● We have learned that the subject (mubtadaʾ) is usually definite. One major way to make an indefinite noun definite is to add al- at its beginning.
● When al- is added to a noun, its tanwīn is removed and a single ḍammah remains.
● Important rule: When the subject in a sentence is definite with al-, the predicate remains indefinite and keeps tanwīn. Al- is added only to the subject, not to the predicate.
● Examples:
○ The boy is righteous. -> اَلْوَلَدُ صَالِحٌ
■ Here, اَلْوَلَدُ is the subject. Because of al-, it has a single ḍammah.
■ صَالِحٌ is the predicate. It is indefinite and nominative (marfūʿ), with two ḍammahs.
○ The girl is righteous. -> اَلْبِنْتُ صَالِحَةٌ
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The Rule for a Subject Made Definite with Al-
Definite with al as the subject (mubtadaʾ)
● We have learned that the subject (mubtadaʾ) is usually definite. One major way to make an indefinite noun definite is to add al- at its beginning.
● When al- is added to a noun, its tanwīn is removed and a single ḍammah remains.
● Important rule: When the subject in a sentence is definite with al-, the predicate remains indefinite and keeps tanwīn. Al- is added only to the subject, not to the predicate.
● Examples:
○ The boy is righteous. -> اَلْوَلَدُ صَالِحٌ
■ Here, اَلْوَلَدُ is the subject. Because of al-, it has a single ḍammah.
■ صَالِحٌ is the predicate. It is indefinite and nominative (marfūʿ), with two ḍammahs.
○ The girl is righteous. -> اَلْبِنْتُ صَالِحَةٌ