FAQs for 1A Lesson 1:
1.) How can we tell the difference between a noun and a verb?
A major distinguishing feature between a noun (اِسْمٌ) and a verb (فِعْلٌ) is that a noun usually has (الـ) at its beginning (indicating that it is definite) or tanwin at its end (indicating that it is indefinite). However, a verb cannot take (الـ) at its beginning nor tanwin at its end.
2.) How do we recognize a verb at this stage?
Verbs can be tricky to recognize for beginner students. Generally, a past-tense verb will be three letters with the first and third letters taking a fathah. For example, the word مَلَكَ (“to own”) is a verb in this manner. At this stage, the best way to recognize verbs is to simply memorize them as you go along!
3.) What do the terms رَفْعٌ - نَصْبٌ - جَرٌّ mean?
These terms represent grammatical case endings of the word. A word that is in the state of رَفْعٌ (i.e. the word is مَرْفُوعٌ) means it ends with a dammah. For example, the word مُسْلِمٌ. A word that is in the state of نَصْبٌ (i.e. the word is مَنْصُوبٌ) means it ends with a fathah. For example, the word مُسْلِمًا. A word that is in the state of جَرٌّ (i.e. the word is مَجْرُورٌ) means it ends with a kasrah. For example, the word مُسْلِمٍ. (Note that these rules apply when the word is singular). Students often ask why we need to learn this? What do these grammatical case endings represent? That will be explained further along in Level 1A. Each case ending represents a unique grammatical role that the word can follow in a sentence.
4.) What is a detached pronoun?
A detached pronoun is one that can stand by itself. These can also be referred to as independent pronouns. An example is هُوَ (“he”) or هِيَ (“she”). These pronouns can act independently as their own grammatical entities. The converse of these are the attached pronouns, such as (ـهُ) in ضَرَبَهُ (“he hit him”). Attached pronouns are attached to a verb or some entity.
5.) Various Quran translation often translate الرَّحْمن as “the Beneficient,” and الرَّحِيم as “The Merciful.” Is there a more nuanced difference between these two?
Yes, there are a wide variety of opinions on this. One of these opinions is that الرَّحْمن is called the Noun of Intensity (covered in Level 2A), thereby translating to “The Intensely/Utmostly Merciful.” Whereas الرَّحِيم is called a Stable Trait (also covered in Level 2A), thereby translating to “The Everlastingly/Perpetually Merciful.”