Browsing Tag
Sibawayhi
10 posts
Why is كَأَنَّ a sister of إِنَّ but لِأَنَّ is not?
The inclusion of كَأَنَّ as one of the sisters of إِنَّ raises the question of why other combinations like لِأَنَّ or بِأَنَّ are not explicitly listed. This discrepancy points to a complex and relatively unexplored matter in Arabic grammar.
How to handle the number 8 in Arabic – a core analysis
In Arabic, the number 8 – ثَمَانٍ – has some tricky subtleties. We delve deep into the rules and see what the classic grammarians have to say about them.
Collective nouns in Arabic: Do you use the same word for camels and a camel?
Collective nouns, plurals and singular units are tricky in Arabic. What are the correct patterns, are they masculine or feminine and should we treat them as singular or plural? An overview
Who wrote the first book about Arabic grammar?
Sibawayhi's book al-Kitab was the first formal and analytical Arabic grammar. It is a groundbreaking work. Some background
What does nunation express in Arabic?
Nunation (تنوين) in Arabic is used when there is no definite article ال. But that is only half of the truth. The idea is much deeper.
What is the idea of tanween (تنوين) in Arabic?
Nunation (تنوين) can tell you something about the character and personality of a word. It is a deep idea developed by the first Arab grammarians.
Who are the best Arabic grammarians of all time?
Hard to imagine today, but the grandmasters of Arabic grammar were superstars during their lifetime. Here is a list of the TOP 5 Arabic grammarians of all time.
The mystery of the Arabic broken plural
The Arabic broken plural has the effect that scholars still debate how to properly classify the several branches of Semitic languages.
Top Arabic grammar resources for students
What are the best Arabic grammar books (nahw and sarf) for beginners, intermediate and advanced students? Some recommendations (in English, German and Arabic).
The Question of the Wasp: The most famous grammar showdown in Arabic
The question of the wasp or the hornet - Masʾalat al-Zunbur (مَسْأَلة الزُّنْبُور) is a clash between two giants of Arabic grammar: Sībawayhi and al-Kisā'i. Legend has it that it caused Sibawayhi to die of anger.
