Nawaasikh Verbs in Arabic

The Text Summarized

• Nawaasikh verbs modify the grammatical function of noun phrases in a sentence.
• They change the subject and predicate roles to "Ism" (name) and "Khabar" (predicate) of the modifying verb.

Nawaasikh

• Nawaasikh verbs are classified as verbs or letters.
• Verbal Nawaasikh are categorized into three groups: "Kaan" and its sisters, "Kaad" and its sisters, "Zhan" and its sisters.
• Letter Nawaasikh are categorized into "In" and its sisters, and "La" (the negative).

Kan and its Sisters

• "Kan" and its sisters alter the grammatical roles of noun phrases.
• Key verbs include: "Kaan" (to be), "Asbaha" (to become morning), "Adha" (to become midday), "Amsa" (to become evening), "Baa" (to spend the night), "Saar" (to become), "Zhala" (to remain), "Laysa" (not to be), "Maa Zaala" (not to cease), "Maa Baraha" (not to leave), "Maa Fat’a" (not to stop), "Maa Nafaka" (not to separate), and "Maa Daama" (not to continue).

The Effect of Kan and its Sisters

• These verbs change the sentence's structure by modifying subject and predicate roles.
• The subject becomes the "Ism" and the predicate becomes the "Khabar" of the modifying verb.
• The original subject and predicate roles are nullified. The "Ism" is nominative (Mubtada) and "Khabar" is accusative (Khabar).

Identifying the Ism and Khabar

• Find the "Ism" (name) by asking "who" or "what" before the verb.
• Find the "Khabar" (predicate) by asking "what happened" or "how" after the "Ism".

The Classification of Verbs

• "Kan" and its sisters are imperfect verbs (naaqis).
• They are complete in conjugation (taam al-tasrif), appearing in all tenses (past, present, imperative).

Maa Zaala, Maa Baraha, Maa Fat’a, and Maa Nafaka

• These verbs are imperfect in conjugation (naaqis al-tasrif), only appearing in past and present tenses.
• They require the negation particle "Maa".
• "Maa" is a circumstantial connective particle (maa al-zariif al-musdarriyah).

"Laysa" and "Maa Daama"

• "Laysa" and "Maa Daama" are fixed or frozen verbs (jaamid).
• They only appear in the past tense.
• "Maa Daama" cannot be used in the present tense.

Key Concepts

• Nawaasikh
• Kan and its sisters
• Ism and Khabar
• Complete in conjugation (taam al-tasrif)
• Imperfect in conjugation (naaqis al-tasrif)
• Fixed or frozen verbs (jaamid)

Important Examples

• "Al-Qissa Masliyah" (The Story Is Entertaining)
• "Saara Al-Maa Saafiyah" (The Water Became Clear)
• "Maa Zaala Al-Jundi Makanaho" (The Soldier Did Not Leave His Position)
• "Min Fakka Al-Sadiqaan Mukhlisian" (The Friends Did Not Stop Being Loyal)

Exercise Examples

• "Al-Qalb Mashghul" (The heart is occupied)
• "Al-Harb Zhalat Qaimatin" (The war remained ongoing)
• "Baat Al-Fida’i Mut’ahhizan" (The Partisan Spent the Night Prepared to Fight)

Noun with "alif" as a sign of raising

• A noun is raised with "alif" if it is dual.

Noun with "waw" as a sign of raising

• A noun is raised with "waw" if it is a sound masculine plural.

Types of Nouns

• Three types of nouns: single word, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.

Raising and Nominative Case

• Three ways to raise a noun in the nominative case: with damma, alif, or waw .

Accusative Case

• Four signs of accusative case: fatha, kasra, alif, ya'.

Types of Accusative Case Signs

• One main sign (fatha), other signs are secondary.

"Kan" (was) and its Sisters

• Examples: "Kaan" (was), "Asbaha" (became), "Adha" (became midday), "Amsa" (became evening), "Baat" (spent the night), "Saar" (became), "Zhala" (remained).

"Mazaal" (still) and its Friends

• Examples: "Maa Zaala" (not to cease), "Maa Baraha" (not to leave), "Maa Fat'a" (not to stop), "Maa Nafaka" (not to separate).

Fixed Verbs

• Examples: "Laysa" (not), "Maa Daama" (as long as)

Verb Conjugation

• "Kan" and its sisters are fully conjugated (past, present, imperative).
• "Mazaal" and its friends are imperfect (past, present only).
• Fixed verbs only appear in the past tense.

The Subject of "Kan" and its Sisters

• The subject can be a noun or pronoun. If a pronoun, it takes the subject position.

Types of "kan" Predicates

• Single word predicate, noun phrase predicate, and verb phrase predicate.

Predicate Analysis

• Determine predicate type by asking "what?" after the subject of "Kan".

Noun Phrase Predicate

• Noun phrase predicates consist of two words: pronoun referencing the subject, and the predicate.

Types of Phrases

• Noun phrase, verb phrase, and prepositional phrase.

Predicate of the Noun Phrase

• Look for a noun phrase functioning as a noun.

"Kan" and its Sisters in Action

• Introduces nominal clauses (subject and predicate). "Kan" raises the subject and lowers the predicate .

Identifying "Kan" and its Sisters

• Identify via "kan"/"mazaal" pattern.

Noun Phrase Predicate Explained

• The phrase must include a pronoun referring to the subject, and the second word is the predicate.

Identifying the Predicate in a Sentence

• Ask "what happened to the subject?" The answer, starting with a verb, is the predicate.

Predicate Types

• Predicate verb (simply a verb), predicate noun (a noun).

Identifying the Predicate in Sentences with "Kan" and "Kan Wa-Akhwat-ha"

• "Kan Wa-Akhwat-ha" are auxiliary verbs. They can be complete or incomplete.
• Incomplete: Determine by asking "what happened to the subject?" If the answer does not fit, it's usually a complete verb.
• Complete/Tama: Subject is the doer. In these cases, the subject is the doer.
• Incomplete/Naaqisa: If asking what happened results in a predicate verb, the verb is incomplete.
• Predicate noun/verb: Start by asking "what happened to the subject?"
• If with verb, predicate verb (incomplete)
• With noun, predicate noun (incomplete).

"Kan Wa-Akhwat-ha" and Predicate Nouns/Verbs

• Predicate noun is the thing the subject is/is not.
• Predicate verb is the action the subject is/is not performing.

Predicate Phrases

• Predicate phrases are groups of words (noun, verb).
• Predicate phrases in "Kan Wa-Akhwat-ha" sentences are always incomplete.

The "Ma-Zala"Verb

• "Ma-Zala" is incomplete("Naaqisa") when meaning "still"
• Complete ("Tama") when describing a process or action.
• Complete "Ma-Zala": Sentence can be rephrased with "to be."
• Incomplete "Ma-Zala": Sentence can be rephrased with "still."

"Laysa" and Predicate Nouns / Verbs

• Predicate noun is what the subject is not.
• Predicate verb is the action the subject is not performing

Identifying Predicate Phrases

• Ask "What happened to the subject?" The answer is the predicate phrase.