See how Arabic builds clear meaning through subject, description, definiteness, and context.
◷ 24 min▥ Beginner♧ Core lesson
Day12of 100
Lesson Video
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Day 12 lesson video
When Two Words Become a Sentence
Arabic often forms a complete sentence without the word “is.” In الْمَسْجِدُ كَبِيرٌ, الْمَسْجِدُ is what we are talking about and كَبِيرٌ tells us about it: “The mosque is big.”
مَسْجِدٌ كَبِيرٌA big mosque: a phrase.الْمَسْجِدُ كَبِيرٌThe mosque is big: a sentence.
A definite first word with an indefinite description usually reads as a full sentence. When both words match in definiteness, they usually stay a phrase.
See It in the Qur’an
Read the Arabic order first, then add “is” only when smooth English needs it.
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِAllah is the light of the heavens and the earth.قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌSay: He is Allah, the One.مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِMuhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
Practice
Decide whether the words form a phrase or a complete sentence.
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