Introduction to Pronouns and Their Grammatical Classification

1. Meaning and Features of Pronouns

● In this section, we will study the second major and frequently used type of definite noun in Arabic grammar: personal pronouns.
● We will learn that a word used in place of an explicit noun is called a pronoun.
● We will understand the difference between the two main kinds of pronouns: detached pronouns and attached pronouns.
● We will learn the detailed chart of detached pronouns in the nominative case.

2. Basic Features of Pronouns

● Always remember these two points about Arabic pronouns:
1. Pronouns are always definite: Because they stand in place of a specific noun, they are treated as definite in grammar.
2. Pronouns are always indeclinable: Their written form and pronunciation do not change when their grammatical position changes.
● When a pronoun comes at the beginning of a nominal sentence, it acts as the definite subject, and the following indefinite adjective becomes its predicate.

3. Pronouns in the Nominative Case (Detached Pronouns)

● Detached pronouns are used as independent words in the nominative case and function as the subject:
● Note: Arabic has no separate detached dual pronoun for the first person. نَحْنُ is used for both dual and plural.

PersonGenderSingularDualPlural
Third personMasculineهُوَ (he)هُمَا (they two)هُمْ (they)
Third personFeminineهِيَ (she)هُمَا (they two)هُنَّ (they)
Second personMasculineأَنْتَ (you)أَنْتُمَا (you two)أَنْتُمْ (you all)
Second personFeminineأَنْتِ (you)أَنْتُمَا (you two)أَنْتُنَّ (you all)
First personMasculine/feminineأَنَا (I)نَحْنُ (we)نَحْنُ (we)

4. Practical Examples of Pronouns as the Subject

● When detached pronouns come at the beginning of a nominal sentence, they become the subject, and the predicate agrees with them in gender and number:
○ Zayd is a student; he is hardworking. -> زَيْدٌ طَالِبٌ ، هُوَ مُجْتَهِدٌ
○ Fāṭimah is a female student; she is hardworking. -> فَاطِمَةُ طَالِبَةٌ ، هِيَ مُجْتَهِدَةٌ
○ You are truthful. -> أَنْتَ صَادِقٌ
○ You are truthful. -> أَنْتِ صَادِقَةٌ
○ I am a male teacher. -> أَنَا مُعَلِّمٌ
○ I am a female teacher. -> أَنَا مُعَلِّمَةٌ

5. Pronouns in the Accusative and Genitive Cases (Attached Pronouns)

● Attached pronouns join the end of a noun, verb, or particle and may be used as the second term of an iḍāfah:

PersonGenderSingularDualPlural
Third personMasculineـهُ (his/its)ـهُمَاـهُمْ
Third personFeminineـهَا (hers/its)ـهُمَاـهُنَّ
Second personMasculineـكَ (your)ـكُمَاـكُمْ
Second personFeminineـكِ (your)ـكُمَاـكُنَّ
First personMasculine/feminineـي (my/me)ـنَا (our/us)ـنَا