Relative Nouns and Their Completing Clauses

1. What Will We Learn?

● We will understand how a relative noun connects a known noun to further information about it.
● We will choose the correct form for gender, number, and—for the dual—case.
● We will distinguish the relative noun from its completing clause, the ṣilat al-mawṣūl.
● We will build clear sentences with nominal clauses and prepositional or adverbial phrases as the ṣilah.

2. What Does a Relative Expression Do?

A relative expression connects a noun to information that identifies or describes it. The relative noun by itself is incomplete; the words after it explain whom or what is meant.

Known noun
Relative noun
Further information

the student
who
is hardworking

the man
who
is with you

3. مَا and مَنْ as Relative Forms

The familiar forms مَا and مَنْ can also connect a statement to what or whom it describes. In this use, they are not asking a question.

Form
Relative sense
Example

مَا
what / whatever
لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

مَنْ
who / whoever
فَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَنْ يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ

4. Singular and Plural Relative Nouns

Number
Gender
Relative noun
Meaning

singular
masculine
الَّذِي
the one who / that

singular
feminine
الَّتِي
the one who / that

plural
masculine
الَّذِينَ
those who

plural
feminine
اللَّاتِي / اللَّائِي
those women who

5. Dual Relative Nouns Change with Case

Gender
Nominative
Accusative / genitive

masculine dual
الَّذَانِ
الَّذَيْنِ

feminine dual
اللَّتَانِ
اللَّتَيْنِ

Choose the dual form from the case required by its position in the sentence.

6. Built Forms and the Dual Exception

The relative nouns in this lesson are built forms except the dual forms. The dual forms show the nominative or accusative/genitive distinction in their endings.

Category
Behavior

singular and plural relative nouns
built (mabnī)

dual relative nouns
inflected for case

7. What Is Ṣilat al-Mawṣūl?

Because a relative noun is incomplete by itself, it is followed by material that removes the ambiguity. This completing material is called ṣilat al-mawṣūl. It may be:

Type of ṣilah
What it looks like

nominal sentence
a subject and predicate

verbal sentence
a verb with what completes it

phrase resembling a sentence
a prepositional or adverbial phrase

The relative noun and its ṣilah together function as one part of the larger sentence.

8. Analyze a Nominal-Clause Ṣilah

الطَّالِبُ الَّذِي هُوَ مُجْتَهِدٌ ابْنُ زَيْدٍ

Part
Text
Role

known noun
الطَّالِبُ
the student being described

relative noun
الَّذِي
masculine singular connector

ṣilah
هُوَ مُجْتَهِدٌ
nominal sentence: he is hardworking

main predicate
ابْنُ زَيْدٍ
is the son of Zayd

9. Analyze a Phrase as the Ṣilah

الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي عِنْدَكَ كَاذِبٌ

Part
Text
Role

known noun
الرَّجُلُ
the man being described

relative noun
الَّذِي
masculine singular connector

ṣilah
عِنْدَكَ
adverbial phrase: with you

main predicate
كَاذِبٌ
is a liar

10. Choose the Form, Then Find the Ṣilah

● Match the relative noun to the antecedent's gender and number.
● For the dual, also match the required case.
● Singular and plural forms here are built; dual forms are inflected.
● After the relative noun, locate the ṣilat al-mawṣūl that completes its meaning.
● The ṣilah may be a nominal sentence, a verbal sentence, or a prepositional/adverbial phrase.