The Marfūʿāt: Who Gets the Damma?
In our previous lesson, we learned that Ar-Rafʿ (الرفع) is the state usually represented by a Damma. But when exactly does a noun become Marfūʿ? There are seven main roles in Arabic grammar that "demand" this state.
Think of these as the "VIPs" of the sentence. They are the most important components, so they carry the strongest sign.
The 7 Roles of the Marfūʿāt
1. Al-Mubtada' (المبتدأ)
The subject we start with in a Nominal Sentence.
Example: الجوُّ باردٌ (The weather is cold).
2. Al-Khabar (الخبر)
The news/information provided about the subject.
Example: الجوُّ باردٌ (The weather is cold).
3. Al-Fāʿil (الفاعل)
The doer of an action in a Verbal Sentence.
Example: نجحَ المجتهدُ (The diligent student succeeded).
4. Nāʾib al-Fāʿil (نائب الفاعل)
The "Deputy Doer" used in passive sentences.
Example: كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ (The lesson was written).
5. Ism Kāni (اسم كان)
The subject of the verb Kāna (Was) and its sisters.
Example: كانَ القمرُ منيرًا (The moon was bright).
6. Khabar Inna (خبر إنَّ)
The news/predicate of the particle Inna (Indeed).
Example: إنَّ اللهَ غفورٌ (Indeed, Allah is Forgiving).
7. At-Tābiʿ (التابع للمرفوع)
A word that "follows" a Marfūʿ noun, such as an adjective.
Example: جاءَ الرجلُ الكريمُ (The generous man came).
The Marfūʿ Rule of Thumb
If you encounter a noun that is a Subject, a Doer, or Information about a subject, it will almost always be Marfūʿ.
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