In a nutshell: An Arabic nominal sentence consists of a subject (مبتدأ) and a predicate (خبر) without a verb, where the subject can be a noun or pronoun. The predicate provides information about the subject, and both must agree in gender and number. The Nominal sentence structure typically follows the pattern: subject first, then predicate, and is essential for understanding Arabic grammar.

In a previous article, we discussed al-Zamakhshari‘s definition of the Arabic sentence as a combination of two or more words related to each other to form meaningful and beneficial speech. We also mentioned the two fundamental pillars of a sentence: the “musnad” (predicate) and the “musnad ilayhi” (subject). 

Sibawayh defined them as two inseparable elements that a speaker must use together, such as the “mubtada'” (subject) and the “khabar” (predicate), or the verb and its subject. 

In this article, we will explore the nominal sentence al-jumla al-ismiyya (الجملة الاسمية), composed of a subject and predicate, without a verb.

What is an Arabic Nominal Sentence?

Arabic nominal sentence (al-jumla al-ismiyya الجملة الاسمية) is a sentence that starts with a noun (اسم, ism) or something acting as a noun, like a pronoun ضمير. It doesn’t need a verb to express a complete thought. Instead, the focus is on a state or a description of the subject.

الطفل نحيف
The kid is thin.

Here, “the kid” (الطفل) is the subject of our statement, and “thin” (نحيف) describes him. This simple structure forms the basis of the nominal sentence.

The Two Pillars of the Arabic Nominal Sentence: Mubtada and Khabar (المبتدأ والخبر)

Every nominal sentence in Arabic is built on two essential components:

1. Mubtada (المبتدأ) – The Subject

Mubtada (المبتدأ) is the subject of the sentence, the noun or pronoun we’re talking about. It’s like the foundation upon which the sentence rests.

2. Khabar (الخبر) – The Predicate

 Khabar (الخبر) is the predicate, the part that provides information about the mubtada. It completes the meaning of the sentence.

Let’s break down our previous example:

• الطفل: This is the mubtada, our subject (the kid).
• نحيف: This is the khabar, our predicate (thin). It tells us something about the boy.

Predicate (خبر)	Subject (مبتدأ)
نحيف	الطفل
(thin)	(the kid)

* From Kalimah’s online Arabic courses curriculum.

Types of Mubtada in Arabic

The mubtada can actually take on several different forms in Arabic. 

1. Mubtada as a Noun (اسم) 

This is the most common form of mubtada. It can be any noun, from a person’s name to an object or concept.

خالد معلم
Khalid is a teacher.

الكتابُ مفيدٌ
The book is useful.

al-kitab (the book) is the mubtada, a definite noun.

2. Mubtada as a Pronoun (ضمير)

Sometimes, we use pronouns to replace nouns, making our sentences more concise. These pronouns can also act as the mubtada.

أنا محمد
I am Mohamed

ana (I) is a pronoun functioning as the mubtada.

3.  Mubtada as a Demonstrative Pronoun (اسم إشارة)

Arabic demonstrative pronouns can also function as the mubtada.

هذا ولدٌ
This is a boy.

4. Mubtada as a Relative Pronoun (الاسم الموصول)

Words like الذي (who/that) or التي (who/that, feminine) can also function as the mubtada.

الذي كتب الرسالةَ طالبٌ
The one who wrote the letter is a student.

Types of Khabar in Arabic 

Just like the mubtada, the khabar also comes in various forms, allowing for a wide range of expressions in Arabic. Let’s take a look:

1. Khabar as a Noun (اسم)

The khabar can be a noun, providing a simple and direct description of the mubtada.

الأب فلاح
The father is a farmer.

2. Khabar as an Adjective (صفة)

Adjectives are perfect for adding descriptive details to our mubtada.

القهوة ساخنة
The coffee is hot.

3. Khabar as an Prepositional Phrase (جار ومجرور) 

Sometimes, we need to provide information about location or relationship. This is where prepositional phrases come as khabar.

الكتابُ في الحقيبةِ
The book is in the bag.

4. Khabar as a Verb Sentence (جملة فعلية)

Yes, you read that right! An entire verb sentence can act as the khabar, adding a dynamic element to our nominal sentence.

خالد يدرس العربية
Khalid studies Arabic.

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The Rules of Nominal Sentence in Arabic

The nominal sentence in Arabic is simple but follows precise rules that ensure the sentence is meaningful and grammatically correct.

1. The Nominal Sentence Must Begin with a Noun

A nominal sentence always starts with a noun or a pronoun, called the mubtada. 

البحرُ جميلٌ
The sea is beautiful.

al-baḥr (the sea) is the noun (mubtada) introducing the sentence.

2. The Mubtada Must Be Definite

The subject (mubtada) in a nominal sentence is usually definite, meaning it refers to something specific or known. This can be achieved using:

• A definite article (like “the” in English): ال (al-)
• A proper noun: “Zayd” or “Fatima.”
• A possessive structure: كتاب المعلم (kitab al-mu‘allim – the teacher’s book).

3. Mubtada first, then Khabar

The usual order in a nominal sentence is: Mubtada first, then Khabar.

الشاي ساخن
The tea is hot.

But sometimes we can switch this order! This is done for emphasis, like when a poet wants to create a certain effect.

4. Subject-Verb Agreement

Even though our nominal sentence starts with a noun, sometimes the khabar includes a verb. When this happens, remember this important rule: the verb must agree with the mubtada. This means the verb should match the mubtada in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular, dual, or plural).

البنت تقرأ
The girl is reading.

Here, “taqra’u” (تقرأ) is feminine singular to match “al-bint” (البنت).

الرجال يعملون
The men are working. 

Here, “ya’malun” (يعملون) is masculine plural to match “al-rijal” (الرجال).

10 Examples of Nominal Sentences in Arabic

To help you fully understand how nominal sentences (jumla ismiyya) work in real-life contexts, let us look at more ten Arabic nominal sentences examples. These jumla ismia examples in arabic are connected to everyday Arabic life and culture.

1. The Nile is long. (النيل طويل – Al-Nil tawil)

Notice how “Al-Nil” (النيل) is the definite mubtada, while “tawil” (طويل) is the indefinite khabar.

2. Ramadan is a holy month. (رمضان شهرٌ مُبارك – Ramadan shahrun mubarak)

“Ramadan” (رمضان) is the definite mubtada, and “shahrun mubarak” (شهرٌ مُبارك) is the indefinite khabar, describing Ramadan in a general way.

3. The Kaaba is in Mecca. (الكعبةُ في مكةَ – Al-Ka’bah fi Makkah)

Here, we have a prepositional phrase as the khabar. “Al-Ka’bah” (الكعبةُ) is the definite mubtada, and “fi Makkah” (في مكةَ) tells us its location.

4. Arabic coffee is delicious. (القهوةُ العربيةُ لذيذةٌ – Al-qahwah al-‘arabiyyah ladhidhatun)

The mubtada is القهوة and khabar is لذيذة.

5. The dates are sweet. (التمرُ حُلوٌ – Al-tamr hulwun)

“Al-tamr” (التمرُ) is the definite mubtada, and “hulwun” (حُلوٌ) is the indefinite khabar.

6. The desert is vast. (الصحراءُ واسعةٌ – Al-sahra’ wasi’atun)

Both “Al-sahra'” (الصحراءُ) and “wasi’atun” (واسعةٌ) are feminine singular, demonstrating agreement between mubtada and khabar.

7. The falcon is a symbol of courage. (الصقرُ رمزُ الشجاعةِ – Al-saqr ramz al-shaja’ah)

8. Hospitality is a virtue. (الكرمُ فضيلةٌ – Al-karam fadilah)

9. The oud is a beautiful instrument. (العودُ آلةٌ جميلةٌ – Al-‘ud alatun jamilah)

10. The mosque is a place of worship. (المسجدُ مكانُ عبادةٍ – Al-masjid makan ‘ibadah)

Nominal vs. Verbal Sentences in Arabic: A Quick Comparison

While we’ve focused on the nominal sentence, it’s important to understand how it differs from its counterpart, the verbal sentence. Here’s a simple comparison:

	Nominal Sentence (جملة اسمية)	Verbal Sentence (جملة فعلية)
Starts with	Noun or pronoun (اسم أو ضمير)	Verb (فعل)
Structure	Mubtada + Khabar (مبتدأ + خبر)	Verb + Subject + Object (فعل + فاعل + مفعول به)
Example	The man is tall. (الرجل طويل – Al-rajul tawil)	The man ate an apple. (أكل الرجل تفاحة   – Akala al-rajul tuffahan)

Nominal Sentence Exercises

We at Kalimah center believe that you must practice to truly learn the Arabic nominal sentence. so it’s time to put your newfound knowledge to the test. Here are some exercises designed to challenge and strengthen your understanding:

Exercise 1: Spot the Mubtada and Khabar

Carefully examine these sentences and identify the mubtada and khabar. Remember what you’ve learned about their characteristics!

1. The door is closed. (الباب مغلق – Al-bab mughlaq)
2. The camel is patient. (الجمل صبور – Al-jamal saboor)
3. This is a beautiful garden. (هذه حديقة جميلة – Hadhihi hadiqa jamila)

Exercise 2: Arabic Nominal Sentence Construction

Construct your own nominal sentences in Arabic using the following words. Remember to follow the rules of agreement and word order.

1. قهوة (qahwa) – coffee, ساخن (sakhin) – hot
2. كتاب (kitab) – book, مفيد (mufid) – useful
3. طالب (talib) – student, مجتهد (mujtahid) – diligent
4. مدينة (madina) – city, كبير (kabir) – big

Exercise 3: Translate into Arabic Nominal Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Arabic.

1. The house is old.
2. That is a new car.
3. The children are happy.
4. The moon is bright.

Nominal vs. Verbal Sentences (الجملة الاسمية والجملة الفعلية)

Now, let’s compare verbal sentences with their close cousins, nominal sentences (الجملة الاسمية – al-jumla al-ismiyya). Here’s a handy table to highlight the key differences:

	Verbal Sentence (الجملة الفعلية)	Nominal Sentence (الجملة الاسمية)
Starts with	Verb (فعل)	Noun or pronoun (اسم أو ضمير)
Focus	Action	State of being
Example	ذهب الولد (The boy went.)	الولدُ سعيدٌ (The boy is happy.)

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Conclusion:

an Arabic nominal sentence (الجملة الاسمية) consists of two main parts: the subject (المبتدأ) and the predicate (الخبر), with no verb needed. The subject can be a noun, pronoun, demonstrative pronoun, or relative pronoun, while the predicate provides more information, which could be a noun, adjective, prepositional phrase, or even a verb sentence.

Nominal sentences follow certain rules, such as beginning with a noun or pronoun and often requiring the subject to be definite. The predicate can vary in form and provides details about the subject. 

Unlike verbal sentences that start with a verb, nominal sentences focus on describing or identifying the subject. Mastery of nominal sentences is essential in learning Arabic grammar, with exercises available to reinforce understanding and practice sentence construction.

FAQs about Nominal Sentences in Arabic