.: Anna :.
03-06-05, 11:23 AM
BACKGROUND
The Arabic language has 3 "cases". (This system may be familiar to you if you have ever studied Russian or German, but if not, don't worry :) ) They are shown by the choice of either damma, kasra or fatha (the three short vowel signs) on the last letter of the word.
The "U case" (or nominative) can be seen to be the default case. It is for the subject of the sentence. (The phrase "U case" means that it takes damma on the last letter)
(Cases are going to be covered properly in a full lesson or maybe more insha allah. You do not need to worry about it yet, just be aware of their existence.)
LESSON
ال is the Arabic "definiate article", ie it means "The". Unlike in English, it is written attached to the following word with no space between them.
There is no Arabic word for "a" or "an". When you see the word with no definate article, and it has "tanween" on the last letter, then "a" is implied.
Tanween means that there are two of the vowel signs instead of one.
eg
بابٌ
[baab(un)] A door
البابُ
[Al baab(u)] The door
The Arabic language has 3 "cases". (This system may be familiar to you if you have ever studied Russian or German, but if not, don't worry :) ) They are shown by the choice of either damma, kasra or fatha (the three short vowel signs) on the last letter of the word.
The "U case" (or nominative) can be seen to be the default case. It is for the subject of the sentence. (The phrase "U case" means that it takes damma on the last letter)
(Cases are going to be covered properly in a full lesson or maybe more insha allah. You do not need to worry about it yet, just be aware of their existence.)
LESSON
ال is the Arabic "definiate article", ie it means "The". Unlike in English, it is written attached to the following word with no space between them.
There is no Arabic word for "a" or "an". When you see the word with no definate article, and it has "tanween" on the last letter, then "a" is implied.
Tanween means that there are two of the vowel signs instead of one.
eg
بابٌ
[baab(un)] A door
البابُ
[Al baab(u)] The door