1A Lesson 4 FAQs:
1.) How do we know when we have a broken plural word?
Broken plurals are formed when there is a structural change to the integrity of the singular word. This change can take various forms: addition or deletion of a letter, change of a letter, change of a harakah, etc. As long as there is one change to the structure of the singular word, it will be a broken plural. For example, the word جَبَلٌ (“mountain) is the singular version. To make the plural, we change the fathah on the (ج) to a kasrah; we then add an alif in between the (ب) and (ل), thereby giving us جِبَالٌ. These are two major structural changes to the singular version. Therefore, جِبالٌ is a broken plural.
2.) The word مُسْلِمَانِ ends with a kasrah … yet it is considered مَرْفُوع? Why?
Words that are singular take a dammah in the رَفْع case ending. However, the word مُسْلِمَان is a dual word. Dual and plural words do not show their case endings with the dammah, fathah, and kasrah. Dual words are مَرْفوع if they end with the suffix (ــَــانِ), and are مَنْصُوب or مَجْرُور if they end with the suffix (ـَــينِ) (further context would be needed to determine which of these two it is). Therefore, مُسْلِمَانِ is actually مَرْفُوع because of its suffix ending of (ــَــانِ).
3.) The word مُسْلِمُونَ ends with a fathah… yet it is considered مَرْفُوع? Why?
Words that are singular take a dammah in the رَفْع case ending. However, the word مُسْلِمُونَ is a sound masculine plural word. Dual and plural words do not show their case endings with the dammah, fathah, and kasrah. Sound masculine plural words are مَرْفوع if they end with the suffix (ـُــونَ), and are مَنْصُوب or مَجْرُور if they end with the suffix (ـِــينَ) (further context would be needed to determine which of these two it is). Therefore, مُسْلِمُونَ is actually مَرْفُوع because of its suffix ending of (ـُــونَ).
4.) Why does the sound feminine plural end with a kasrah/kasratain in the state of نَصْب (e.g., مُسْلِمَاتٍ)? Wouldn’t it end with fathah/fathatain in this case?
This is a very common misconception among beginner Arabic students because they see that the sound feminine plural behaves similar to singular words in that both of these take harakat as endings for their grammatical case endings [as opposed to the dual and sound masculine plural words, which take unique suffixis for the endings, such as (ــَــانِ) and (ـُــونَ)]. However, the difference is that singular words take fathah/fathatain in the case of نَصْب, but sound feminine plural words do not take fathah/fathatain in the case of نَصْب. Rather, sound feminine plural words take kasrah/kasratain in the case of نَصْب (as well as جَرّ, and more context would be needed to further delineate which one is intended). Therefore, one cannot say مُسْلِمَاتًا. In fact, no such word exists. In the state of نَصْب, we have to use the word مُسْلِمَاتٍ.
5.) How do we tell the difference between the نَصْب and جَرّ case of sound masculine plural (as they both end in the suffix (ــِينَ), such as in مُسْلِمِينَ) and in dual (as they both end in the suffix (ـَــينِ), such as in مُسْلِمَينِ)?
The only way to tell the differnce between these is the context. The نًصْب and جَرّ cases are seen in unique grammatical roles (more on this in later lessons in 1A). The grammatical roles (syntax) of the sentence indicate which words among these would be مَنْصُوب and which would be مَجْرُور