Dropping a Preposition

Level 6

In formal Arabic, certain verbs can drop their required preposition. When this happens, the noun that was previously in the genitive case (ending in -i) shifts to the accusative case (ending in -a) to show it is now directly linked to the verb.

How It Works

This advanced grammatical phenomenon occurs when a verb that usually requires a preposition (intransitive or indirectly transitive) functions without it.

1. The Rule-Based Form (Qiyāsī):
This is most common in Modern Standard Arabic with the particles أن (an) and أنّ (anna). For example, instead of saying 'I marveled at that you came' (min an), one can say 'I marveled that you came' (an). This is permitted as long as the meaning remains clear.

2. The Idiomatic Form (Samā‘ī):
Certain verbs have been recorded in classical usage as allowing this drop. These include:

  • Verbs of Motion: Like دخل (enter) or سكن (inhabit). While we say 'entered the house' in English, in Arabic it is technically 'entered [into] the house'.
  • Specific Transitive Verbs: Verbs like اختار (choose [from]), استغفر (ask forgiveness [for]), and نصح (advise [to]).

3. Grammatical Effect:
When the preposition is removed, the noun loses its genitive status and takes the accusative case. Grammarians call this 'resembling a direct object' (tashbīh bi-l-maf‘ūl bihi) because the verb is not inherently transitive.

Examples (4)

  1. دَخَلْتُ المَسْجِدَ

    I entered the mosque.

    Word by Word: I-entered the-mosque(acc.)

    Technically, the verb 'enter' implies 'into' (fī). By dropping the preposition, 'al-masjida' takes the accusative case.

  2. نَصَحْتُكَ الصِّدْقَ

    I advised you to be truthful.

    Word by Word: I-advised-you the-truthfulness(acc.)

    The verb 'advise' usually takes the preposition 'bi'. Here it is dropped, and 'al-sidqa' becomes accusative.

  3. وَاخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا

    And Moses chose seventy men from his people.

    Word by Word: And-chose Moses his-people(acc.) seventy men

    A Quranic example where 'from' (min) is dropped, making 'qawmahu' (his people) accusative.

  4. عَجِبْتُ أَنْ تَحْضُرَ

    I marveled that you attended.

    Word by Word: I-marveled that you-attend

    The preposition 'min' (at/from) is dropped before the particle 'an'. This is the most common usage in MSA.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping prepositions with verbs that do not support this pattern.

    خَرَجْتُ الغُرْفَةَ
    خَرَجْتُ مِنَ الغُرْفَةِ

    The verb 'exit' (kharaja) does not allow the removal of the preposition 'min'. You must keep the preposition and the genitive case.

  • Dropping the preposition when it causes ambiguity.

    رَغِبْتُ أَنْ أُسَافِرَ
    رَغِبْتُ فِي أَنْ أُسَافِرَ

    The verb 'raghiba' means 'desire' with 'fī' but 'dislike' with '‘an'. If you drop the preposition, the listener won't know your intent. In such cases, the preposition is mandatory.

How It Connects

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

Dropping a PrepositionLevel 6

Learn This First

To understand the dropping of a preposition (حذف حرف الجر ونصب المجرور), you first need to know how prepositions normally function to change a noun's ending to the genitive case. You also need to be familiar with the accusative case (mansub), as the noun shifts to this case once the preposition is removed, and understand how certain verbs are traditionally paired with specific prepositions.