A Hundred and One Rules in Arabic Grammar!

  1. 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    **  ** ****