Chapter 4.2: Grammar in Context—Unreal Idafa and Imperatives
Learning Objectives
In this chapter, you will:
- Learn how to use Idafa structure for physical and personality description.
- Use the imperative form to give directions.
Grammar 1: Unreal Idafa
الإضافة غير الحقيقية
In the vocabulary section, you read some descriptive phrases for physical appearance. Note the following structure.
Examples
- أخي قصير الشعر = أخي شعره قصير
- أختي طويلة الشعر = أختي شعرها طويل
- والدي طيب القلب = والدي قلبه طيب
The structure of Idafa here consists of an indefinite adjective followed by a definite noun. It literally goes like “short of hair” or “kind of heart”. While this visually and structurally looks like Idafa, it does not function as one. This is why it is called unreal or untrue Idafa. It is frequently used in physical and personality descriptions, particularly in literary language. Note that the adjective follows the gender of the noun as always while the noun is always definite.
Activity 5: Match the Untrue Idafa
Match the untrue Idafa to its equivalent adjective phrase.
Activity 6: Untrue Idafa Structure Sentence
Provide equivalent sentences using untrue Idafa structure.
Grammar 2: Imperatives and Advice
الأمر والنصيحة
The imperative form is used to express a command, prohibition, request, advice, recommendation or directions. Study the following examples.
Examples
- ادرُس جيداً قبل الامتحان
- اكتبي الواجب قبل أن تنامي
- ساعدوا والدتكم في شغل البيت
The form of the imperative only occurs in second person with أنتَ , أنتِ and أنتم but you do not need to include the pronoun because it is already implied. The imperative takes the jussive mood of the verb مجزوم that you learned about when we talked about verb case markings. To form the imperative you first conjugate the verb with the intended pronoun then remove the pronoun prefix from it.
Example from the Verb كتب
- First conjugate with أنتَ you will get تكْتُب
- Then remove the pronoun prefix , you will get كْتُب
- Because it starts with a sukuun, we add hamzat wasl in the beginning.
- We will get اكتُب for masculine
- اكتُبي for feminine losing the ن because of the مجزوم case
- اكتبوا for plural losing the ن because of the مجزوم case
- Other verbs that do not start with sukuun, we do not need to add hamza wasl in the beginning. Verbs that have hamza in the beginning like أكل lose their alif in the imperative. Verbs that have a middle vowel like نام lose this middle vowel only with أنتَ. Weak verbs that end with a vowel lose it with أنتَ.
Study the following list of imperatives and discover the patterns:
| imperative (pl.) | Imperative (f.) | Imperative (m.) | Stem |
|---|---|---|---|
| اخرجوا | اخرُجي | اخرُج | خرج |
| اِلبسوا | اِلبسي | اِلبس | لبس |
| سافِروا | سافِري | سافِر | سافر |
| استخدموا | استخدمي | اسْتخدِم | استخدم |
| درِّسوا | درِّسي | درِّس | درّس |
| تخرّجوا | تخرّجي | تخرّج | تخرّج |
| تجنّبوا | تجنّبي | تجنّب | تجنّب |
| تناولوا | تناوَلي | تناوَل | تناول |
| أرسلوا | أرسلي | أرسِل | أرسل |
| ناموا | نامي | نَم | نام |
| كلوا | كُلي | كُل | أكل |
| امشوا | امشي | امش | مشى |
| استعدوا | استعدي | استعد | استعد |
| انتظروا | انتظِري | انتظِر | انتظر |
| اشتروا | اشتري | اشتر | اشترى |
- For prohibition, you simply add لا before the conjugated verb and keep the pronoun prefix but it will still be in the مجزوم mood and follow the rules of losing ن or weak vowels in the end.
Activity 7: Verb Forms in Context
Use the appropriate form of the verb based on context.
- There are some expressions that can be used to give advice or recommendation, and usually used instead of the imperative form to avoid the authoritative tone. Study the following examples and compare the tone in each.
Examples of Giving Advice
- يجب أن تشرب الكثير من الماء = اشرب الكثير من الماء
- من المهم أن تمارسي الرياضة يومياً = مارسي الرياضة يومياً
- عليكم أن تساعدوا والدتكم في البيت = ساعدوا والدتكم في البيت
- يجب الاهتمام بالدراسة = اهتم بالدراسة
Activity 8: Giving Advice
How would you give advice in the following situations? Think of alternating between commands, prohibition and recommendation.
- Your friend has a big exam tomorrow.
- Your friend wants to study Arabic abroad.
- Your brother is looking for a good college.
- Your classmates are planning a trip during the break.
- Your mother does not feel well since the morning.
- Your friend is asking for tips for a healthy life style.
Listen and read the lyrics. How many imperative forms did you see?
Key Takeaways
- I can provide detailed descriptions of persons.
- I can give directions and advice.
