Arabic Grammar: al-Hal (The Circumstance/State)

Unit 6: Arabic Language - al-Hal (The Circumstance/State)

Objectives:

• Review the concepts of the nominal and verbal sentence structures.
• Understand the meaning of the word "فضلّة" (extra/additional) in the context of grammar.
• Understand the concepts of "al-hal" (circumstance/state) and "sahib al-hal" (the subject/one in that state).
• Identify the different forms/types in which "al-hal" appears in sentences.
• Understand the declension (اعراب) of "al-hal" in its various forms.
• Correctly use "al-hal" in self-composed sentences.

Types of Sentences in Arabic:

• Two main types are nominal and verbal.
• Nominal sentences start with a noun and consist of a subject (مبتدأ) and a predicate (خبر).
• Examples include "The day is bright," and "The sky is clear."
• Verbal sentences start with a verb and consist of a verb and a subject (فاعل).
• Examples include "The man came," and "The rain is falling."

Core vs. Additional Elements in a Sentence:

• Words in terms of their grammatical role are divided into core elements and additional elements.
• Sentences in Arabic are either nominal or verbal.
• Core elements of a nominal sentence are the subject and the predicate.
• Core elements of a verbal sentence are the verb and the subject.
• Sentences must contain these core elements.
• Any additional elements are considered "فضلة" (extras) and have a grammatical declension based on their position in the sentence.
• Excludes the rules governing the language in the Quran, but is meant for teaching Arabic.

Examples of Additional Elements (فضلة) in Arabic:

• Object of the verb (المفعول به): "David killed Goliath."
• Accompaniment with (المفعول معه): "O mountains, echo with him and the birds."
• Time of Action (المفعول فيه): "Travel with My servants by night; indeed, you will be pursued."
• Cause/Reason (المفعول لأجله): "And do not kill your children for fear of poverty."
• Adjective/Descriptor (النعت): "Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury."
• Conjunction (العطف): "It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop."
• Substitution/Appositive (البدل): "Guide us to the straight path - the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor."
• Circumstance (الحال): "So Moses returned to his people angry and grieved."
• Specification/Distinguisher (تمييز): "And We caused the earth to gush with springs."
• Exception (الاستثناء): "So the angels prostrated - all of them entirely - except Iblis."
• Prepositional Phrase (الجار والمجرور): "Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord."
• Some elements cannot be omitted but are still considered "فضلة" (extras) grammatically:
• Such as the "حال" in "We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play".
  • If removed, the meaning is impacted.

Understanding and Recognizing "al-Hal" (Circumstance):

• "Al-hal" is a description that is indefinite (نكرة).
• Comes after the completion of the core components of the sentence.
• Gramatically declensed in the accusative case (النصب)
• Clarifies the state or condition of the subject at the time of the action.