Arabic Genitive Case (إعراب الجرّ)260

In Arabic grammar, the genitive case, also known as the جرّ (jarr) case, is used to indicate possession, origin, or a grammatical relationship between two nouns. It is typically marked by the addition of one of the following diacritical marks to the end of the noun:* Fatha (َ)
* Kasra (ِ)
* Damma (ُ)

The choice of diacritical mark depends on the final vowel of the preceding word. If the preceding word ends in a fatha, the genitive noun will receive a kasra. If the preceding word ends in a kasra, the genitive noun will receive a fatha. If the preceding word ends in a damma, the genitive noun will receive a damma.

For example:* كتابُ الطّالبِ (kitābu ṭ-ṭālibi) - the student's book (genitive noun: الطّالبِ)
* مدرسةُ الطّالباتِ (madrasatu ṭ-ṭālibāti) - the girls' school (genitive noun: الطّالباتِ)
* سيّارةُ المديرِ (sayyāratu l-mudīri) - the director's car (genitive noun: المديرِ)

In addition to indicating possession, the genitive case can also be used to express other relationships between nouns, such as:* Origin: جامعةُ القاهرةِ (jāmi'atu l-qāhirah) - Cairo University (genitive noun: القاهرةِ)
* Purpose: مفتاحُ البابِ (miftāhu l-bābi) - the key to the door (genitive noun: البابِ)
* Part-whole: رأسُ الإنسانِ (ra'su l-insāni) - the human head (genitive noun: الإنسانِ)

The genitive case is an essential part of Arabic grammar, and it is important to understand its usage in order to effectively communicate in the language.

Rules for Using the Genitive Case

There are a few general rules that govern the use of the genitive case in Arabic:* The genitive noun must come after the governing noun.
* The diacritical mark on the genitive noun must match the final vowel of the governing noun.
* If the governing noun is indefinite, the genitive noun must also be indefinite.
* If the governing noun is definite, the genitive noun can be either definite or indefinite.

For example:* كتابٌ جديدٌ (kitābun jadīdun) - a new book (indefinite governing noun)
* كتابُ الطّالبِ (kitābu ṭ-ṭālibi) - the student's book (definite governing noun, indefinite genitive noun)
* الكتابُ الجديدُ (al-kitābu l-jadīdu) - the new book (definite governing noun, definite genitive noun)

It is important to note that there are some exceptions to these rules. For example, the genitive noun can come before the governing noun in certain poetic contexts.

Using the Genitive Case with Prepositions

The genitive case is also used with certain prepositions, such as:* من (min) - from
* إلى (ilá) - to
* في (fī) - in
* على (alá) - on

When a preposition is used with a genitive noun, the diacritical mark on the noun is dropped.

For example:* جئتُ من المدرسةِ (jitu min al-madrasah) - I came from school
* ذهبتُ إلى المتجرِ (dhahabu ilá l-matjari) - I went to the store
* أعيشُ في المدينةِ (a'īshu fī l-madīnah) - I live in the city
* الكتابُ على الطاولةِ (al-kitābu alá ṭ-ṭāwilah) - the book is on the table

The genitive case is a versatile tool that can be used to express a variety of relationships between nouns in Arabic. By understanding the rules for using the genitive case, you can effectively communicate in the language.

2025-02-12

Previous：How to Pronounce Porcelain Arabic Teacup

Next：A Serendipitous Encounter in the Melodies of an Arabian Song