Singular Accusative T

In Arabic, the accusative case marks the target of an action. It also marks descriptions of how things happen. For most nouns, you add a double fatha (*Tanwin Fatha*) and an Alif. But when a word ends in ة, the rules change. The ة acts as a seat for the double fatha. You place the two slanted lines right on top of it. You do not add anything after it. Why? Because the ة is technically a closed version of the letter ت. It is already a complete package. Adding an Alif would look cluttered. It would also break the phonetic flow of the word. Even native speakers occasionally trip over this when typing quickly. But for you, it should become second nature. It’s like knowing which fork to use at a fancy dinner. It shows you know the etiquette of the language.

1. 1Identify your singular noun ending in ة (Ta Marbuta).
2. 2Determine if the word is in the accusative case (*Mansub*).
3. 3Check if the word is indefinite (no ال at the beginning).
4. 4Place the double fatha ً directly over the ة.
5. 5Stop! Do not add an Alif ا after the letter.
6. 6Read the word with an "-an" sound at the end.

Use this pattern whenever a feminine singular noun is the direct object. For example, if you say "I saw a car," you use رأيتُ سيارةً. You also use it for the *Tamyiz* (specification). This is common when talking about quantities or qualities. If you say "I increased in experience," it becomes ازددتُ خبرةً. Another key area is the *Hal* (adverb of manner). If a woman arrives quickly, you say جاءت مسرعةً. In job interviews, you might say "I have a high degree of flexibility." That would be لديّ مرونةً عاليةً. It appears in directions too. "Go straight for a long distance" uses مسافةً طويلةً. Basically, any time the syntax demands a *Mansub* state for a ة word, this rule applies. It keeps your writing clean and grammatically sound.

Do not use this if the word is definite. If you add ال, the *Tanwin* disappears. You just use a single fatha. For example, السيارةَ. Also, avoid this in the nominative (*Marfu'*) or genitive (*Majrur*) cases. In those cases, the ة takes a *Damma* or *Kasra*. You also don't use it for words that are *Mamnu' min al-Sarf* (diptotes). Some names like فاطمة or حمزة fall into this category. They don't like *Tanwin* at all. If you are ever unsure, check if the word can take a double vowel. If it can't, the rule doesn't apply. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Red means stop and check the word type. Green means go ahead with the ً on the ة.

The biggest mistake is adding an Alif. You might see سيارةاً in a text message. That is a major red flag! It looks awkward to a trained eye. Another mistake is forgetting the *Tanwin* entirely in formal writing. Some people get lazy and leave the ة bare. At the C1 level, precision is your best friend. Don't let the Alif sneak in just because you're used to words like بيتاً or ولداً. Another error is applying this to the feminine plural. The plural ending ات behaves differently in the accusative. It takes a *Kasra* instead of a *Fatha*. So, stay focused on the singular. It’s a small detail, but it makes a huge impact on your credibility.

Compare this to words ending in a *Hamza* preceded by an Alif. Words like سماءً (sky) or ماءً (water) also refuse the extra Alif. They share this "no-Alif" club with the ة. However, words ending in a *Hamza* on a seat, like بدءاً, *do* take the Alif. This can be confusing! Just remember that the ة is always a "no-Alif" zone. It is more consistent than the *Hamza*. Also, contrast this with the masculine singular. A word like مديراً (manager) must have the Alif. But مديرةً (female manager) must not. It’s a gender-based spelling distinction that you must master. It’s like the difference between "their," "there," and "they're" in English. Small change, big meaning.