Describing an Indefinite Noun

Level 3

In Arabic, when you describe an indefinite noun (such as كتابٌ, “a book”) using a full sentence, you do not use a relative pronoun like 'who' or 'which'. The sentence simply follows the noun directly.

How It Works

In Modern Standard Arabic, the way you describe a noun with a full sentence depends on whether that noun is definite or indefinite. This is a fundamental rule of Arabic syntax, often summarized by the maxim: "Sentences after indefinites are adjectives, and after definites are circumstantial clauses" (الجمل بعد النكرات صفات، وبعد المعارف أحوال).

1. The Indefinite Rule: When the noun being described—called the Man‘ūt or Mawṣūf—is indefinite (nakira), you must not use a relative pronoun like الذي. The descriptive sentence follows the noun immediately, acting as a Jumlat al-Na‘t (sentence adjective).

2. The Definite Contrast: If the noun were definite (e.g., having الـ), you would be required to use a relative pronoun like الذي to link the description. Crucially, if you omit the relative pronoun after a definite noun, a dependent description of the referent’s state can instead be a Ḥāl (circumstantial clause) describing the state of the noun. Unlike an adjective sentence, a Ḥāl clause is always fixed in the accusative case (fī maḥall naṣb).

3. Types of Descriptions: The description can be a verbal sentence, a nominal sentence (Jumla Ismiyya), or a semi-sentence (Shibh al-Jumla).

4. The Returning Pronoun (al-‘ā’id): Verbal and nominal descriptive sentences (Jumlat al-Na‘t) must contain a pronoun (al-‘ā’id) that refers back to the Man‘ūt, matching it in gender and number. This can be:

  • Hidden (Mustatir): As in 'a man [who] speaks,' where the subject of the verb is a hidden 'he' referring to the man.
  • Attached (Muttaṣil): As in 'a girl [whose] face is beautiful,' where the attached pronoun ـها (her) refers back to the girl.

Note that semi-sentences (Shibh al-Jumla), such as prepositional phrases, do not require a returning pronoun.

5. Grammatical Case: The entire descriptive sentence is considered to be 'in the place of' (fī maḥall) an adjective, matching the case of the noun it describes. It will be in the place of nominative, accusative, or genitive (fī maḥall raf‘/naṣb/jarr) depending on the case of the Man‘ūt.

The Maxim Is a Guide to Context: Not every sentence after a definite noun must be حال: it could be a predicate or a new independent statement. For an intended circumstantial nominal clause, a common link is و + pronoun: جاء الرجلُ وهو مبتسمٌ (The man came while he was smiling). The pronoun refers back to the man. Some circumstantial clauses use a pronoun alone or other licensed linking patterns; do not insert و into every verbal clause.

Likewise, هذا طالبٌ في الفصل can have في الفصل describing طالب or functioning as another predicate. The word طالبٌ is indefinite despite being preceded by هذا, because here هذا is the sentence subject, not a determiner attached to a definite noun.

Examples (5)

  1. هذا عملٌ ينفعُ الناسَ.

    This is a work that benefits people.

    Word by Word: This [is] a work [that] benefits the people.

    Here, 'yanfa‘u' (benefits) is a verb describing the indefinite noun '‘amalun' (a work). No relative pronoun is used.

  2. رأيتُ بنتاً وجهُها جميلٌ.

    I saw a girl whose face is beautiful.

    Word by Word: I saw a girl her face [is] beautiful.

    This is a nominal sentence (Jumla Ismiyya) describing the indefinite noun 'bintan'. The attached pronoun '-ha' (her) refers back to the girl.

  3. قرأتُ كتاباً أعجبني أسلوبُه.

    I read a book whose style I liked.

    Word by Word: I read a book liked me its style.

    The sentence 'a‘jabanī uslūbuhu' describes 'kitāban'. The attached pronoun '-hu' in 'uslūbuhu' (its style) is the 'returning pronoun' referring to the book.

  4. قابلتُ رجلاً أعرفُه منذُ زمنٍ.

    I met a man whom I have known for a long time.

    Word by Word: I met a man I know him since time.

    The attached pronoun '-hu' (him) in 'a‘rifuhu' refers back to the indefinite 'rajulan' (a man).

  5. هذا طالبٌ في الفصلِ.

    This is a student [who is] in the classroom.

    Word by Word: This [is] a student [who is] in the classroom.

    On the descriptive reading, في الفصل modifies indefinite طالبٌ. It can also be analysed as a further predicate. هذا is the subject and طالبٌ the first predicate.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'alladhī' or 'allatī' with an indefinite noun.

    قرأتُ كتاباً الذي يشرحُ التاريخَ.
    قرأتُ كتاباً يشرحُ التاريخَ.

    To attach this descriptive clause to indefinite كتابًا, use the clause directly. Definite antecedents include proper names and definite construct phrases as well as nouns with ال; relative pronouns also occur independently without an expressed antecedent.

  • Forgetting the returning pronoun when the noun is the object of the description.

    اشتريتُ بيتاً سكنتُ.
    اشتريتُ بيتاً سكنتُ فيه.

    In Arabic, you must say 'a house I lived IN IT'. The 'in it' (fīhi) contains the pronoun that links the sentence back to the house.

How It Connects

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Describing an Indefinite NounLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand how a sentence can describe an indefinite noun, you first need to recognize indefinite nouns via tanween and understand the basic concept of adjectives (na't). Since the description itself is a sentence, you must also be familiar with the two types of Arabic sentences (nominal and verbal).