Elementary Arabic Syntax 2
Vocative
What is a vocative?
A vocative is a noun that is brought to the listeners attention by a vocative preposition that represents the verb 'I call.' For example: یا رَجُلُ (O' man.)How many vocative prepositions are there?
There are four vocative prepositions: یا ، أیا ، أي ، أWhat forms does the vocative take?
A vocative can be:
• a proper noun, یا یوسفُ
• an intended indefinite noun, یا ثعلبُ (O' fox.)
• a non-intended indefinite noun, یا غافلاً (O' unaware person.)
• something similar to a prefixed noun and its compliment, یا عاملاً للخیرِ (O' worker of good.)
What states does the vocative take?
There are two states for vocatives: indeclinable on the nominative sign and the accusative state.When is the vocative indeclinable upon the nominative sign?
The vocative is made indeclinable on the nominative sign if it is a proper noun or an intended indefinite noun.When is the vocative in the accusative state?
The vocative is put into the accusative state if it is a non-intended indefinite noun, a prefixed noun, for example: یا عبدَ اللهِ , or an intended indefinite noun that is followed by an adjective, for example:
یا رجلاً شریفاً (O' dignified man.)How is a vocative with the alif-lām suffice formed?
A vocative that has the alif-lām suffix is put in the nominative state and preceded by:
• أیُّها or أیّتها , یا أیّها المسافرُ (O' traveler.)
• A demonstrative pronoun, یا هذا الثعلبُ (O' this fox.)
- What state does a noun after أیُّها or أیّتها have?
The word that comes after أیُّها or أیّتها is:
• a substitute if it is apolistic, یا أیّها الرَجلُ
• an adjective if it is non-apolistic, یا أیّها الفاضل (O' honored person.)
- How is the word Allah made into a vocative?
Sometimes the word Allah is put into the vocative form by using one of the vocative prepositions, for example: یا اللهُ . Sometimes it is put into the vocative form by adding a doubled mīm to the end of Allah, for example: اللّهُمَّ