The Pronoun Left Behind

Level 3

In Arabic, every relative clause (the sentence following 'who' or 'which') must contain a 'resumptive pronoun' (ʿāʾid) that refers back to the noun. Unlike English, which leaves a gap, Arabic fills that slot with a pronoun.

How It Works

The al-ʿāʾid (العائد) is a fundamental requirement of the relative clause in Modern Standard Arabic. Its primary job is to ensure the relative clause is syntactically connected to the noun it modifies. While a similar pronoun, called a rābiṭ (رابط), performs this function in a descriptive clause for an indefinite noun, the al-ʿāʾid is specific to clauses following a relative pronoun.

There are three ways the al-ʿāʾid appears:

  • Hidden (Mustatir): When the noun is the subject of the verb in the relative clause. For example, in 'The man who traveled,' the 'he' is hidden inside the verb سافر.
  • Attached Suffix (Muttaṣil): When the noun is the object of the verb or follows a preposition. Unlike English, you must usually say 'The house I lived in it' (فيه).
  • Independent (Munfaṣil): Used as the subject in a nominal sentence (a sentence without a verb).

While the al-ʿāʾid is generally required, it can be omitted in specific formal contexts:

  • As a Direct Object: Frequently omitted when it functions as a direct object, especially with what and whoever.
  • As a Prepositional Object: Omission is possible only if the preposition and the governing verb in the relative clause are identical to those used with the antecedent in the main clause.
  • As a Subject (Ṣadr al-Ṣila): The subject pronoun can be omitted only if the predicate is a single word (mufrad). It cannot be omitted if the predicate is a prepositional phrase or an adverb.

Examples (4)

  1. الرسالةُ التي كتبتُها طويلةٌ.

    The letter that I wrote is long.

    Word by Word: The letter which I wrote it long.

    The suffix '-hā' (it) is the ʿāʾid referring back to 'the letter' (al-risāla).

  2. هذا هو الصديقُ الذي أعتمدُ عليهِ.

    This is the friend whom I rely on.

    Word by Word: This he the friend who I rely on him.

    The suffix '-hi' (him) attached to the preposition 'ʿalā' is the ʿāʾid referring to 'the friend'.

  3. الرجلُ الذي سافرَ أمسِ جارِي.

    The man who traveled yesterday is my neighbor.

    Word by Word: The man who [he] traveled yesterday my neighbor.

    The ʿāʾid here is the hidden pronoun 'he' inside the verb 'sāfara'.

  4. الكتبُ التي اشتريتُها مفيدةٌ.

    The books that I bought are useful.

    Word by Word: The books which I bought them useful.

    Because 'books' is a non-human plural, the ʿāʾid '-hā' is feminine singular.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving a 'gap' like in English.

    البيت الذي سكنتُ جميل.
    البيت الذي سكنتُ فيهِ جميل.

    In English, we say 'The house I lived in.' In Arabic, the pronoun that refers back must be written when it belongs to a preposition, so you need 'in it' (fīhi). An object pronoun after a verb can sometimes be dropped, but not one that belongs to a preposition.

  • Gender mismatch between the noun and the ʿāʾid.

    البنت التي رأيتُه في المدرسة.
    البنت التي رأيتُها في المدرسة.

    The pronoun suffix must match the noun. Since 'the girl' is feminine, you must use '-hā' (her) instead of '-hu' (him).

How It Connects

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

The Pronoun Left BehindLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand the 'pronoun left behind' (al-ʿāʾid), you must first be familiar with how relative clauses are formed using relative pronouns. Since this pronoun functions as a link back to the antecedent, you need to understand how pronouns attach to verbs (as objects) and prepositions, as these are the most common forms the 'returning pronoun' takes in Arabic.