideas.

2024-11-06

Previous：Introduction to Arabic

Next：New Arabic Course Third Volume, Lesson Eight Translation