Two Kinds of Sentence

Foundations

Arabic has two main sentence structures: the Nominal Sentence (starts with a noun) and the Verbal Sentence (starts with a verb). This choice determines the focus and the grammar rules that follow.

How It Works

In Arabic grammar, the underlying topic–predicate or verb–subject structure determines the traditional sentence classification, even if a particle like هل or إنّ comes before it.

1. The Nominal Sentence (الجملة الاسمية)
This sentence starts with a noun or a pronoun. It is used to describe facts, identities, or states. It consists of two parts:

  • The Subject (المبتدأ): The topic you are talking about.
  • The Predicate (الخبر): The information or 'comment' about that topic. These two parts together form the Subject and Comment structure.

A unique feature of Arabic is the sentences with no verb. In a basic nominal sentence, both parts are in the nominative case (Marfu'). However, if the sentence starts with إنّ, the subject changes to the accusative case (Mansub). If the predicate contains a verb, it must agree with the subject, though non-human plurals are treated as feminine singular.

2. The Verbal Sentence (الجملة الفعلية)
This sentence starts with a verb. It is the standard way to narrate stories or report news. It consists of:

  • The Verb (الفعل): The action.
  • The Doer (الفاعل): The performer of the action.

In this structure, the verb usually comes before the subject. The doer must be in the nominative case (Marfu'). While the verb stays singular if it precedes a dual or plural human subject, gender agreement is required, keeping in mind that non-human plurals trigger feminine singular agreement.

Why does it matter?
Starting with a noun emphasizes who or what you are talking about, while starting with a verb emphasizes the action. Understanding this binary system and the use of case endings is the first step to becoming proficient in sentence construction.

Definiteness and Hidden Subjects: A basic topic is typically definite and its descriptive predicate indefinite: الطَّالِبُ ذَكِيٌّ. These are defaults, not bans on every indefinite topic or definite predicate. With a dual subject after the verb, use ذَهَبَ الطَّالِبَانِ. A verb can also carry a hidden subject: أَكْتُبُ (I write) contains understood أنا. In الطَّالِبُ يَكْتُبُ, الطالب is the topic and the predicate verb contains understood هو referring back to it.

Examples (6)

  1. الطالب ذكي.

    The student is smart.

    Word by Word: The student smart.

    A Nominal Sentence starting with a noun. It describes a state without needing a verb for 'is'.

  2. قرأ الطالب الكتاب.

    The student read the book.

    Word by Word: Read the student the book.

    A Verbal Sentence starting with a verb. This is the most common way to describe an action.

  3. هو مدرس.

    He is a teacher.

    Word by Word: He teacher.

    A Nominal Sentence starting with a pronoun. Pronouns are treated as nouns in this system.

  4. سافر الأولاد إلى لندن.

    The boys traveled to London.

    Word by Word: Traveled the boys to London.

    A Verbal Sentence. Notice the verb 'travel' is singular even though 'boys' is plural.

  5. الأولاد سافروا إلى لندن.

    The boys, they traveled to London.

    Word by Word: The boys traveled (plural) to London.

    A Nominal Sentence where the 'comment' contains a verb. Here, the verb must match the plural subject.

  6. إِنَّ الكُتُبَ مُفِيدَةٌ.

    The books are indeed useful.

    Word by Word: Indeed the books useful (feminine singular).

    إنّ makes its noun الكتبَ accusative; its predicate مفيدةٌ remains nominative. The nonhuman plural takes the ordinary feminine singular adjective.

Common Mistakes

  • Trying to translate the English word 'is' in a nominal sentence.

    الطالب يكون ذكي.
    الطالب ذكي.

    In the present tense, Arabic does not use a verb for 'to be' in simple descriptive sentences.

  • Using a plural verb at the start of a sentence for a plural subject.

    ذهبوا الأولاد.
    ذهب الأولاد.

    In a Verbal Sentence (verb-first), the verb must remain singular even if the subject is plural.

How It Connects

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Two Kinds of SentenceFoundations

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