Elementary Arabic Syntax 1

Incohative of a Verb Kana or One of its sisters and the Predicate of the Preposition Inna or One of its Sisters

  1. What is kana?
    Kana is a verb that is placed before an inchoative and a predicate and puts the inchoative in the nominative case and puts the predicate in the accusative case. For example: کانَ البَردُ قارساً (The cold weather was severe.)

  2. What is inna?
    Inna is a preposition that is placed before an inchoative and a predicate and puts the inchoative in accusative case and the predicate in the nominative case. For example: ﺇنّ البَردَ قارسٌ (Verily, the cold weather is severe.)

  3. Are there other verbs that perform the same action as kana?
    There are twelve verbs that perform the same action as kana and are called kana's sisters. They are:

اصبَحَ اضحیَ ظَلّ باتَ امسیَ مازالَ مابَرَحَ ماانفَکّ مافَتِیَ مادامَ صارَ لَیسَ

  1. Are there other prepositions that perform the same action as inna?
    There are five prepositions that perform the same action as inna and are called inna's sisters. They are:

ﺃنّ کأنّّ لکنّ لَیتَ لَعَلّ