Chapter 3.2: Grammar in Context—Relative Pronouns and Verb Patterns
Learning Objectives
In this chapter, you will:
- Expand your sentences using relative pronouns and other expressions.
- Expand your verb usage through knowledge of patterns.
Grammar 1: Relative Pronouns
الاسم الموصول
A relative pronoun is used to introduce an adjectival clause called جملة الصفة, which is mostly a verbal phrase that modifies a noun. In this section, we are focusing on three relative pronouns that you have already seen in previous reading material, namely الّذي, which is used for masculine singular human or nonhuman, الّتي, which is used for feminine singular human or nonhuman as well as for nonhuman plurals, and الذين, which is used for masculine or mixed gender human plurals.
These particles are translated as (who/that/which) depending on context. In Arabic, they can be implicit if the antecedent is indefinite as in the following examples.
Relative Pronoun Examples
أعرف طالباً يتكلم أربع لغات I know a student who speaks four languages.
Or it can be explicitly mentioned as in:
أعرف الطالب الذي يتكلم أربع لغات I know the student who speaks four languages.
Important: If the modified noun functions as anything other than the subject of the verb in the relative clause, you must attach a linker pronoun either to the verb itself or the preposition that goes with the verb. Notice this in the following examples.
Linker Pronoun Examples
- الفيلم الذي شاهدته ممل The movie that I watched (it) is boring.
- الشقة التي أسكن فيها صغيرة The apartment that I live in (it) is small.
- الطلاب الذين أسكن معهم ممتازون The students with whom I live (they) are excellent.
Study the following review of the adjective sentence.
For more insight into the concept, watch the following video. Note that they refer to the dual form, which is interesting to follow.
Activity 6: Relative Pronouns
Grammar 2: Verb Patterns II and V
أوزان الفعل
From previous exposure, you may have noticed that verb patterns carry certain meanings or implications. The focus in this section is on the contrast between form II and form V.
Study these examples for form II.
Form II Examples
Form II الوزن الثاني
فعّل - يُفعّل - تفعيل
Causative: ذَكَّرَ، سَمَّعَ، دَخَّلَ، خَرَّجَ، قَرَّبَ، بسّط ، جدّد to renew, to simplify, to bring closer, to let something out, to put something in, to let someone hear, to remind someone
Transitive (needs an object): غَيّر to change something; علّم to teach someone; أخّر to make someone or something late
Intensive of Frequentative: (to do again and again) قَطَّعَ، كَسَّرَ to break; to cut down
Compare with form V.
Form V Examples
Form V الوزن الخامس
تفعّل - يتفعّل - تفعُّل
Reflexive: (The action indicated by the form II verb is viewed as being undergone by the subject of the form V verb.) تَعَلَّمَ، تَخَرَّجَ، تذكّر، تَغَيَّرَ
Intransitive (does not need an object): تعلّم to make oneself learn; تغيّر to make oneself change; تذكّر to make oneself remember
Compare the following sentences between the two patterns.
| Form V | Form II |
|---|---|
| تعلّمتُ كثيراً من الحياة I learned a lot from life. |
الحياة علّمتني الكثير Life has taught me a lot. |
| لم أتذكّر موعد الدكتور I did not remember the doctor's appointment. |
والدي ذكّرني بموعد الدكتور My father reminded me of the doctor's appointment. |
| تغيّر لون الغرفة The color of the room has changed. |
أريد أن أغيّر لون الغرفة I want to change the color of the room. |
| التكنولوجيا تتغيّر بسرعة Technology changes fast. |
التكنولوجيا غيّرت حياتنا Technology changed our lives. |
| خرجت مع أصدقائي لأتسوّق في المول I went out with friend to shop at the mall. |
الشركة تريد أن تسوّق المنتج الجديد The company wants to market the new product. |
For more insight on the comparison, watch the following video.
Activity 7: Verb Patterns
Grammar 3: Sentences with (it is ...)
من + الصفة
Read and learn these expressions. Translate with your classmate as in the given examples.
Examples
- من اللازم أن أنتهي من واجبي قبل أن أنام
It is necessary to finish my homework before I sleep. - كان من الصعب أن أصحو مبكراً لأني سهرت أمس
It was difficult to wake up early because I stayed up late yesterday. - ليس من السهل شراء بيت جديد
- من الجميل الاستماع إلى الموسيقى صباحاً
- من الممل أن نجلس في البيت طوال اليوم
- من الواجب أن أرتب الغرفة = يجب أن أرتب الغرفة
The previous examples show the way you express sentences with (it is blank). In Arabic, these sentences are expressed literally as you see in example 1 (from the necessary to finish my homework). The typical structure starts with من, followed by the definite adjective, then أن + verb or the masadr as you see in example 4 (from the beautiful listening to music in the morning).
Another relevant, common expression in Arabic is found in statements with "should" in sentences like "we should" or "I should." The equivalent of this in Arabic is the default يجب, which is not conjugated itself but is followed by the conjugated verb. Alternatively, it can be followed by المصدر to give the implication of general advice or recommendation. So when we say يجب الاهتمام باللغة العربية, we imply an impersonal statement to whom it may concern, with the meaning that one should pay attention to Arabic language. This is usually found in formal Arabic through academic essays or formal articles discussing general issues.
Activity 8: Practice the New Expressions
Key Takeaways
- I can express extended sentences using relative pronouns and adjective sentences.
- I can distinguish and express different meanings using verb patterns.
