The subject (المبتدأ) and predicate (الخبر) are the two pillars of every nominal sentence in Arabic. Understanding their rules, types, and relationship to each other is fundamental to mastering Arabic syntax. This article expands on the basics covered in the nominal sentences lesson.
Rules for المبتدأ (Subject)
- Always in the nominative case (مرفوع).
- Usually definite — it can be a proper noun (محمد), a noun with ال (الكتاب), a pronoun (هو), or a demonstrative pronoun (هذا).
- In rare cases, the مبتدأ can be indefinite when the خبر is a prepositional phrase that comes first: فِي البَيْتِ رَجُلٌ (In the house is a man).
Types of الخبر (Predicate)
- خبر مفرد (single word): الجَوُّ جَمِيلٌ — The weather is beautiful.
- خبر جملة فعلية (verbal sentence): الطَّالِبُ يَدْرُسُ — The student is studying.
- خبر جملة اسمية (nominal sentence): الحَدِيقَةُ أَزْهَارُهَا جَمِيلَةٌ — The garden, its flowers are beautiful.
- خبر شبه جملة (semi-sentence/prepositional phrase): الكِتَابُ عَلَى المَكْتَبِ — The book is on the desk.
Agreement Rules
When the خبر is a single word (مفرد), it must agree with the مبتدأ in gender and number. For example: الطَّالِبُ مُجْتَهِدٌ (masculine singular) vs. الطَّالِبَةُ مُجْتَهِدَةٌ (feminine singular) vs. الطُّلَّابُ مُجْتَهِدُونَ (masculine plural).
There is one notable exception: when the مبتدأ is a non-human plural, the خبر takes the feminine singular form: الكُتُبُ جَدِيدَةٌ (The books are new — not جَدِيدَاتٌ or جُدُدٌ). This rule applies consistently to all non-human plurals and is one of the distinctive features of Arabic grammar.