ABSTRACT

Fundamentals of Arabic Grammar provides an authoritative guide to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) grammar. It has been organised to promote a thorough understanding of MSA grammar and presents its complexities in a cohesive and user-friendly format, filling many gaps left by other textbooks. Explanations are clear, full and accessible and extensive cross-referencing, two generous indices and six appendices provide users with easy access to the information they require. No prior knowledge of linguistic terminology is required.

Features include:

  • Expert treatment of a full range of grammar topics and structures, including the case system, Idhaafa, the equational sentence, quantifiers and the vocative, generously spread across thirty eight chapters
  • Special attention to parts of speech, such as nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs and propositions, given at the beginning of the book to acquaint students with the basic units of Arabic and provide a solid foundation for further learning
  • A wide range of contemporary examples drawn from real life to provide solid context to grammar points, further supported by word glosses and idiomatic translations of sentences
  • Grammatical terms given in both Arabic and English
  • A wide variety of supplementary learning resources such as practice sheets, exercises and verb tables available for free download at https://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415710046/
  • Substantial bibliography incorporating primary Arabic grammar sources in addition to secondary sources in Arabic and in English

Fundamentals of Arabic Grammar has been field tested over a number of years and has been written by a highly experienced teacher of Arabic. It will be an essential resource for students and teachers of Arabic at all university levels and is suitable for use both as a companion reference text in Arabic language courses and as a standalone text in independent grammar classes.

chapter 1|15 pages

The verb system in Arabic

chapter 2|10 pages

Nouns

chapter 3|7 pages

The case system in Arabic

chapter 4|8 pages

Adjectives

chapter 5|9 pages

Pronouns

chapter 7|10 pages

Adverbs

chapter 8|13 pages

The IDhaafa-construct

chapter 9|18 pages

The equational sentence

chapter 10|14 pages

Kaana and its sisters

chapter 11|47 pages

Verbal sentences: past tense

chapter 12|29 pages

Present tense indicative

chapter 13|12 pages

Present tense subjunctive

chapter 14|5 pages

The future tense

chapter 15|12 pages

Jussive verbs

chapter 16|11 pages

Passive voice

chapter 17|20 pages

Imperative verbs

chapter 18|4 pages

Past continuous tense

chapter 19|3 pages

Past perfect tense

chapter 20|9 pages

Conditionals

chapter 21|9 pages

’Inna and its sisters

chapter 22|16 pages

Relative pronouns

chapter 23|9 pages

Agentive nouns

chapter 24|8 pages

Passive participles

chapter 25|25 pages

Verbal nouns: maSdars

chapter 26|4 pages

Diminutive nouns

chapter 27|8 pages

Comparative adjectives

chapter 28|26 pages

Plural nouns

chapter 29|4 pages

Indeclinable nouns/diptotes

chapter 30|21 pages

Numbers

chapter 31|6 pages

Quantifiers

chapter 32|6 pages

Haal clauses (accusative of circumstance)

chapter 33|3 pages

Tamyiiz (accusative of specification)

chapter 34|6 pages

Exception

chapter 35|6 pages

Vocative

chapter 36|5 pages

Exclamation

chapter 37|2 pages

Apposition

chapter 38|4 pages

Emphasis