بحيث

In Such a Way That

Level 4

بحيث (bi-ḥaythu) is a formal connector in Modern Standard Arabic used to link an action or arrangement to its specific result or manner. It translates to 'in such a way that' or 'whereby.'

How It Works

بحيث (bi-ḥaythu) is a compound connector formed from the preposition بـ and the adverb حيث, which originally means "where" in a locative sense. In Modern Standard Arabic, it is used to express result, manner, or a specific stipulation.

1. The Invariable Ending (Mabnī):
A crucial grammatical point for learners is that حيث is indeclinable (mabnī) on a damma. Even though it is preceded by the preposition بـ, which usually triggers the genitive case, the word remains بحيثُ. You must never say bi-ḥaythi.

2. Sentence Structure:

  • Because of its origin as a locative adverb, it must be followed by a full sentence. It is most commonly followed by a verbal sentence in the indicative mood. Unlike particles like لكي or أن, it does not change the verb to the subjunctive.
  • It can also introduce a nominal sentence, often using the bridge بحيث إنّ.... While modern media sometimes uses anna, classical grammar and formal writing prefer إنّ after any form of حيث.

3. Usage and Nuance:
بحيث focuses on the manner or arrangement that leads to a result. It is the preferred choice in technical, legal, and academic contexts when describing how something is set up to achieve a specific state or to meet a certain stipulation (e.g., "He organized the files in such a way that they are easy to find"). It should not be confused with logical conditional particles like إذا.

Examples (4)

  1. رتبتُ الكتبَ بحيثُ يسهلُ الوصولُ إليها.

    I arranged the books in such a way that it is easy to access them.

    Word by Word: I-arranged the-books in-where it-is-easy the-access to-them.

    Here, بحيث describes the specific manner of arrangement. Note that the verb يسهلُ remains in the indicative mood.

  2. صُمِّمَ البرنامجُ بحيثُ يكونُ بسيطاً للمستخدم.

    The program was designed so that it is simple for the user.

    Word by Word: Was-designed the-program in-where it-is simple for-the-user.

    This example shows the resultative function, explaining the specific arrangement the program was put into during design.

  3. يجبُ طلاءُ الجدارِ بحيثُ لا تظهرُ الشقوقُ.

    The wall must be painted in such a way that the cracks do not show.

    Word by Word: Must painting the-wall in-where not they-appear the-cracks.

    بحيث is used here to set a stipulation or specific requirement for how the painting should be done.

  4. تم تعديل الخطة بحيث إنّ الجميعَ موافقون.

    The plan was amended in such a way that everyone is in agreement.

    Word by Word: Was amendment the-plan in-where that the-everyone agreeing.

    This demonstrates the use of بحيث followed by a nominal sentence. In formal Arabic, إنّ is used after حيث (and its compounds) rather than أنّ.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the subjunctive mood after بحيث.

    رتبتُ الغرفة بحيثُ يسهلَ التحرك.
    رتبتُ الغرفة بحيثُ يسهلُ التحرك.

    Learners often confuse بحيث with particles like لكي which require the subjunctive (-a ending). بحيث usually takes the indicative (-u ending).

  • Using بحيث to mean 'because'.

    غبتُ عن العمل بحيثُ كنتُ مريضاً.
    غبتُ عن العمل لأنني كنتُ مريضاً.

    بحيث describes manner or result, not cause. To say 'because,' use لأن or simply 'ḥaythu inna' (حيث إن) without the 'bi-' prefix.

How It Connects

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

بحيثLevel 4In Such a Way That

Learn This First

To understand 'بحيث' (in such a way that), you need to be familiar with its component parts: the preposition 'بـ' and the adverb 'حيث'. Additionally, since it functions as a conjunction linking a main clause to a subordinate clause describing manner or result, you should be comfortable with basic Arabic sentence construction.

Words in This Pattern

حيثب