A2 · 初中級 チャプター 5

The Case System: Who Does What?

4 トータルルール
40 例文
5 分
このチャプターのルール クイック練習

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the grammatical GPS that reveals the role of every word in an Arabic sentence.

  • Identify the grammatical function of words by their vowel endings.
  • Distinguish between subjects, objects, and possessed nouns.
  • Apply correct vocalization to nouns based on their sentence role.
Endings matter: Decode Arabic with the power of I'rab.

学べること

Hey there, you've already made fantastic progress in Arabic! Now it's time to level up and truly understand the dynamic roles words play in a sentence. In this exciting chapter, we're diving into a super crucial aspect: the Arabic Case System, or 'I'rab' (الإعراب). It might sound intimidating, but trust us, it's like a grammatical GPS! You'll learn how subtle changes at the end of words tell you exactly who is doing what, to whom, or even who owns what. First, you'll get acquainted with the Nominative Case (Al-Raf'), which points out the 'doer' or the 'main topic' of the sentence. Then, we'll tackle the Accusative Case (Al-Nasb), which identifies the 'target' of an action. Imagine you're listening to an Arabic news report and you want to clarify who attacked whom, or who received what – these rules become invaluable! Finally, we'll explore the Genitive Case (Al-Jarr), perfect for expressing possession (like 'the student's book') and for words that follow prepositions. By the end of this chapter, you'll confidently construct sentences without mixing up subjects and objects. You'll be able to say things like 'The boy ate the food' or 'I went with his friend' with complete accuracy. These rules won't just help you understand Arabic better; they'll empower you to speak clearly and correctly, just like a native speaker. Let's uncover this major secret of Arabic together!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to correctly identify the subject of a sentence using the Nominative case (Al-Raf').
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to construct sentences with direct objects using the Accusative case (Al-Nasb).
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to express possession and use prepositions correctly using the Genitive case (Al-Jarr).

チャプターガイド

Overview

Welcome to an exciting new chapter in your A2 Arabic journey! You've built a solid foundation, and now it's time to unlock a fundamental secret of Arabic: the case system, known as 'I'rab (الإعراب). Understanding Arabic grammar at this level is crucial for fluency, and I'rab is the key to truly grasping how words function within a sentence.
Think of it as a grammatical GPS that guides you, showing you who is doing what, who is receiving an action, or even who owns something. This chapter will demystify these subtle but powerful changes at the end of words, making your understanding of Arabic much deeper.
This section is designed to equip you with the knowledge to navigate the core of Arabic sentence structure. We'll focus on the three main cases: the Nominative Case (Al-Raf'), which highlights the subject or topic; the Accusative Case (Al-Nasb), which marks the direct object; and the Genitive Case (Al-Jarr), used for possession and after prepositions. Mastering these concepts will significantly boost your confidence in both understanding and producing accurate Arabic.
This is a vital step for any A2 Arabic learner aiming for clarity and correctness.

How This Grammar Works

The Arabic case system, or 'I'rab (الإعراب), is a system of endings that change on nouns, adjectives, and sometimes verbs to indicate their grammatical function in a sentence. This is a core concept in Arabic grammar and differentiates it from many other languages. Let's break down the three main cases you'll encounter at the A2 Arabic level.
First, we have the Nominative Case (Al-Raf'). This is the default case and usually indicates the subject of a sentence (the doer) or the topic of a nominal sentence. For example, in the sentence The student reads, the word for student would be in the nominative case.
This is often marked by a *damma* (ـُ) at the end of the word.
Example

الطالبُ يقرأُ. (Aṭ-ṭālibu yaqra'u.) - The student reads.

Next is the Accusative Case (Al-Nasb). This case typically marks the direct object of a verb – the thing or person being acted upon. If someone reads a book, the word for book would be in the accusative case. This is often marked by a *fatha* (ـَ) at the end of the word.
Example

قرأ الطالبُ الكتابَ. (Qara'a aṭ-ṭālibu al-kitāba.) - The student read the book.

Finally, we have the Genitive Case (Al-Jarr). This case is primarily used to show possession, often in what's called an 'idafa construction (a possessive phrase), and also for nouns that follow prepositions. When you say
the book of the student,
the word for student would be in the genitive case.
This is usually marked by a *kasra* (ـِ) at the end of the word.
Example

كتابُ الطالبِ. (Kitābu aṭ-ṭālibi.) - The student's book.

Example with preposition: ذهبتُ إلى المدرسةِ. (Dhahabtu ilā al-madrasati.) - I went to the school.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: «أنا أحبُ التفاحةَ.» (Ana uhibbu at-tuffāḥa.) - I love the apple. (Assuming apple is the object and should be accusative)
✓ Correct: «أنا أحبُ التفاحةَ.» (Ana uhibbu at-tuffāḥa.)
*Explanation:* This is a correct sentence, but a common mistake learners make is not marking the object correctly. If the sentence was meant to say
The apple is delicious
and apple was the subject, it would need to be in the nominative case: «التفاحةُ لذيذةٌ.» (At-tuffāḥatu ladhīdhah.) The ending changes depending on the word's role.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «هذا قلمُ زيد.» (Hādhā qalamu Zayd.) - This is the pen of Zayd. (Assuming Zayd should be genitive)
✓ Correct: «هذا قلمُ زيدٍ.» (Hādhā qalamu Zaydin.)
*Explanation:* In an 'idafa construction (possessive phrase), the second noun indicating possession is always in the genitive case. So, Zayd here needs the *kasra* ending.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «ذهبتُ مع صديقُ.» (Dhahabtu ma'a ṣadīqu.) - I went with a friend. (Assuming friend should be genitive)
✓ Correct: «ذهبتُ مع صديقٍ.» (Dhahabtu ma'a ṣadīqin.)
*Explanation:* Words that follow prepositions (like «مع» - with) always take the genitive case. Therefore, «صديق» needs a *kasra* ending.

Real Conversations

A

A

هذا كتابٌ جديدٌ. (Hādhā kitābun jadīdun.) - This is a new book.
B

B

قرأتُ الكتابَ. (Qara'tu al-kitāba.) - I read the book.
A

A

هل رأيتَ حقيبةَ أخي؟ (Hal ra'ayta ḥaqībata akhī?) - Did you see my brother's bag?
B

B

نعم، رأيتُ حقيبةَ أخي أمامَ البابِ. (Na'am, ra'aytu ḥaqībata akhī amāma al-bābi.) - Yes, I saw my brother's bag in front of the door.

Quick FAQ

Q

What is the main benefit of learning Arabic case endings for A2 learners?

Learning Arabic case endings at the A2 level helps you correctly identify the subject and object in sentences, leading to more accurate and understandable communication.

Q

How does the Arabic case system differ from English grammar?

English primarily uses word order to show grammatical function, while Arabic relies more on word endings (case endings) to convey the same information.

Q

When do I use the genitive case in Arabic?

You use the genitive case (Al-Jarr) in Arabic for possession (e.g.,

the car of the man
) and for nouns that follow prepositions (e.g., in the house).

Q

Are there exceptions to Arabic case endings at the A2 level?

Yes, there are some exceptions and complexities, especially with certain types of nouns and verb conjugations. However, focusing on the general rules for nouns in the three main cases is essential for A2 learners.

Cultural Context

Understanding 'I'rab is like understanding the musicality of Arabic. While modern spoken dialects often simplify or omit some case endings, mastering them is crucial for reading formal Arabic (like news, literature, or religious texts) and for sounding more polished and educated in formal speech. It’s a sign of deeper linguistic understanding.

重要な例文 (8)

1

الرَّجُلُ هُنَا.

その男性はここにいます。

アラビア語の格変化：誰が何をしている？ (I'rab)
2

شَرِبْتُ القَهْوَةَ.

私はコーヒーを飲みました。

アラビア語の格変化：誰が何をしている？ (I'rab)
3

Al-jawwu ḥārrun al-yawma.

今日は暑いですね。

アラビア語の主語の語尾：主格 (Al-Raf')
4

Waṣala al-musāfirūna ilā al-maṭāri.

旅行者たちが空港に到着しました。

アラビア語の主語の語尾：主格 (Al-Raf')
5

I drank the coffee in the café.

カフェでコーヒーを飲みました。

アラビア語の対格：目的語の標示 (al-Nasb)
6

I saw a very beautiful movie.

とても美しい映画を見ました。

アラビア語の対格：目的語の標示 (al-Nasb)
7

أنا في المَكْتَبِ الآنَ.

私は今、オフィスにいます。

アラビア語の属格（Al-Jarr）：所有と前置詞
8

هذا هاتِفُ الطالِبِ.

これは学生の電話です。

アラビア語の属格（Al-Jarr）：所有と前置詞

ヒントとコツ (4)

🎯

「語尾を省略する」コツ

カフェで友達と話すとき、アラビア語の語尾の母音は言わなくても通じることが多いです。でも、文章を読むときは、この母音で「誰が」「何を」しているかを見分けられますよ。例えば: «شَرِبْتُ القَهْوَةَ» (会話では「シャリブトゥルカフワ」と聞こえるかも)
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の格変化：誰が何をしている？ (I'rab)
🎯

「基本の形」戦略

もし格変化に迷ったら、「u」や「un」の主格を使いましょう。辞書に載っている形なので、一番安全です。「これは本です。」«هَذَا كِتَابٌ»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の主語の語尾：主格 (Al-Raf')
⚠️

「隠れたアリフ」に注意！

不定名詞の終わりにあるサイレントなアリフを忘れないでください。発音はしませんが、書き忘れると大きなスペルミスになります。「كِتَابًا」
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の対格：目的語の標示 (al-Nasb)
💡

「イ」の音のルール

前置詞を見たら、次の単語の語尾に「イ」の音（カスラ）があるかチェックしましょう。アラビア語の文法で一番わかりやすいルールですよ！「أنا في المَكْتَبِ الآنَ。」
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の属格（Al-Jarr）：所有と前置詞

重要な語彙 (6)

الْوَلَدُ the boy (al-waladu) التُّفَّاحَةُ the apple (at-tuffahatu) أَكَلَ ate (akala) الْكِتَابُ the book (al-kitabu) فِي in (fi) الْمَدْرَسَةُ the school (al-madrasatu)

Real-World Preview

coffee

Ordering at a Cafe

Review Summary

  • Noun + ـُ (u)
  • Noun + ـَ (a)
  • Noun + ـِ (i)

よくある間違い

Swapping the Damma and Fatha makes the apple eat the boy! Always put the Damma (u) on the doer.

Wrong: أَكَلَ الْوَلَدَ التُّفَّاحَةُ
正解: أَكَلَ الْوَلَدُ التُّفَّاحَةَ

Nouns following prepositions like 'fi' or 'ala' MUST take a Kasra (i).

Wrong: فِي الْمَكْتَبُ
正解: فِي الْمَكْتَبِ

In an ownership pair (Idafa), the second word (the owner) always takes the Genitive case (i).

Wrong: كِتَابُ الطَّالِبَ
正解: كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ

Next Steps

You've tackled one of the most unique parts of Arabic grammar. This logic will make your reading and speaking incredibly precise. Keep going, you're doing amazing!

Read a short Arabic paragraph and circle all the words ending in Damma.

Describe 3 items in your room and who they belong to using the Genitive case.

Continue to: Advanced Descriptions and Comparisons

クイック練習 (10)

主語のマークが正しい文を選びましょう。

Select the correct version of: 'The engineers arrived.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Waṣala al-muhandisūna (وَصَلَ الْمُهَنْدِسُونَ)
「エンジニアたち」は主語で複数形なので、-ūna（Waw + Nun）で終わる必要があります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の主語の語尾：主格 (Al-Raf')

前置詞の誤りを訂正しましょう。

Find and fix the mistake:

Find the correct version of: 'He is in the office' (fii al-maktab...)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: هُوَ فِي المَكْتَبِ.
前置詞「〜の中に（fii）」の後ろの名詞は、カスラ（-i）を取らなければなりません。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の格変化：誰が何をしている？ (I'rab)

双数形の間違いを見つけて修正しましょう

Find and fix the mistake:

ذَهَبْتُ إلى مَدينَتانِ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ذَهَبْتُ إلى مَدينَتَيْنِ.
前置詞「ila」の後では、双数形の名詞は語尾が「-aani」から「-ayni」に変わります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の属格（Al-Jarr）：所有と前置詞

「その本」（الكتاب）の正しい形を空欄に入れてください。

قَرَأْتُ ___ جَدِيداً أَمْسِ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الكِتَابَ
「その本」は動詞「読む」の直接目的語なので、対格（ファトハ）でなければなりません。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の対格：目的語の標示 (al-Nasb)

正しい属格の形で空欄を埋めましょう

أنا في ___ (البَيْت).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: البَيْتِ
前置詞「fi」の後なので、名詞は属格にならなければなりません。単数定冠詞付き名詞の属格はカスラで終わります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の属格（Al-Jarr）：所有と前置詞

文法的に正しい文を選んでください。

「インナ (إنَّ)」を使った正しい文を選んでください:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: إِنَّ الطَّالِبَ مُجْتَهِدٌ
助詞「インナ (إنَّ)」は、文の主語を対格（マンズーブ）にします。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の対格：目的語の標示 (al-Nasb)

正しい目的語の格で文を完成させましょう。

أَكَلْتُ التُفَّاحَ___ (the apple).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ةَ
「リンゴ」は食べられる目的語なので、対格（ファトハ）でなければなりません。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の格変化：誰が何をしている？ (I'rab)

正しい主語の語尾を選びましょう。

Which sentence correctly marks the subject 'The boy'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الوَلدُ يَلْعَبُ.
アラビア語の主語は主格になり、ダンマ（-u）が必要です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の格変化：誰が何をしている？ (I'rab)

主語に正しい語尾を選びましょう。

The teacher (___) entered the class. / Dakhala al-mudarris___ al-faṣla.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: u (ُ )
先生は行為者（Fa'il）なので、主格（Damma）を取ります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の主語の語尾：主格 (Al-Raf')

文法的に正しい文を選びましょう

正しいイダーファの構造を選びましょう:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: سَيّارةُ الرَّجُلِ
イダーファ（所有）では、最初の単語には「アル」がつかず、2番目の単語（所有者）は属格にならなければなりません。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の属格（Al-Jarr）：所有と前置詞

Score: /10

よくある質問 (6)

文中の名詞の文法的な役割を示すために、語尾を変えるシステムのことです。誰が行為者で誰が受取人かを明確にするのに役立ちます。例えば: «الرَّجُلُ أَكَلَ التُّفَّاحَةَ» (男性がリンゴを食べた) のように、語尾で役割がわかります。
ほとんど使われません。話し言葉の多くの方言では、簡略化のために語尾変化が省略されます。しかし、現代標準アラビア語（MSA）では非常に重要です。例えば、ニュース番組では «الرئيسُ» (大統領が) と言いますが、日常会話では «الرئيس» と語尾を言わないことが多いです。
「Al-」（定冠詞）があるかないかの違いです。「Al-」があれば「u」、なければ「un」になります。「その本」«الْكِتَابُ»と「本」«كِتَابٌ»の違いですね。
はい、名前も同じルールに従います。「ムハンマド」は«مُحَمَّدٌ»が主格の形です。名前も変化するんですよ。
基本的な記号は、定形名詞には「ファトハ」（ـَ）、不定形名詞には「タンウィーン・ファトハ」（ـًا）です。単語の最後の文字につきますよ。「القَهْوَةَ」
これはアラビア語文法の特別な例外です。「-aat」（ـَات）で終わる単語は、対格でファトハを使うことはありません。代わりにカスラを使うんです。「المُدَرِّسَاتِ」
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