أما ... فـ

As for

Level 5

The pattern أما ... فـ (ammā... fa-) is used in formal Arabic to introduce a topic and provide a comment about it. It is often translated as 'as for,' 'whereas,' or 'on the other hand.'

How It Works

The أما ... فـ construction is a hallmark of formal Modern Standard Arabic and Classical Arabic. It serves three primary functions:

1. Detail (Tafṣīl): It breaks down a general statement into specific parts.
2. Contrast: It highlights a difference between two subjects.
3. Topic-Shift: It signals to the reader that the focus is moving to a new subject.

Grammatical Rules:

  • What Follows أما: أما must be followed by a noun, a pronoun, a prepositional phrase, or an adverbial phrase. It cannot be followed directly by a verb. If a noun follows, it is usually in the nominative case (as a subject), but it can be in the accusative case if it is the object of the verb that appears after the فـ.
  • The Mandatory Fa: The particle فـ (known as fā’ al-jazā’) is obligatory. It attaches to the first word of the second part of the sentence (the comment or result). Omitting this فـ is considered a major error in formal writing.
  • Register: This is strictly a formal construction. In daily conversation, speakers usually use بالنسبة لـ or simple intonation shifts instead.

Examples (5)

  1. أَمَّا الطُّلَّابُ فَقَدْ نَجَحُوا جَمِيعاً.

    As for the students, they all passed.

    Word by Word: As for the students, [result] already they passed all.

    Here, the topic is the students (nominative), and the mandatory 'fa' attaches to the particle 'qad'.

  2. أَنَا أَعْمَلُ فِي المَكْتَبِ، أَمَّا أَخِي فَيَعْمَلُ فِي البَيْتِ.

    I work in the office, whereas my brother works at home.

    Word by Word: I work in the office, as for my brother, [result] he works in the house.

    This demonstrates the contrastive use of the pattern between 'I' and 'my brother'.

  3. أَمَّا فِي البَيْتِ فَنَحْنُ آمِنُونَ.

    As for in the house, we are safe.

    Word by Word: As for in the house, [result] we safe.

    This example shows that 'amma' can be followed by a prepositional phrase, not just a noun.

  4. أَمَّا اليَوْمَ فَسَنَبْقَى هُنَا.

    As for today, we will stay here.

    Word by Word: As for today, [result] will we stay here.

    Here, 'amma' is followed by an adverbial phrase of time (today).

  5. أَمَّا اليَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ.

    As for the orphan, do not oppress [him].

    Word by Word: As for the orphan, [result] not you oppress.

    In this Quranic example, 'the orphan' is in the accusative case because it is the object of the verb 'oppress' that follows the 'fa'.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the mandatory 'fa' (فـ) particle.

    أما المعلم هو في الصف.
    أما المعلم فهو في الصف.

    In English, we don't say 'As for the teacher, THEN he is in the class,' but in Arabic, the 'fa' is grammatically required to link the topic to the comment.

  • Following 'ammā' directly with a verb.

    أما سافر الطلاب...
    أما الطلاب فسافروا...

    The word immediately following 'ammā' must be the noun or pronoun you are highlighting, not the action.

  • Confusing 'ammā' (as for) with 'immā' (either).

    إما الطلاب فنجحوا.
    أما الطلاب فنجحوا.

    'Immā' (with a kasra) is used for 'either... or' choices, while 'Ammā' (with a fatha) is used for 'as for'.

How It Connects

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

أما ... فـLevel 5As for

Learn This First

To understand 'أما ... فـ', a learner needs to be comfortable with the basic Nominal Sentence (Mubtada' and Khabar) because this pattern essentially splits the subject and the comment to provide emphasis. Additionally, the use of the particle 'fa-' to introduce the result or the 'comment' portion is a specific syntactic requirement that mirrors its use in conditional result clauses.

Words in This Pattern

أماف