The Nominal Sentence:

The nominal sentence has two main pillars. These are the Mubtada' (Subject) and the Khabar (Predicate). The Mubtada' is what you are talking about. The Khabar is the news or information about it. In English, we use the verb "to be." Arabic is much faster and more efficient. It simply places the two parts together. You do not need a word for "is" or "are." They both usually take the Marfu' case. This means they often end with a Damma. Think of them as a balanced scale. If the subject is masculine, the predicate is masculine. If the subject is plural, the predicate is plural. However, the Mubtada' is usually definite (Ma'rifa). The Khabar is usually indefinite (Nakira). This difference creates the "is" in the reader's mind. It is like a grammar traffic light. Red means stop at the subject. Green means go with the news.

1. 1Start with a definite noun or pronoun. This is your Mubtada'. Example: البيتُ (The house).
2. 2Choose a description or a state. This is your Khabar. Example: كبيرٌ (large).
3. 3Ensure both words are in the Marfu' case. Look for that Damma on the end.
4. 4Match the gender of the Khabar to the Mubtada'. الطالبُ مجتهدٌ (The male student is diligent).
5. 5Match the number. الطلابُ مجتهدون (The students are diligent).
6. 6If the Mubtada' is a non-human plural, make the Khabar feminine singular. البيوتُ واسعةٌ (The houses are spacious).
7. 7For emphasis, you can add إنّ at the start. This changes the Mubtada' to the Mansub case (ending in Fatha).

Use this pattern for timeless facts. Use it to describe people’s qualities. It is perfect for professional bios and resumes. In a job interview, you would say أنا مديرٌ ناجحٌ (I am a successful manager). It sounds more permanent than using a verb. Use it for weather reports like الجوُّ جميلٌ (The weather is beautiful). It is also the standard for news headlines. When you want to define something, this is your tool. It provides a sense of "being" rather than "doing." It is great for ordering food too. الحسابُ، من فضلك (The bill, please) is a shortened nominal sentence. It is direct and polite.

Avoid the nominal sentence for sudden, fleeting actions. If a cat jumps suddenly, use a verbal sentence. Verbal sentences feel more dynamic and energetic. Do not use it when the timing of the action is the most important part. If you want to emphasize that something *just* happened, a verb is better. Also, be careful with complex sequences of events. Using too many nominal sentences can make your writing feel static. It might feel like a list of facts rather than a story. Balance is key in high-level Arabic. Think of it like a movie. The nominal sentences are the setting. The verbal sentences are the action scenes.

A very common mistake is making both words definite. If you say الرجلُ الكبيرُ, it means "The big man." It is just a phrase, not a sentence. To say "The man is big," you must say الرجلُ كبيرٌ. Another slip-up is gender agreement with non-human plurals. Remember, "The books are new" is الكتبُ جديدةٌ, not جديدون. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are tired! Also, watch out for the case after إنّ. Many people forget to change the Damma to a Fatha. It is a small detail that shows your C1 mastery. Don't let the small vowels trip you up.

Compare the nominal sentence to the verbal sentence (al-jumla al-fi'liyya). The verbal sentence starts with a verb. It focuses on the event. The nominal sentence focuses on the person or thing. There is also the Kaana sentence. Kaana (was) turns a nominal sentence into the past. It changes the Khabar to the Mansub case. Then there is Inna. Inna adds "indeed" or "certainly." It flips the cases of the Mubtada'. It is like a mirror image of Kaana. Mastering these three variations is the secret to stylistic flexibility. One focuses on the state, one on the past, and one on the truth.