5.3: Relative Pronouns

Learning Objectives

In this section, you will be able to:

• Recognize and list Arabic relative pronouns such as الذي, التي, اللذين, اللاتي, etc.
• Explain the agreement rules between relative pronouns and their antecedents regarding gender, number, and case.

Introduction

Relative pronouns in Arabic (أسماء الموصول) are essential components of the language, connecting clauses and providing additional information about a noun in a sentence. Understanding these pronouns is crucial for constructing complex and meaningful sentences.

What Are Relative Pronouns?

Relative pronouns in Arabic are words used to link a noun (the antecedent) to a descriptive or explanatory clause (the relative clause). They function similarly to English relative pronouns such as "who," "which," "that," and "whom."

Common Relative Pronouns in Arabic

1. الذي (al-ladhi) – Singular masculine
   • Meaning: "Who," "which," or "that" (referring to a singular masculine noun).
   • Example:
     • الطالب الذي يدرس جيدًا سينجح.
       (The student who studies well will succeed.)
2. التي (al-lati) – Singular feminine
   • Meaning: "Who," "which," or "that" (referring to a singular feminine noun).
   • Example:
     • البنتُ التي تركبُ السّيارة
       (The girl who rides the car.)
3. اللذان (al-ladhān) – Dual masculine (nominative case)
   • Meaning: "Who," "which," or "that" (referring to two masculine nouns).
   • Example:
     • الطالبان اللذان يعملان بجد متفوقان.
       (The two students who work hard are outstanding.)
4. اللذين (al-ladhayn) – Dual masculine (accusative/genitive case)
   • Meaning: "Who," "which," or "that" (referring to two masculine nouns in the accusative or genitive).
   • Example:
     • يُساعد المعلمُ الطالبين اللذين يعملان بجد.
       (I saw the two students who work hard.)
5. اللتان (al-latān) – Dual feminine (nominative case)
   • Meaning: "Who," "which," or "that" (referring to two feminine nouns).
   • Example:
     • الطالبتان اللتان تدرسان جيدًا مجتهدتان.
       (The two girls who study well are diligent.)
6. اللتين (al-latayni) – Dual feminine (accusative/genitive case)
   • Meaning: "Who," "which," or "that" (referring to two feminine nouns in the accusative or genitive).
   • Example:
     • أتناولُ الفطور مع الفتاتين اللتين تدرسان معي في الصف
       (I eat breakfast with the two girls who study with me in the class.)
7. الذين (al-ladhīna) – Plural masculine
   • Meaning: "Who," "which," or "that" (referring to a group of masculine nouns).
   • Example:
     • المعلمون الذين يعلمون بجد محبوبون.
       (The teachers who work hard are loved.)
8. اللاتي/اللواتي (al-lāti/al-lawāti) – Plural feminine
   • Meaning: "Who," "which," or "that" (referring to a group of feminine nouns).
   • Example:
     • الطالبات اللاتي يدرسن جيدًا متفوقات.
       (The students who study well are excellent.)

Usage Rules

1. Agreement with the Antecedent:
   • Relative pronouns in Arabic must agree with the antecedent in gender (masculine/feminine), number (singular/dual/plural), and case (nominative/accusative/genitive).
2. Definiteness:
   • The noun described by the relative pronoun is typically definite (usually marked by the definite article "ال").
3. Verbal relative clause:

• The verb that follows the relative includes a pronoun that refers to it (the relative pronoun).
  • Example:
    • يَشتري خالد البدلةَ التي يُحبّها (Khaled buys the suit that he likes.)
    • تستمعُ منى للموسيقا التي تُحبُّها (Mona listens to the music that she loves.)
    • يجري ماجد مع زملائه الذين يزورَنَه في المدينة (Majid runs with his colleagues who visit him in the city.)

1. Omission of Pronouns in the Relative Clause:
   • Unlike English, Arabic does not include an explicit pronoun in the relative clause to refer to the antecedent.
     • Example:
       • الطالبُ الذي تدرسُ معهُ ليس صديقي.
         (The student whom you study with is not my friend.)
       • Note: There is no equivalent of "whom" within the Arabic clause.

Conclusion

Relative pronouns in Arabic are key tools for connecting ideas and adding depth to sentences. Mastering their usage not only improves grammatical accuracy but also enriches one’s ability to express complex thoughts in Arabic. By practicing these pronouns in context, learners can develop a deeper understanding of their structure and function.

Activities

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Check Your Understanding

• Highlight similarities and differences between relative pronouns in Arabic and their counterparts in English to deepen linguistic understanding.
• Use relative pronouns in spoken or written Arabic to describe people, objects, and situations effectively.
• Construct sentences using appropriate relative pronouns to connect clauses.