LessonsIstifhām: Conception, Assent, and the Interrogative HamzaQuiz

الْهَمْزَةُ وَهَلْ وَمَا وَمَنْ وَأَيٌّ وَكَمْ وَكَيْفَ وَأَيْنَ وَأَنَّى وَمَتَى وَأَيَّانَ
Hamza, hal, mā, man, ayy, kam, kayfa, ayna, annā, matā, and ayyāna.

The interrogatives differ in the kind of information they seek. Hamza and hal can operate over a clause’s assertion, whereas mā, man, ayy, kam, kayfa, ayna, annā, matā, and ayyāna typically identify an unknown of a particular kind.

Recognizing the list is only a beginning. The reader must also ask what category of information each form requests and how it marks the relevant part of the sentence. Hal and the other expressions receive detailed treatment in subsequent lessons.

Opening interactive controls...

The interrogative expressions

Istifhām: Conception, Assent, and the Interrogative Hamza

الْهَمْزَةُ وَهَلْ وَمَا وَمَنْ وَأَيٌّ وَكَمْ وَكَيْفَ وَأَيْنَ وَأَنَّى وَمَتَى وَأَيَّانَ
Hamza, hal, mā, man, ayy, kam, kayfa, ayna, annā, matā, and ayyāna.

The interrogatives differ in the kind of information they seek. Hamza and hal can operate over a clause’s assertion, whereas mā, man, ayy, kam, kayfa, ayna, annā, matā, and ayyāna typically identify an unknown of a particular kind.

Recognizing the list is only a beginning. The reader must also ask what category of information each form requests and how it marks the relevant part of the sentence. Hal and the other expressions receive detailed treatment in subsequent lessons.