A Hundred and One Rules in Arabic Grammar!
- The Relative Pronouns ضَمائرَ الوصل ========================================
The Relative Pronouns ضَمائرَ الوصل are used to introduce subordinate adjectival clauses and therefore create complex sentences. The choice of such pronouns depends on the antecedent's number and gender.
** الذي** ** ** is used for masculine singular.
** التي** is used for feminine singular.
** اللواتي** is used for feminine plural.
** الذينَ** ** ** is used for masculine plural.
a. If the antecedent is part of the subject phrase, the relative clause is embedded inside the main sentence.
**الرَّجُلُالذي سألَ عَنها هُنا.**
b. If the antecedent is part of the object phrase/predicate, then the relative close follows the main sentence.
**قابَلتُ الرَّجُلَ** الذي سألَ عَنها **. **
c. If the antecedent is indefinite, you do not need to use a relative pronoun.
**قابَلتُ رَجَُلا ً** سألَ عَنها **. **
d. Sometimes you will encounter a sentence with a relative pronoun and a relative clause, in which the antecedent is absent, but still understood.
**الذي دَرَّسَني العَربيَّة َ اُستاذ ٌ مصريٌّ.**
Originally, this sentence is:
** (الأستاذ ُ) الذي دَرَّسَني العَربيَّة َ اُستاذ ٌ مصريٌّ.**