Language/Standard-arabic/Grammar/Possessive-pronouns

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Standard Arabic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Pronouns in Arabic → Possessive pronouns

In the previous lesson, we learned about personal pronouns in Arabic. We discovered how to use subject and object pronouns in different contexts. This knowledge is essential for understanding possessive pronouns in Arabic. Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or possession of a noun. They allow us to express relationships between people and things. In this lesson, we will dive into the world of possessive pronouns in Arabic and explore how they are formed and used. So, let's get started!

Possessive Pronouns in Arabic

Possessive pronouns in Arabic are formed by adding possessive suffixes to the end of nouns. These suffixes vary depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun. They also agree with the possessor in terms of gender and number. Let's take a look at the possessive pronouns in Arabic:

Possessive Pronouns for Singular Nouns

When dealing with singular nouns, we use the following possessive pronouns in Arabic:

• لي (lee) – my (masculine)
• لكِ (lik) – your (feminine)
• لهُ (lahu) – his
• لها (laha) – her
• له (lah) – its
• لنا (lana) – our
• لكُم (lakum) – your (plural)
• لهُم (lahum) – their (masculine)
• لهُنَّ (lahunna) – their (feminine)

It's important to note that possessive pronouns for singular nouns are attached to the end of the noun. For example:

• كِتَابِي (kitabi) – my book
• بَيْتُكِ (baytuki) – your house (feminine)
• قَلَمُهُ (qalamuhu) – his pen
• شَكَلُهَا (shakluha) – her shape
• كِرَةٌ لَهَا (kiratun laha) – its ball
• سَيَّارَتُنَا (sayyaratuna) – our car
• مَنْزِلُكُمْ (manzilukum) – your house (plural)
• كُتُبُهُمْ (kutubuhum) – their books (masculine)
• صُورَةٌ لَهُنَّ (soratun lahunna) – their picture (feminine)

Possessive Pronouns for Plural Nouns

When dealing with plural nouns, we use the following possessive pronouns in Arabic:

• لَنَا (lana) – our
• لَكُمْ (lakum) – your
• لَهُمْ (lahum) – their (masculine)
• لَهُنَّ (lahunna) – their (feminine)

Just like possessive pronouns for singular nouns, possessive pronouns for plural nouns are attached to the end of the noun. Here are some examples:

• كُتُبُنَا (kutubuna) – our books
• بُيُوتُكُمْ (buyutukum) – your houses
• سَيَّارَاتُهُمْ (sayyaratuhum) – their cars (masculine)
• صُورُهُنَّ (soruhunna) – their pictures (feminine)

Using Possessive Pronouns in Sentences

Now that we know how to form possessive pronouns in Arabic, let's see how they are used in sentences. Possessive pronouns in Arabic are typically used in the following ways:

1. To indicate ownership:

  * هَذَا كِتَابِي (hatha kitabi) – This is my book.

2. To show a relationship:

  * أُخْتِي لَطِيفَةٌ (ukhti lateefatun) – My sister is kind.

3. To express possession:

  * هُنَاكَ كُتُبٌ لَهُمْ (hunaka kutubun lahum) – There are books for them.

4. To describe a characteristic:

  * هَذَا شَعْرُكِ الطَّوِيلُ (hatha sha'ruki attawilu) – This is your long hair.

It's important to note that possessive pronouns in Arabic agree with the gender and number of the noun they refer to. This agreement is crucial for grammatical correctness. Here are some examples:

• هَذَا حَقِيبَتُهُ (hatha haqibatuhu) – This is his bag.
• هُنَاكَ سَيَّارَةٌ لَهُنَّ (hunaka sayyaratun lahunna) – There is a car for them (feminine).

Exceptions and Special Cases

As with any language, there are always exceptions and special cases to consider. In Arabic, possessive pronouns undergo some changes depending on the noun they are attached to. Here are a few examples:

• When the noun ends with a long vowel (ـَا), the possessive pronoun changes to (ـِي) for masculine and (ـِيَةٌ) for feminine. For example:

 * بَيْتِي الجَديدُ (bayti aljadeedu) – My new house (masculine)
 * قِصَّتِيَةٌ القَصِيرَةُ (qisatiyatu alqasiratu) – My short story (feminine)

• When the noun ends with a tanween (-ٌ), the possessive pronoun changes to (ـِي) for masculine and (ـِيَةٌ) for feminine. For example:

 * سَيَّارَتِي الجَديدَةُ (sayyaratii aljadeedatu) – My new car (feminine)

• When the noun ends with a sukun (ـْ), the possessive pronoun changes to (ـِي) for masculine and (ـِيَةٌ) for feminine. For example:

 * كِتَابِي القَديمُ (kitabii alqadeemu) – My old book (masculine)

It's important to pay attention to these exceptions and practice using possessive pronouns in different contexts to become more familiar with them.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned how to form and use possessive pronouns in Arabic. Possessive pronouns allow us to express ownership, relationships, and possession. Remember to pay attention to gender and number agreement when using possessive pronouns. In the next lesson, we will explore prepositions in Arabic and how they are used to indicate time and place. So, stay tuned and keep up the great work!

Table of Contents - Standard Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Arabic script

• Arabic vowels
• Arabic consonants
• Basic Arabic phrases

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Nouns and gender in Arabic

• Definite and indefinite articles
• Masculine and feminine nouns

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Verbs and conjugation in Arabic

• Present tense conjugation
• Past tense conjugation
• Future tense conjugation

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Numbers and counting in Arabic

• Cardinal numbers 1-100
• Ordinal numbers

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Everyday Arabic vocabulary

• Greetings and farewells
• Colors
• Days of the week
• Months of the year

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Food and drink vocabulary

• Basic food vocabulary
• Drinks

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Arabic customs and traditions

• Islam and Arabic culture
• Arabic hospitality

  ---

Arabic music and entertainment

• Arabic music genres
• Arabic dance

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Adjectives in Arabic

• Adjective agreement and placement
• Comparative and superlative

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Pronouns in Arabic

• Personal pronouns
• Possessive pronouns

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Prepositions in Arabic

• Basic prepositions
• Prepositions of time and place

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Interrogatives in Arabic

• Question words
• Question formation

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Adverbs in Arabic

• Formation and placement
• Negation

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Transportation vocabulary

• Public transportation
• Asking for directions

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Shopping and money vocabulary

• Money vocabulary
• Shopping vocabulary

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Arabic literature and poetry

• Classical Arabic literature
• Arabic poetry

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Arabic calligraphy and art

• History of Arabic calligraphy
• Arabic art and architecture

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Weather vocabulary

• Basic weather vocabulary
• Talking about the weather

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Conditional sentences in Arabic

• First and second conditional
• Third conditional and mixed conditionals

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Passive voice in Arabic

• Formation and usage
• Differences from the active voice

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Relative clauses in Arabic

• Formation and usage
• Differences from English relative clauses

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Arabic adjectives and nouns

• Common Arabic adjectives
• Compound nouns in Arabic

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Arabic cinema and TV

• Arabic cinema
• Arabic TV

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Arabic fashion and beauty

• Traditional Arabic dress
• Arabic beauty and cosmetics

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Sports and leisure vocabulary

• Popular Arabic sports
• Leisure activities

Other Lessons

• Accents
• Negations
• Personal pronouns
• Read the Vowels
• Differences from the active voice
• THE DECLENSION OF THE DUAL
• RELATIVE PRONOUNS
• Past tense conjugation
• Coordination words
• THE USE OF THE AFFIXED PERSONAL PRONOUNS

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