In Arabic, there are two types of sentences, the Arabic Nominal Sentence (Al Jumlatu Al-Ismiyya- الجملة الاسمية), and the verbal sentence (Al-jumlatu al-fi’liyya – الجُملَةُ الفِعْلِيَّة).
In this article, we will learn everything about nominal sentences, the rules of mubtada and khabar in Arabic, jumla ismia examples in Arabic and practice exercises to ensure that you have fully grasped the subject.
So, let us begin with the definition and structure of Arabic nominal sentences.
What is a Nominal Sentence in Arabic?
A sentence is a group of words which convey a complete idea. The core components of any sentence are a subject and a predicate. The subject refers to a person, a place, or a thing we are talking about. While the predicate makes a statement about the subject.
In the Arabic language, there are two kinds of sentences. The one which begins with a noun ( اِسْمٌ ) is called a nominal sentence الجُمْلَة الاسْمِيَّةُ. And the one which begins with a verb (فِعْل) is called verbal sentence (الجُمْلَةُ الفِعْلِيَّةُ).
Just like in English, nominal sentences in Arabic have two parts:
- A subject ( الْمُبْتَدَأُ )
- A Predicate ( الْخَبَرُ)
For example:
مُحَمَّدٌ طَالِبٌ – Muhammad is a student.
عمر مريض – Umar is sick
In the above two sentences Muhammad and Umar are the subjects and “is a student” and “is sick” are the predicates.
Now, let us discuss in detail the structure of Arabic nominal sentence with its two main parts, the subject (Mubtada) and the predicate (khabar).
Al-Mubtada’ (The Subject)
The noun with which the nominal sentence begins is called (مبتدأ) or subject.
The beginning of Arabic nominal sentences can come in one of many different forms, including the following:
1. Declinable Mubtada
Most commonly, the subject (Al-mubtada) is in the form of an overt declinable noun in the nominative case ( اسمٌ ظَاهِرٌ مَرْفُوع), for example:
| Sentence | Subject |
| مُحَمَّدٌ مُجْتَهِدٌ | The proper noun “مُحَمَّد” |
| الطَّالِبُ ذَكِيٌّ | The noun “الطَّالِبُ” |
2. Masdar Mu’awwal (الْمَصْدَرُ الْمُؤَوَّلُ)
Masdar Mu’awwal is a clause (composed of أَنْ + the verb), that functions as a مَصْدَر (masdar) or infinitive form such as:
(وَأَن تَصُوْمُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُم)
Which means, “and that you fast is better for you”. In this example, the clause (أن تَصُومُوا), represents the infinitive form of the verb (i.e your fasting – صِيَامُكُم).
In this case, the clause (أن تصوموا) represents the subject (mubtada) of the Arabic nominal sentence.
3. Non-declinable Mubtada
The mubtada can also be in the form of a non-declinable noun. In this case, it is in the nominative position of Mubtada, however we do not add a dammah sign above it.
For example:
| Sentence | Subject |
| هُوَ مُجْتَهِدٌ | The separate pronoun “هُوَ” |
| هَذَا طالِبٌ ذَكِيٌّ | The demonstrative pronoun “هَذَا” |
| الَّذِي يَلْعَبُ الْكُرَة | The relative pronoun “الَّذِي” |
| كَمْ كِتَابًا لَكَ | The interrogative noun “كَمْ” |
Al-Khabar (The Predicate)
The second part of the nominal sentence which says something about the subject is called the (الخبر -Al khabar ) predicate.
In other words, the predicate is the part of a sentence which expresses what is said about the subject. There are three types of the predicate/khabar which are;
1. Khabar mufrad
The mufrad khabar is a word, and not a sentence.
E.g. اللهُ واِحِدٌ – Allah is One
In this sentence, the word وَاحِدٌ is the Khabar for the mubtada “اللهُ”.
2. Khabar Jumlah
The jumlah Khabar is a sentence. Which in turn may be either a nominal or a verbal sentence,
E.g. هاشم والده تاجر
‘Hashim’s father is a trader’ or literally, Hashim, his father is a trader.
Here “Hashim” is the mubtada and the nominal sentence “والده تاجر” is the khabar. And this sentence in turn, is composed of the mubtada ”والده” and the khabar “تاجر”.
E.g الطُّلَاب دَخلُوا الفَصْلَ
The students entered the classroom
In this sentence, the word “الطُّلَابُ” is the mubtada (subject). Whereas the verbal sentence “دَخَلُوا” formed of the verb “دَخَل” and its subject “waw Jama’a”, is in the place of the khabar.
3. Khabar Shibhul Jumlah
The khabar shibhul jumlah is either a prepositional phrase or a zarf (place/ time).
For example:
الْحَمْدُ للَّه
The praise belongs to Allah
In this nominal sentence the mubtada is (الحَمْدُ) and the prepositional phrase (ل+ الله) is the khabar, and it is in the place of raf’e.
Another example:
البَيْتُ خَلْفَ الْمَسْجِد
The house is behind the mosque.
Here (الْبَيْتُ) is the mubtada , and the shibh jumlah ْ(خلف المسجد) is in the place of the khabar . As a zarf, it is mansub , and as a khabar it is in the place of raf’e.
The Rules of Nominal Sentence in Arabic
Let us now discuss some of the important rules of Arabic nominal sentences that should be noted.
1. The Mubtada is Normally a Definite Noun
The Mubtada is usually a definite noun, while the khabar is usually indefinite. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
2. Subject Predicate Agreement
There should be an agreement in the gender and the number between the subject (Al mubtada) and the predicate (al khabar), i.e. if a subject is feminine/masculine, singular, dual or plural the predicate should also be likewise.
Examples:
| Singular masculine: | Saeed is a knowledgeable man | سعيد رجل مثقف |
| The student is a hardworking | الطَّالِبُ مُجْتَهِدٌ | |
| Singular feminine | Saeeda is a knowledgeable woman | سعيدة سيدة مثقفة |
| The student is a hardworking | الطالبة مجتهدة | |
| Dual masculine | Both the students are hardworking | الطالبان مجتهدان |
| Dual feminine | Both the students are hardworking | الطالبتان مجتهدتان |
| Plural masculine | The students are hardworking | الطلاب مجتهدون |
| Plural feminine | The students are hardworking | الطالبات مجتهدات |
3. The Omission of Al-Mubtada or Al-Khabar
In the Arabic nominal sentences, Al-mobtada and Al-khaber may be omitted.
For example:
The answer to the question: ما اسْمُكَ؟ (What is your name?) can be, أَحْمَد (Ahmed). In this sentence, the word Ahmed is considered the khabar, for the omitted Mubtada اسمي (my name is). The full sentence in this case should be, اسمِي أَحْمَد (My name is Ahmed).
Similarly, the Khabar can be omitted. For example, the answer to the question (من يعْرِف؟ – who knows?), may be (أنا – me) instead of (أنا أعرف – I know), where the jumlah fi’liyah khabar (أعرِفُ) is omitted.
Nominal Sentence Examples
Now, let me give you examples of 10 nominal sentence in arabic:
| Nominal Sentence | Transliteration | Translation | Subject | Predicate |
| الرَّجُلُ صَادِقٌ | Ar-ragulu sadiq | The man is truthful | الرَّجُلُ | صَادِقٌ |
| أَحْمَد طالِبٌ | Ahmed talib | Ahmed is a student | أَحْمَد | طَالِبٌ |
| هوَ وَلَدٌ صَغِير | Huwa waladun sagheer | He is a little boy | هو | ولد |
| العصفور صَوْتُه عَذْبٌ | Al-usfur sawtuhu ‘adhb | The bird’s voice is beautiful | الْعُصْفُور | صَوْتُه عَذْبٌ |
| اللَوْحَةُ ألْوَانُهَا رَائِعة | Al-lawha alwanuha raie’a | The picture’s colors are wonderful | اللوحَةُ | ألْوَانُهَا رَائِعَةٌ |
| السَّائحُ يَزور الأهرامات | As-sa’ih yazuru Al-ahramat | The tourist visits the pyramids | السَّائحُ | يَزُور |
| الطَّالِبَةُ تُذَاكرالدرس | At-taliba tudhakir ad-dars | The student is studying the lesson | الطَّالِبَة | تُذَاكِر |
| الْمُعَلِّمُ فِي الْفَصْلِ | Al-mu’alimu fi al-fasl | The teacher is in the class | المُعَلِّمُ | فِي الْفَصْل |
| الطائرُ فَوقَ الشَّجَرَةِ | At-ta’iru fawqa ash-shajara | The bird is on the tree | الطَّائِرُ | فَوْقَ الشَّجَرَةِ |
| الرحلةُ غَدًا | Ar-rehlatu ghadan | The trip is tomorrow | الرِّحلَةُ | غَدًا |
A Comparison between Arabic Nominal and Verbal Sentences
In the light of what we have discussed, let us explore the main differences between Arabic nominal and verbal sentences.
| Point of Comparison | Nominal Sentence | Verbal Sentence |
| Structure | nominal sentences start with a noun | verbal sentences start with a verb |
| Presence of a verb | nominal sentences do not necessarily contain a verb | verbal sentences always contain a verb |
| Examples | الْبَيْتُ كَبِيرٌAl-baytu kabeerunThe house is big | يذهب مُحَمَّد إلَى المَدرَسَةِYadhabu Muhammedun ila al-madrassaMuhammed goes to school |
Arabic Nominal Sentence Exercises
Now, it is time to test your knowledge, sort the subject and predicate out of these Arabic nominal sentences. Do not hesitate to send us your answers and get detailed feedback!
| Sentence | Subject (المُبتَدَأ) | Predicate (الْخَبَر) |
| الكِتَابُ فَوْقَ الطَّاوِلةِ | ……………….. | ……………….. |
| الطَّالِبَات مُجْتَهِدَات | ……………….. | ……………….. |
| الزُّهُورُ ألْوَانُهَا زَاهِيَةٌ | ……………….. | ……………….. |
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To Sum Up!
The nominal sentence in Arabic
consists of 2 main parts, Al-Mubtada (the subject), and the Predicate (al-Khabar). The subject of the nominal sentence Arabic may be a noun, a Masdar muawwal, or a non-declinable noun. While the predicate may be either mufrad, a nominal/verbal sentence, or shibhu jumlah.
Learning Arabic grammar rules is important for those who wish to comprehend, write and speak Arabic efficiently.
Although challenging for a non-Arab speaker, learning Arabic grammar becomes much easier if you join one of Shaykhi Academy’s comprehensive online Arabic classes where you are guided by native Arab tutors with years of experience in teaching the Arabic language to non- Arab learners. Sign up today and enjoy a free trial online Arabic class before you decide!
References
Essentials of Arabic Grammar for Learning Quranic Language, Brig.(R) Zahoor Ahmed (M.A, M.Sc).
