A Hundred and One Rules in Arabic Grammar!
- Definiteness in Arabic. ===========================
As you might have noticed in the phrases in point #11 above, adjectives in Arabic usually follow nouns and agree with them in terms of number, gender, case, and definiteness/indefiniteness.
a. small book کتابٌ صغيرٌ
** b. the small book الکتابُ صغيرٌ**
If an adjective completely agrees with its noun in every aspect, then you have a phrase, as in examples (a) and (b) below. However, if a noun (subject) is definite and its adjective (predicate) is indefinite you have a sentence, as in (c).
(a) a new house بيتٌ جديدٌ
(b) the new house البيتُ الجديدُ
(c) The house is newالبيتُ جديدٌ ** ** ****