Sentence types and case

Equational sentences

• Sentences without any verbs eg البنت جميلة

• They are constructed of  المبتدأ والخبر

• المبتدأ is grammatically definite (USUALLY), while الخبر is grammatically indefinite

• They both take the nominative case

• المبتدأ must be a noun or a pronoun and it must be in the nominative case.

Exceptions

• When there is a fronted predicate, for example a prepositional phrase, المبتدأ can be indefinite. في البيت بنت

• When they are both definite, a pronoun can be used to form a full sentence – إيمان هي السكرتيرة

Using Arabic case endings

• (Nominative) المرفوع  (genitive) andالمجرورand  (accusative)المنصوب There are three types of case endings in Arabic:

• (Nominative)المرفوع  (genitive) andالمجرورand  (accusative)المنصوب

• المبتدأ والخبرThe nominative case (damma) is used for both

• The genitive case (kasra) is used for the last word in an idaafa and after  prepositions.