لا (النافية للجنس)

There Is No Such Thing

Level 3

The لا النافية للجنس (La of Absolute Negation) is the strongest way to say 'there is no... whatsoever.' It functions like إنّ and its sisters, changing the case of the noun that follows it.

How It Works

To use this pattern correctly, four main conditions must be met:

  • Indefiniteness: The noun must be indefinite. It cannot have the definite article nor can it be a proper noun. If the noun is definite, the negation is lost and the particle must be repeated (e.g., لا الطالبُ في الصفِّ ولا المعلمُ).
  • No Separation: Nothing can come between لا and the noun. If a phrase is moved to the front, the absolute negation is lost and repetition becomes mandatory (e.g., لا فيها غولٌ ولا هم عنها ينزفون).
  • No Preceding Preposition: The particle لا itself must not be preceded by a preposition. If it is (e.g., بلا شكٍّ), the noun becomes genitive.
  • The Predicate: The predicate (khabar) must also be indefinite, though it is often omitted in common phrases like لا شكَّ (no doubt), where the implied predicate is "existing" (موجود).

The Grammatical Result:
The noun's ending depends on its structure:
1. Single Words (Mabni): If the noun is a single word (not a phrase), it is "built" (mabni) on the sign of its accusative case without tanwin. For singular nouns and broken plurals, this is a bare fatha (e.g., لا رجلَ). For regular feminine plurals, it is built on a kasra (e.g., لا طالباتِ). For duals or masculine plurals, it ends in -ayni or -ina.
2. Possessive Phrases (Mu'rab): In an Idafa, the first noun is declinable and takes a single fatha. Crucially, if the noun is dual or a regular masculine plural, you must apply the rule of dropping the ن (e.g., لا صانعَي خيرٍ).
3. Resembling a Possessive (Mu'rab): If the noun is followed by something that completes its meaning (Shabih bi-al-Idafa), it is declinable and takes the full accusative tanwin. Unlike the Idafa, the letter ن is retained in duals and masculine plurals (e.g., لا طالعاً جبلاً or لا طالعَيْنِ جبلاً).

Examples (6)

  1. لا شَكَّ في ذٰلِكَ

    There is no doubt about that.

    Word by Word: No doubt in that.

    A very common academic phrase. 'Shakka' takes a single fatha because it is the object of absolute negation.

  2. لا بُدَّ مِنَ الدِّراسةِ

    Studying is a must (There is no escape from studying).

    Word by Word: No escape from the studying.

    'La budda' is a fixed expression meaning 'it is necessary' or 'it is inevitable.'

  3. لا أَحَدَ في البَيْتِ

    There is no one (whatsoever) in the house.

    Word by Word: No one in the house.

    This denies the presence of any person at all, rather than just a specific person.

  4. لا طالِبَ عِلْمٍ كَسولٌ

    No student of knowledge is lazy.

    Word by Word: No student (of) knowledge lazy.

    When the noun is part of an Idafa (possession) construction, it is accusative but takes a single fatha because it is a mudaaf.

  5. لا طالِباً عِلْماً كَسولٌ

    No seeker of knowledge is lazy.

    Word by Word: No seeker (of) knowledge lazy.

    This is called 'resembling a possessive' (Shabih bi-al-Idafa). In this specific case, the noun takes a full tanwin while remaining in the absolute negation pattern.

  6. لا في البَيْتِ رَجُلٌ ولا امْرَأَةٌ

    There is neither a man nor a woman in the house.

    Word by Word: No in the house man and no woman.

    If the noun is separated from 'la', the categorical negation is lost, and the particle must be repeated.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding tanwin (double vowels) to a singular noun.

    لا شَكّاً في ذٰلِكَ
    لا شَكَّ في ذٰلِكَ

    Singular nouns in this pattern are 'built' on the fatha and do not take tanwin.

  • Using a definite noun with the definite article 'al-'.

    لا الرَّجُلَ في الدّارِ
    لا رَجُلَ في الدّارِ

    Absolute negation only works with indefinite nouns. If you use 'al-', the grammar changes and the 'La' no longer functions this way.

  • Separating 'La' from its noun.

    لا في البَيْتِ رَجُلَ
    لا رَجُلَ في البَيْتِ

    If a prepositional phrase like 'in the house' comes first, the noun must return to the nominative case (rajulun) and the 'La' loses its special power.

How It Connects

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

لا (النافية للجنس)Level 3There Is No Such Thing

Learn This First

To understand 'la' of absolute negation, you need to be familiar with how certain particles change the case endings of nouns in a nominal sentence. Specifically, you must understand the accusative case (mansub) and how indefinite nouns behave when their nunation (tanween) is removed.

Words in This Pattern

لا النافية للجنس