A Sentence Serving as an Adjective

Level 5

In Arabic, when you want to describe an indefinite noun (a 'nakira') with a full sentence, you simply place the sentence after the noun. Unlike English, no 'who', 'which', or 'that' is used.

How It Works

The النعت الجملة is a powerful tool in Modern Standard Arabic for adding descriptive detail to general entities. To use it correctly, three conditions must be met:

  • Indefiniteness: The noun being described (the manʿūt) must be indefinite (nakira). While many indefinite nouns take tanwīn, others like diptotes or dual nouns do not, but they still require an adjectival clause without a relative pronoun.
  • The Link (al-Rābiṭ): The describing sentence must contain a pronoun that refers back to the noun. This can be a suffix on a verb, a suffix on a noun, a hidden pronoun (mustatir) inside a verb, or a pronoun attached to a preposition.
  • Structure: The sentence must be a statement (declarative) and cannot begin with the 'wāw' of circumstance (wāw al-ḥāl), which is reserved for describing states rather than essential qualities.

Grammatically, the entire sentence occupies the same case as the noun it describes. If the noun is accusative, the sentence is said to be 'in the place of' the accusative (fī maḥalli naṣb).

Examples (5)

  1. رأيتُ طفلاً يبكي في الشارع.

    I saw a child [who was] crying in the street.

    Word by Word: I-saw a-child he-cries in the-street.

    The verbal sentence 'yabkī' (he cries) describes the indefinite noun 'ṭiflan'. The link is the hidden pronoun 'he' inside the verb.

  2. زرتُ مدينةً شوارعُها واسعةٌ.

    I visited a city whose streets are wide.

    Word by Word: I-visited a-city streets-its wide.

    This is a nominal sentence describing 'madīnatan'. The link is the suffix '-hā' (its) attached to 'shiwāriʿ'.

  3. قرأتُ كتاباً نفعُه كبيرٌ.

    I read a book that has great benefit.

    Word by Word: I-read a-book benefit-its great.

    The nominal sentence 'nafʿuhu kabīr' describes the indefinite 'kitāban'. The link is the suffix '-hu' (its).

  4. هذا بيتٌ نسكنُ فيهِ.

    This is a house that we live in.

    Word by Word: This house we-live in-it.

    The sentence 'naskunu fīhi' describes the indefinite noun 'baytun'. The link is the pronoun attached to the preposition 'fī'.

  5. استمعتُ إلى شاعرٍ يلقي قصيدةً.

    I listened to a poet [who was] reciting a poem.

    Word by Word: I-listened to a-poet he-recites a-poem.

    The verbal sentence 'yulqī qaṣīda' describes the indefinite 'shāʿirin'. Note that no relative pronoun like 'allaḏī' is used.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a relative pronoun (allaḏī/allatī) with an indefinite noun.

    رأيت رجلاً الذي يعمل هنا.
    رأيت رجلاً يعمل هنا.

    Relative pronouns like allaḏī are only used for definite nouns. For indefinite nouns, the sentence follows directly.

  • Forgetting the linking pronoun in a nominal sentence.

    هذه مدينة شوارع واسعة.
    هذه مدينة شوارعها واسعة.

    A nominal sentence must have a pronoun (like -hā) that links the description back to the noun.

  • Adding the wāw of circumstance when you mean an adjective.

    Different Meaningجاء رجلٌ وهو يضحكُ.
    جاء رجلٌ يضحكُ.

    جاء رجلٌ وهو يضحكُ is correct, but it is a circumstantial clause (hal): "a man came while laughing". When the clause describes an indefinite noun as an adjective, it comes directly after the noun with no wāw.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

A Sentence Serving as an AdjectiveLevel 5

Learn This First

To understand how a sentence can serve as an adjective, you first need to be comfortable with basic adjectives and the two types of Arabic sentences (nominal and verbal). Additionally, you must recognize indefinite nouns, as this structure specifically follows nouns that do not have the definite article.