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the pronouns in Arabic

Pronouns in Arabic - الضَّمَائِرُ

Introduction

Pronouns, integral components in the structure of languages, serve as stand-ins or replacements for nouns, providing fluidity and context to our sentences. Think of them as shorthand markers, represented by words like “he,” “her,” “their,” “I,” and so on.

 

In the vast and intricate realm of Arabic grammar, pronouns are broadly categorized into two distinct types:

 

  1. Attached Pronouns (الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ): As the name suggests, these pronouns are intrinsically linked to a preceding or succeeding noun, verb, or particle. They seamlessly blend in, offering additional layers of meaning to the word they’re attached to.

  2. Detached Pronouns (الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ): Operating with a sense of autonomy, these pronouns stand alone without anchoring themselves to a verb, noun, or particle. They maintain their distinct identity in a sentence, providing clarity in expressions and statements.

 

Diving into these two categories will unlock the nuances of how Arabic, as a language, utilizes pronouns to convey depth, context, and specificity.

1. Categorization of Pronouns

Pronouns in the Arabic language are intricate and diverse, reflecting the language’s depth and precision. Their categorization is based on several criteria, encompassing conversation, gender, and number.

 

1. Based on Participants in Conversation (الْكَلامُ):

  • Third-person (الْغَائِبُ): Refers to someone who is not present in the conversation, e.g., “he” or “she.”
  • Second person (الْمُخَاطَبُ): Directly addresses the person or people one is speaking to, e.g., “you.”
  • First-person (الْمُتَكَلِّمُ): Refers to the speaker themselves, e.g., “I” or “we.”

 

2. Based on Gender (الْجِنْسُ):

  • Masculine (المُذَكَّرُ): Used for male entities or general references.
  • Feminine (الْمُؤَنَّفُ): Used for female entities.

 

3. Based on Number (الْعَدَدُ):

  • Singular (الْمُفْرَدُ): Refers to one individual or thing.
  • Dual (المُثَنَّى): Unique to Arabic, this form specifically refers to two individuals or things.
  • Plural (الْجَمْعُ): Refers to three or more individuals or things.

 

 

An intriguing distinction of Arabic is its explicit recognition of the dual form (المُثَنَّى) which stands separate from singular and plural, highlighting the language’s attention to detail and differentiation.

A. Third Person Pronouns - الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْغَائِبِ

Given their frequent appearance in the Qur’an, we’ll begin our exploration with these.

Table for Masculine third-person pronouns - مُذكر غَائِب

Detached pronouns -  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Singular

هُوَ

He

 

 

Dual

هُمَا

They two

 

 

Plural

هُمْ

They all

 

 

Attached pronouns in arabic - الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

Singular

هُ

His

 

 

Dual

هُمَا

Theirs (two)

 

 

Plural

هُمْ

their (all)

 

 

 

Singular

لَهُ

For him

 

 

 

Dual

لَهُمَا

For them (two)

 

 

 

Plural

لَهُمْ

For them (all)

 

 

Singular

إِيَّاهُ

Only him

 

 

 

Dual

إِيَّاهُما

Only them (two)

 

 

 

Plural

إِيَّاهُمَا

Only them (all)

 

Table for feminine third-person pronouns - مُؤَنَّثُ غَائِب

Detached pronouns in arabic -  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Singular

هِيَ

She

 

 

Dual

هُمَا

They (two)

 

 

Plural

هُنَّ

They (all)

 

 

Attached pronouns - الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

Singular

هَا

Her

 

 

Dual

هُمَا

Their (two)

 

 

Plural

هُنَّ

Their (all)

 

 

Singular

لَها

For her

 

 

Dual

لَهُمَا

For them  (two)

 

 

Plural

لَهُنَّ

For them (all)

 

 

Singular

إِيَّاهَا

Only her

 

 

Dual

إَيَّاهُمَا

Only them  (two)

 

 

Plural

إِيَّاهُنَّ

Only them (all)

 

 

 

Illustrations of Detached Pronouns - الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Detached pronouns -  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Singular

هُوَ مُسْلِمٌ

He is muslim

 

 

Dual

هُمَا مُسْلِمَانِ

They are both muslims

 

 

Plural

هُم مُسْلِمُوْنَ

They are muslims

 

 

Attached pronouns - الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

Singular

هِيَ مُسْلِمَةٌ

She is muslim

 

 

Dual

هُمَا مُسْلِمَتَانِ

They are both muslims

 

 

Plural

هُنَّ مُسْلِمَاتٌ

They are muslims

Illustrations of Detached Pronouns with a noun- الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Detached pronouns -  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

 

Singular

رَبُّهُ

His Lord

 

 

 

Dual

رَبُّهُمَا

Their Lord

 

 

 

Plural

رَبُهُمْ

Their Lord

 

 

Attached pronouns - الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

Singular

رَبُّهَا

Her Lord

 

 

 

Dual

رَبُّهُمَا

Their Lord

 

 

 

Plural

رَبُّهُنَّ

Their Lord

 

 

Examples of attached pronouns -  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ with a verb:

Detached pronouns -  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Singular

خَلَقَهُ

He created him

 

 

 

Dual

خَلَقَهُمَا

He created them

 

 

 

Plural

خَلَقَهُم

He created them

 

 

Attached pronouns - الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

Singular

خَلَقَهَا

He created her

 

 

 

Dual

خَلَقَهُمَا

He created them

 

 

 

Plural

خَلَقَهُنَّ

He created them

 

 

Illustrations from the Qur'an

 

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ

 

But Satan whispered to them (7:20)

 

 

 

وَقَاسَمَهُمَا إِنِّي لَكُمَا لَمِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ

 

And he swore [by Allah] to them, “Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.” (7:21)

 

 

 

 أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ

 

 that you do not worship except Him(17:23)

 

 

 

إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ

 

And they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses. (85:6)

 

 

 

وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

You, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. (2:4)

 

 

 

B. Second Person Pronouns الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُخَاطَبِ

Chart of Second-Person Masculine Pronouns - الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُذَكَرِ لِلْمُخَاطَبِالضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُخَاطَبِ

Detached pronouns -  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Singular 

أَنْتَ

You

 

Dual

أَنْتُما

You both

 

 

Plural

أَنْتُمْ

You all

 

 

 

Attached pronouns - الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular 

كَ

Yours

 

Dual

كُمَا

Yours both

 

 

Plural

كُمْ

Yours all

 

 

 

 

 

Singular 

لَكَ

For you

 

Dual

لَكُمَا

For you both

 

 

Plural

لَكُمْ

For you all

 

 

 

 

Singular 

إِيَّأكَ

Only from you

 

Dual

إِيَّاكُما

Only from you both

 

 

Plural

إِيَّاكُمْ

Only from you all

 

 

Chart of Second-Person Feminine Pronouns - الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُؤَنَّثِ لِلْمُخَاطَبِ

Detached pronouns -  الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Singular 

أَنْتِ

You

 

Dual

أَنْتُمَا

You both

 

 

Plural

أَنْتُنَّ

You all

 

 

 

Attached pronouns - الضَّمِيْرُ الْمُتَّصِلُ

 

Singular 

كَ

Yours

 

Dual

كُمَا

Yours two

 

 

Plural

كُمْ

Yours all

 

 

 

 

 

Singular 

كِ

Yours

 

Dual

كُمَا

Yours two

 

 

Plural

كُنَّ

Yours all

 

 

00:00
 
 

Singular 

لَكِ

For you

 

 

Dual

لَكُمَا

For both of two

 

 

Plural

لَكُنَّ

For you all

 

 

 

 

Singular 

إِيَّاكِ

Only from you

 

 

Dual

إِيَّاكُمَا

Only from you two

 

 

Plural

إِيَّاكُنَّ

Only from  you all

 

 

Illustrations of Detached Pronouns - الضَّمَائِرُ الْمُنْفَصِلُ

Masculine

Singular 

أَنْتَ مُسْلِمٌ

You are Muslim

 

 

Dual

أَنْتُمَا مُسْلِمَانِ

You are both Muslims

 

 

Plural

أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُوْنَ

You are all Muslims

 

 

 

 

Feminine

Singular 

أَنْتِ مُسْلِمَةٌ

You are Muslim

 

 

Dual

أَنْتُمَا مُسْلِمَتَانِ

You are both Muslims

 

 

Plural

أَنْتُنَّ مُسْلِمَاتٌ

You are all Muslims

 

 

 

Illustrations of Pronouns Attached to Nouns

Masculine

Singular 

رَبُّكَ

Your Lord

 

 

Dual

رَبُّكُمَا

Lord of you both

 

 

Plural

رَبُّكُمْ

Lord of you all

 

 

 

 

Feminine

Singular 

رَبُّكِ

Your Lord

 

 

Dual

رَبُّكُمَا

Lord of you both

 

 

Plural

رَبُّكُنَّ

Lord of you all

 

 

 

Illustrations of Pronouns Affixed to Verbs

Masculine

Singular 

خَلَقَكَ

He created you

 

 

Dual

خَلَقَكُمَا

He created you both

 

 

Plural

خَلَقَكُمْ

He created you all

 

 

 

 

Feminine

Singular 

خَلَقَكِ

He created you

 

 

Dual

خَلَقَكُمَا

He created you both

 

 

Plural

خَلَقَكُنَّ

He created you all

 

 

Qur'anic Illustrations of Pronouns:

 

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

 

 

They said, “Exalted are You; we do not know what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.” (2:32)

 

 

 

 وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ

 

And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise  (2:35)

 

 

 

 

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

 

 

It is You we worship and You we ask for help. (1:5)

 

 

 

 

أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ 

 

 

Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast? (94:1)

 

 

 

 

يَا مَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِي لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِي وَارْكَعِي مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ

 

 

O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer].” (3:43)

 

 

 

C. First Person Pronoun - الضَّمَائِرُ لِلْمُتَكَلَّمِ

In both the third and second persons, distinctions are made for singular, dual, and plural forms based on quantity. However, the uniqueness of Arabic becomes evident when observing the first-person perspective; unlike the third and second persons, it lacks a distinct dual form.

 

Specifically, the term “نَحْنُ” serves a dual purpose, representing both ‘we’ as a pair and ‘we’ as a group. This peculiarity aligns with English, where first-person pronouns do not differentiate between masculine and feminine genders. In essence, the linguistic nuances of Arabic offer a window into the cultural and linguistic intricacies of the language.

Illustrations of First-person (masculine/feminine)

Detached pronouns

Singular

أَنَا

I

 

 

Plural

نَحْنُ

We

 

 

 

Attached pronouns (To verb)

Singular

نِىْ

Me

 

 

Plural

نَا

Us

 

 

 

 

Singular

لِىْ

For me

 

 

Plural

لَنَا

For us

 

 

 

 

Singular

إِيَّاىَ

Only me

 

 

Plural

 

إِيَّانَا

Only us

 

 

 

 

 

Note: In the Arabic language, the use of attached pronouns varies based on their context. With nouns, these pronouns are seamlessly suffixed to the end, exemplified as  (ى). On the other hand, when they complement verbs, the format slightly changes, often taking forms like  (نِىْ) to denote possession or direct object relations.

 

 

 

رَبِّيْ

My Lord

 

 

 

خَلَقَنِيْ

He created me

 

 

 

 

 

Occasionally, in the first-person singular, the possessive pronoun “ى” isn’t directly affixed to the noun or verb. Instead, possession is denoted by placing a ‘kasrah’ beneath the final letter of the word.

 

 

أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ

 I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me (2:186)

 

 

 

لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ

For you is your religion, and for me, is my religion.” (109:6)

 

The term "إنَّ" conveys the sense of "surely" or "certainly." It can be combined with pronouns for enhanced expression.

Illustrations from the Noble Quran:

 

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا

 

 

Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, (6:79)

 

 

 

إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ

 

Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar. (108:1)

 

 

 

 

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا

 

 

Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance. (110:3)

 

Examples of detached pronouns

Masculine

Singular

 

أَنَا مُسْلِمٌ

 

I am a Muslim

 

 

Dual 

 

نَحْنُ مُسْلِمَانِ

 

We two are Muslims

 

 

Plural

 

نَحْنُ مُسْلِمُوْنَ

 

We all are Muslims

 

 

 

 

Feminine

Singular

 

أَنَا مُسْلِمَةٌ

 

I am a Muslim

 

 

Dual 

 

نَحْنُ مُسْلِمَتَانِ

 

We two are Muslims

 

 

Plural

 

نَحْنُ مُسْلِمَاتٌ

 

We all are Muslims

 

 

 

Illustrations of detached pronouns with a noun:

Masculine/Feminine

Singular

 

رَبِّيْ

 

My Lord

 

 

Plural

 

رَبُّنا

 

Our Lord

 

 

 

Illustrations of detached pronouns with a verb:

Masculine/Feminine

Singular

 

خَلَقَنِيْ

 

He created me

 

 

Plural

 

خَلَقَنِيْ

 

He created us

Illustrations from the Noble Quran:

 قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ

 

And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.” (2:11)

 

 

 

مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا

 

 

 about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad] (2:23)

 

 

 

 

وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ

 

we declare Your praise and sanctify You? (2:30)

 

 

 

 

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

 

 

But among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (2:201)

 

Conclusion

This lesson on Arabic nuances concludes here. Insha’Allah, our subsequent session will delve into the prepositions in Arabic.

 

 

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