Masdar in Idafa:
Use the Masdar in Idafa to package actions into nouns, attaching the 'doer' or 'receiver' directly to the action.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Masdar acts as the first term (Mudaf).
- Second term is logical Subject or Object.
- Compresses full verbal sentences into nouns.
- Essential for high-level formal Arabic.
Quick Reference
| Structure Type | Arabic Example | Literal Translation | Logic (Who did what?) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masdar + Subject | rujū' al-musāfir | Return of the traveler | The traveler returned (Intransitive) |
| Masdar + Object | shurb al-qahwa | Drinking of the coffee | Someone drank the coffee |
| Masdar + Subject + Object | darb al-walad al-kura | The boy's hitting the ball | Boy (Subject) hit Ball (Object) |
| Masdar + Object (Passive sense) | qatl al-mujrim | The killing of the criminal | The criminal was killed |
| Masdar + Pronoun (Subject) | safaru-hu | His traveling | He traveled |
| Masdar + Pronoun (Object) | ru'yatu-hā | Seeing her | Someone saw her |
मुख्य उदाहरण
3 / 10دخول الطلاب إلى القاعة كان هادئاً
The students' entering of the hall was quiet.
طلب الموظف زيادةً في الراتب
The employee's requesting of a raise in salary.
يجيد الطباخ تحضير الطعام
The chef is good at preparing food.
The Pronoun Swap
If you want to say 'My writing of the book', attach the pronoun to the Masdar: `kitābatī lil-kitāb` or just `kitābatī`. It acts just like a regular Idafa with a pronoun!
Don't Break the Chain
Nothing can come between the Masdar and its Mudaf Ilayh. Not a preposition, not an adjective. Keep them glued together like superglue.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Masdar acts as the first term (Mudaf).
- Second term is logical Subject or Object.
- Compresses full verbal sentences into nouns.
- Essential for high-level formal Arabic.
Overview
Welcome to the big leagues! You've mastered verbs, you've conquered basic possessions, and now we're smashing them together. Masdar in Idafa (construct state) is the ultimate tool for condensing complex sentences into elegant noun phrases. It’s what turns "The president announced that he would sign the treaty" into "The president's signing of the treaty." Sounds fancy? It is. It's the bread and butter of media, academic writing, and sophisticated speech. Basically, it allows a Verbal Noun (Masdar) to "own" its subject or its object. It’s concise, it’s powerful, and yes, it can sometimes be delightfully ambiguous.
How This Grammar Works
Think of the Masdar as a verb in a noun's costume. It still has the DNA of a verb—it wants to take action on things—but it dresses like a noun. In an Idafa structure, the Masdar sits in the first position (the Mudaf). The noun immediately following it (the Mudaf Ilayh) is grammatically "possessed" by the Masdar, but logically, it's either the doer of the action or the receiver of the action.
For example, take the verb kataba (to write). The Masdar is kitāba (writing).
If we say kitābat al-tālib (the student's writing), the student is the doer.
If we say kitābat al-risāla (the writing of the letter), the letter is the receiver.
Formation Pattern
- 1Here is the recipe for this linguistic sandwich:
- 2The Masdar: Comes first. No
al-, no tanwin. Case depends on its role in the sentence. - 3The Mudaf Ilayh: Comes second. Always Genitive (
majrūr). This is your logical Subject or Object. - 4The Leftover Argument (Optional): If the Masdar "owns" the Subject, the Object follows in the Accusative (
mansūb). If it "owns" the Object, the Subject is usually dropped or mentioned via a preposition.
When To Use It
- Headlines & Media: To save space. "The Minister's Arrival" (
wusūl al-wazīr) instead of "The Minister arrived." - Formal Writing: To avoid repetitive sentences starting with verbs.
- Nominal Sentences: When you want to make the action the topic. "Eating vegetables is healthy" (
akl al-khudrawāt mufīd). - After Prepositions: "After eating..." (
ba'da akl...).
When Not To Use It
- Simple storytelling: If you're listing a sequence of events ("I woke up, I ate, I left"), stick to verbs. Masdars slow down the narrative flow.
- When clarity is king: If the Idafa creates too much ambiguity about who did what to whom, switch back to a standard Verb or
an+ Verb structure.
Common Mistakes
- The Case Ending Trap: Forgetting that if you add the Subject to the Masdar, the Object appearing afterwards MUST be Accusative (
mansūb). - Wrong:
samā' al-nās al-adhān(treating everything as genitive/possession). - Right:
samā' al-nās al-adhāna(The people's hearing [of] the call to prayer). - The Double Dip: Trying to add
al-to the Masdar. Never! It's in an Idafa. - Ambiguity blindness: Assuming the reader knows
qatl al-rajulmeans "the man killed someone" when it could mean "the man was killed."
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Masdar vs.
an+ Verb:yajib 'alayka al-dhahabvsyajib 'alayka an tadhhab. The Masdar is punchier;an+ Verb is clearer and more specific about tense. - Active Participle (
ism fā'il):huwa kātib al-risāla(He is the writer of the letter). Focuses on the *person*; Masdar focuses on the *act*.
Quick FAQ
Q. Can a Masdar have both a subject and an object in an Idafa?
A. Not inside the Idafa itself! The Idafa only holds two words. The Masdar grabs *one* (subject or object) as the Mudaf Ilayh. The other argument sits outside, waiting its turn.
Q. How do I know if the second word is the subject or object?
A. Context, my friend. akl al-tuffāha (eating the apple) -> Apple can't eat, so it's the object. bukā' al-tifl (crying of the child) -> Crying is intransitive, so child is the subject. If it's ambiguous like hubb al-zawj (love of the husband), check the rest of the sentence!
Reference Table
| Structure Type | Arabic Example | Literal Translation | Logic (Who did what?) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masdar + Subject | rujū' al-musāfir | Return of the traveler | The traveler returned (Intransitive) |
| Masdar + Object | shurb al-qahwa | Drinking of the coffee | Someone drank the coffee |
| Masdar + Subject + Object | darb al-walad al-kura | The boy's hitting the ball | Boy (Subject) hit Ball (Object) |
| Masdar + Object (Passive sense) | qatl al-mujrim | The killing of the criminal | The criminal was killed |
| Masdar + Pronoun (Subject) | safaru-hu | His traveling | He traveled |
| Masdar + Pronoun (Object) | ru'yatu-hā | Seeing her | Someone saw her |
The Pronoun Swap
If you want to say 'My writing of the book', attach the pronoun to the Masdar: `kitābatī lil-kitāb` or just `kitābatī`. It acts just like a regular Idafa with a pronoun!
Don't Break the Chain
Nothing can come between the Masdar and its Mudaf Ilayh. Not a preposition, not an adjective. Keep them glued together like superglue.
Ambiguity is Okay
Native speakers deal with ambiguity too. If you see `masā'adat al-sadiq` (The friend's help / Helping the friend), use the surrounding sentences to decode it. Don't stress if it's not instantly clear.
Sound Smart Instantly
Using Masdars instead of verbs makes you sound more educated and formal. Instead of saying 'I want to visit you' (`an azūraka`), try 'I want your visit' (`urīdu ziyārataka`). Instant upgrade.
उदाहरण
10دخول الطلاب إلى القاعة كان هادئاً
Focus: dukhūl al-tullāb
The students' entering of the hall was quiet.
Masdar + Subject (students).
طلب الموظف زيادةً في الراتب
Focus: talab al-muwazzaf ziyādatan
The employee's requesting of a raise in salary.
Masdar + Subject + External Object (ziyādatan is Mansub!).
يجيد الطباخ تحضير الطعام
Focus: tahdīr al-ta'ām
The chef is good at preparing food.
Masdar + Object (food). Subject of Masdar is implied (the chef).
سوف يتم معاقبة الجاني
Focus: mu'āqabat al-jānī
Punishing the perpetrator will take place.
Masdar + Object. Used in a passive voice structure with 'yatim'.
ذكرُك بالخير مشهور
Focus: dhikru-ka
The mentioning of you (people mentioning you) with good is well-known.
Masdar + Pronoun (Object). 'Your mention' = people mentioning you.
إهمال الواجبات يسبب المشاكل
Focus: ihmāl al-wājibāt
Neglecting duties causes problems.
Masdar + Object.
أعجبني إلقاء الشاعر القصيدةَ
Focus: ilqā' al-shā'ir al-qasīdata
I liked the poet's reciting of the poem.
Complex: Masdar + Subject (Poet/Genitive) + Object (Poem/Accusative).
فهم الناس الحقيقة (✗) -> فهم الناسِ الحقيقةَ (✓)
Focus: fahm al-nās
The people's understanding of the truth.
Mistake Correction: Ensure 'People' is Genitive and 'Truth' is Accusative.
قتل الوحوش
Focus: qatl al-wuhūsh
The killing of the monsters (OR The monsters' killing).
Ambiguous! Could mean monsters killed someone, or someone killed them.
ترك الصلاة
Focus: tark al-salah
Abandoning prayer.
Common religious/cultural phrase. Masdar + Object.
खुद को परखो
Complete the phrase to mean 'The minister's signing of the decision'.
___ al-wazīr al-qarār.
We need the Masdar (tawqī') to form the Idafa. It cannot have tanwin because it is the Mudaf.
Choose the correct vowel for 'al-dars' in: 'sharh al-mu'allim al-dars...' (The teacher's explaining of the lesson).
sharh al-mu'allim al-dars___
Because 'al-mu'allim' is the Subject (in Genitive), 'al-dars' is the Object of the Masdar, so it must be Accusative (Mansub).
Identify the logic: 'bina' al-madrasa' (The building of the school).
In this phrase, 'al-madrasa' is logically the ___.
Schools don't build things; they are built. Therefore, it is the object.
🎉 स्कोर: /3
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
Verbal Sentence vs. Masdar Phrase
Analyzing the Idafa
Look at the noun after the Masdar.
Can this noun perform the action? (e.g. Can a 'boy' run?)
Is there another noun after it in Accusative case?
Yes, Accusative noun found.
Result:
Common Contexts
News & Media
- • i'lān al-hukūma
- • wqf al-itlaq
Daily Routines
- • ba'da al-akl
- • qabla al-nawm
Formal Requests
- • taqdīm al-talab
- • irfāq al-milaff
Emotions/Abstract
- • hubb al-watan
- • khawf al-mustaqbal
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
21 सवालA Masdar is the verbal noun (like 'eating' or 'departure'). In this context, it acts as the owner in a possession phrase (Idafa) to link it to who did it or what it was done to.
No! In an Idafa, the first word (Mudaf) never takes al-. The definition comes from the second word. So al-kitābat al-risāla is totally wrong.
It depends on the Masdar's role in the bigger sentence. If it's the subject of the sentence, use Damma (dukhūlu). If it's an object, Fatha (dukhūla).
The Masdar keeps the preposition! For najara ilā (to look at), the Masdar is nazar ilā. Example: nazaru-hu ilā al-samā' (His looking at the sky).
Less often. Dialects prefer verbs or simple phrases. This structure is a hallmark of MSA (Fusha) and educated speech.
Yes, but be careful. 'The attempt of the breaking of the door' (muhāwalat kasr al-bāb). It gets heavy fast, so don't overdo it.
The Masdar doesn't change gender, but the Mudaf Ilayh (if it's the subject) keeps its gender. qirā'at al-bint (The girl's reading).
Use ‘adam (lack of) before the Masdar. ‘adam al-hudūr (non-attendance / not showing up).
Yes, 100%. The word immediately following the Masdar in an Idafa is *always* Genitive (ending in Kasra or īn/ayn).
Yes, but it comes *after* the entire Idafa. qirā'at al-tālib al-sarī'a (The student's quick reading). The adjective matches the Masdar in gender/case.
It transforms a whole sentence into a single noun unit. This lets you make that 'action' the subject or object of *another* verb.
Object Idafa. It means 'Love *for* the homeland', not the homeland's love for you (usually).
That's a specific use of the Masdar for emphasis (darabtu darban), but it's different from the Idafa construction we are discussing here.
Absolutely. mawt suqrāt (The death of Socrates). It works just like any other noun.
No. Ziyārat al-malik could be the King's visit yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Time is determined by the main verb of the sentence.
In Arabic, they are often the same: akl al-tuffāha. Context decides if it sounds like a gerund or a possessed noun.
The Masdar takes the first object as Mudaf Ilayh, and the second object follows in Accusative. i'tā' al-mudīr al-muwazzaf jā'iza (The manager giving the employee a prize).
Extremely. The Quran uses this structure constantly for conciseness and rhythm. e.g., it'ām miskīn (feeding a poor person).
Yes, if you use li (for). hubb li-zayd (Love for Zayd / Zayd's love). But the Idafa is stronger and more formal.
Memorization mostly, but look for patterns like fa'l, fi'āla, taf'īl. If it looks like a noun but means an action, it's a Masdar.
Yes. muhāwalāt al-hurūb (The escape attempts). It works the same way.
पहले ये सीखो
इन अवधारणाओं को समझने से तुम्हें इस व्याकरण नियम में महारत हासिल करने में मदद मिलेगी।
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