DAY 5 - THE NOUNS

As in English language the Arabic language has two forms of nouns:
1. Indefinite or sometime also known as Common Noun (نَكرة إسم)
2. Definite or sometime also known as Proper Noun (إسم مَعْرِفه)

1. Indefinite Noun (نَكرة إسم) 

Indefinite Noun (نَكرة إسم) is that noun which is spoken for a common thing. As for the word رَجُلٌ (a man) no special person or man is understood but any one and every man can be called as رَجُلٌ.

Similarly, the word طَيّبٌ (good) cannot be understood as some good thing but any one or every good thing is meant not a special one.

Main identifier:

• Double vowels (Tanween) on the last letter of the word. 
• Either two Dammas or two fat’has or two kasras.

2. Definite or Proper Noun (إسم مَعْرِفه)

Definite Noun (مَعْرِفه إسم) is that noun which is spoken for a specific thing. As for the word  ألْرَجُلُ (the man) is one special person or it is understood to whom the speaker is pointing.

Examples:

• زَيْدٌ  (Zaid, name of a specific person)
• مَكّةُ (Makkah, a specific city)
• ألْرَجُلُ (a specific man)

Main identifier:

• Only one vowel (Damma, Fatha or Kasra) on the last letter of the word.
• Exceptions: some male names such as  زَيْدٌ………..
• Addition of “أل” before the noun 

How to make definite noun from indefinite noun:

• Add “أل” before the noun 
• Remove double Tanween (Damma, Fatha or Kasra)
• Add only one vowel (Damma, Fat’ha or Kasra) on the last letter

Examples

Indefinite Noun (نَكرة إسم)	Meaning	Definite Noun (إسم مَعْرِفه)	Meaning
إنْسَانٌ	A man	ألْإنْسَانُ	The man
بَيْتٌ	A house	ألْبَيْتُ	The house
دَرْسٌ	A lesson	ألْدَرْسُ	The Lesson
رَسُوْلٌ	A prophet Or a messenger	ألْرَسُوْلُ	The Prophet
نَهَارٌ	A day	ألْنَهَارُ	The Day
وَلَدٌ	A boy	ألْوَلَدُ	The Boy
يَوْمٌ	A day	ألْيَوْمُ	The Day
ثَمَرٌ	A fruit	ٱلْثَمَرْ	The fruit

Important Notes

On the modern computers and typewriters, the printing of the following vowels is as:
Double Damma (or Pesh): ٌ also known as Tanween with Damma
Sukoon or Jazam: ْ
Alif with Fatha (or Zabar): أ
Alif with Kasra (or Zeir): إ
Alif with Damma (or Pesh): ٱ

In Pakistan, it is written in a slightly different style. However, most of the Arab countries and dictionaries follow the above principles.

Also we use different words for vowels also namely:

Zabar for Fatha (َ)
Zeir for Kasra (ِ)
Pesh for Damma (ُ)
Note: Circle depict any letter (consonant)