A Descriptive Izafat Phrase
شہرِ قدیم → an old city.
How It Works
Ordinary Urdu commonly puts the adjective first. Izafat uses a different order: a noun, a short linking vowel, then a description. It often appears in formal writing, titles and familiar set phrases.
The link is commonly shown by زیر under the end of the first word. After a silent final ہ, a hamza above it can show the link, as in نکتۂ اہم. In text without vowel marks, you may need the phrase and context to recognize the connection.
The linking vowel is often represented as e or i in Roman writing. It is not the word ہے. Learn established phrases with their meaning; do not reverse every everyday adjective phrase mechanically.
Examples (4)
- شہرِ قدیم کی گلیاں تنگ ہیں۔
The streets of the old city are narrow.
قدیم describes شہر inside the phrase; کی then connects the phrase to گلیاں.
- اس مضمون میں ایک نکتۂ اہم بیان ہوا ہے۔
An important point has been made in this article.
The hamza above the final ہ shows the link to اہم.
- ادارے میں نظامِ جدید نافذ کیا گیا ہے۔
A new system has been introduced at the institution.
جدید follows the noun نظام in formal wording.
- یہ اصطلاح اب زبانِ عام کا حصہ ہے۔
This expression is now part of everyday language.
عام describes زبان, and the full phrase is related to حصہ.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Compare the ordinary adjective-before-noun order with the izafat order. Recognize the written linking mark attached to the first word.
Related Patterns
Practice A Descriptive Izafat Phrase in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Urdu lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
