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Lesson 19: Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement in Arabic

Verb-Subject Order (فعل + فاعل)

In Arabic, the verb often comes before the subject:

جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ — The truth has come. (The verb جَآءَ comes first)

خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ — Allah created the heavens.

Key Agreement Rules:

  • When the subject is plural and comes after the verb, the verb stays singular
  • When the subject comes before the verb, the verb matches the plural
  • This is different from English!

Examples:

قَالَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ — The angels said. (Verb singular, subject plural — verb comes first)

ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ قَالُوا — The angels said. (Subject first, so verb is plural)

Lesson Quiz

Answer all questions. You need 75% to pass and unlock the next lesson.

1.In Arabic VSO order, what comes first?

2.When the subject comes after the verb and is plural, the verb is:

3.جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ means:

4.In ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ قَالُوا, why is قَالُوا plural?