A Hundred and One Rules in Arabic Grammar!

  1. 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.**