A: The Genitive Case

The genitive case occurs in Arabic in two situations. Both of these situations occur very often in the language. First, a noun or adjective following a preposition will always be in the genitive. The only other time the genitive occurs is if a word is the second or later term of an idaafa. (The idaafa is discussed below.)

 

The genitive case marker is one kasra if a word is definite and two kasras if the word is indefinite. The second kasra is pronounced as a ن, just like the second dhamma in the nominative case.كتابٍ is an example of the indefinite genitive (pronounced “kitaabin”). الكتابِ is an example of the definite genitive (pronounced “alkitaabi”).

7 responses to “A: The Genitive Case”

  1. Inuwa Ahmed Avatar

    Very informative very good teaching methods

  2. Inuwa Ahmed Avatar

    I like your teaching methods it is very good ALLAH bless your efforts

  3. Iqbal Avatar
    Iqbal

    Thank your for helping to understand Arabic. I am confused in one situation and would like to get some help. As per my understanding Harf-e-majroor as a genetive case has a kasra. Then why is there a damma after harf-e-jar in some places. E.g. In Surah Rome, 4th verse (30:4) …min qablo wa mim ba”do. Here I understand “min” is the harf-e-jar and qablo is the majroor. So in genetive case why there is not a kasra (but rather a damma) here on qablo (or ba’do). I am sure I am missing some basics here. Appreciate your help.

    1. Dima Avatar
      Dima

      Hello!
      I just read your comment and your question. It will be my pleasure to answer you.
      These names in Quran that have a dhamma at the end *min baado’ and ‘min qablo’ are not nouns to be in genitive case and to have regular kasra. They are adverbs of time. They have their own case.

  4. Nabeela bind latheef Avatar
    Nabeela bind latheef

    Thank u …
    Well for exam

  5. Nabeela bind latheef Avatar
    Nabeela bind latheef

    Plz give more examples

  6. Syed Muzammil Avatar
    Syed Muzammil

    Very good lessons. Thank you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *