Arabic Preposition 'Li': Expressing 'To', 'For', and 'Have' (لـ)
لـ is essential for expressing ownership, giving to recipients, and stating purpose in Arabic.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The particle 'Li' (لـ) attaches to the start of a word to mean 'for', 'to', or to show possession.
- Attach 'Li' directly to the noun: 'Li' + 'Muhammad' = 'Li-Muhammad' (For Muhammad).
- When used with 'I' (Ana), it becomes 'Li' (For me).
- Use it to express possession: 'Li' + 'kitab' = 'Li-kitab' (I have a book).
Overview
The Arabic preposition لِـ (Li), often translated as 'to,' 'for,' or 'belonging to,' is a fundamental particle in the language. Unlike English, Arabic does not possess a direct verb equivalent to 'to have.' Instead, possession, along with several other critical relationships, is expressed through the use of لِـ attached to nouns or pronouns. This single-letter prefix is a clitic, meaning it cannot stand alone and must always attach to the beginning of the word it governs.
Its versatility makes it indispensable for A1 learners. You will encounter لِـ when indicating the recipient of an action, expressing a reason or purpose, or, most notably, conveying ownership of items, ideas, or even family members. Mastering لِـ unlocks a vast array of basic sentence structures, allowing you to articulate who possesses what, to whom something is directed, and why an action is performed.
Its profound impact on meaning belies its diminutive size.
How This Grammar Works
لِـ functions as a حرف جرّ (harf jarr), or a preposition. This classification is crucial because, like all prepositions in Arabic, لِـ obligates the noun or pronoun that follows it to be in the حالة الجرّ (ḥālat al-jarr), known as the genitive case. For single, indefinite nouns, this typically manifests as a kasra vowel (ِ) on the final letter.لِـ is with a kasra, sounding like /li/.لِـ exhibits specific morpho-phonological changes depending on the word it precedes. The most significant of these occurs when لِـ precedes a word beginning with the definite article الـ (al-). In this scenario, the همزة الوصل (hamzat al-waṣl), the non-initial ألف (alif) of الـ, is dropped entirely, both in writing and pronunciation.البيتُ (the house) becomes لِلْبَيْتِ (for the house), where the initial ا has vanished, and لِـ directly connects to the ل of الـ. The resulting double ل (لِلْـ) is consistently written and pronounced, maintaining the genitive case.لِـ attaches to pronouns, it typically undergoes a vowel shift from kasra to fatha, sounding like /la/. This is a feature of Arabic phonology designed for ease of pronunciation when clitics attach to pronoun suffixes. For example, the pronoun هُوَ (he) becomes لَهُ (for him/he has), and أَنْتَ (you, masculine) becomes لَكَ (for you/you have).ـي (me), which forms لي (for me/I have), and the first-person plural pronoun ـنا (us), which forms لنا (for us/we have). These two forms retain the original kasra vowel of لِـ, making them distinct.لِـ to integrate seamlessly into Arabic sentence structures, forming a cohesive unit with the word it governs. Understanding these attachment rules is paramount, as misapplication can lead to both grammatical errors and confusion in meaning. The consistent application of the genitive case also reinforces the particle's role as a harf jarr, linking it to other prepositions and the broader system of Arabic إعراب (i'rāb), or grammatical inflection.Formation Pattern
لِـ follows a precise set of rules, depending on whether it attaches to an indefinite noun, a definite noun, or a pronoun. Mastering these patterns is essential for accurate communication.
لِـ precedes an indefinite noun (a noun without الـ), it simply attaches as a prefix, and the noun takes the genitive case, typically indicated by a kasratayn (ٍ) for indefinite nouns in the nominative/accusative, or a single kasra (ِ) if it's the second term of an iḍāfah (construct state). For beginners, focus on the standalone indefinite noun.
لِـ + Indefinite Noun (with kasra or kasratayn)
لِكِتابٍ (for a book) – كِتابٌ (a book) -> لِكِتابٍ
لِطالبٍ (to a student) – طالبٌ (a student) -> لِطالبٍ
لِصَديقَةٍ (for a female friend) – صَديقَةٌ (a female friend) -> لِصَديقَةٍ
الـ):
ألف (alif) of الـ applies. The لِـ attaches directly to the ل of الـ, forming لِلْـ, and the noun remains in the genitive case. If the noun itself begins with ل, the لِـ combines with الـ and the noun's initial ل, resulting in a triple ل sound, written as لِلَّـ with a shaddah (ّ).
لِـ + الـ + Noun (initial ألف of الـ drops) -> لِلْـ + Noun
المديرُ (the manager) -> لِلمُديرِ (for the manager)
المدرسةُ (the school) -> لِلمَدرَسَةِ (to the school)
ل): اللَّيلُ (the night) -> لِلَّيلِ (for the night). Notice the shaddah on the ل of اللَّيلِ.
ل): الُّغةُ (the language) -> لِلُّغَةِ (for the language).
لِـ combines with pronoun suffixes, typically changing its vowel to fatha (لَـ), except for the first-person singular and plural. This creates a possessive or recipient pronoun form.
لي (for me/I have) | لي (for me/I have) | لنا (for us/we have) | لنا (for us/we have) | لنا (for us/we have) |
لكَ (for you, m) | لكِ (for you, f) | لكما (for you two) | لكم (for you all, m) | لكنّ (for you all, f) |
لهُ (for him/he has) | لها (for her/she has) | لهما (for them two) | لهم (for them all, m) | لهنّ (for them all, f) |
لِـ behaves with each pronoun, illustrating the vowel consistency and the exceptions. It is imperative to memorize these forms as they are foundational for expressing possession and attribution in Arabic.
When To Use It
لِـ serves several crucial functions in Arabic, far beyond a simple direct translation. Its usage can be categorized into four primary scenarios, each reflecting a distinct semantic role.لِـ is employed with a noun or pronoun to indicate that something belongs to someone or that someone possesses something. This usage implies an inherent, stable, or legal form of ownership, or an intrinsic relationship like family ties.- Grammatical Structure:
لِـ+ Possessor (Pronoun/Noun in Genitive) + Possessed Item (Indefinite Noun in Nominative) - Example 1 (Pronoun):
لي أختٌ صغيرةٌ.(I have a younger sister.) – Literally: "To me is a younger sister." - Example 2 (Noun):
لِلمُديرِ سَيّارةٌ فاخرةٌ.(The manager has a luxurious car.) – Literally: "To the manager is a luxurious car." - Example 3 (Abstract):
لِكلِّ إنسانٍ حقوقٌ.(Every human has rights.) – Here,حقوقٌ(rights) are inherently connected.
لِـ identifies the recipient or beneficiary. This is analogous to "to" or "for" in English when conveying who receives something or who benefits from it. It clarifies the target of communication, gifts, or services.- Grammatical Structure: Verb/Noun +
لِـ+ Recipient (Noun/Pronoun in Genitive) - Example 1 (Gift):
هذه الهديةُ لِأُمّي.(This gift is for my mother.) –أُمّي(my mother) is the beneficiary. - Example 2 (Communication):
أرسلتُ رسالةً لِصَديقي.(I sent a message to my friend.) –صَديقي(my friend) is the recipient. - Example 3 (Action):
طبختُ الطعامَ لِلْجيرانِ.(I cooked food for the neighbors.) –الجيران(the neighbors) are the beneficiaries of the action.
لِـ can introduce the purpose or reason behind an action. When followed by a مصدر (maṣdar – verbal noun) or even a concept, it explains why something is done. This helps establish causality or intent.- Grammatical Structure: Action/Verb +
لِـ+ Purpose (Noun/Maṣdar in Genitive) - Example 1 (Maṣdar):
جئتُ إلى هنا لِلدِّراسَةِ.(I came here for studying / in order to study.) –الدِّراسَةِ(studying) is the purpose. - Example 2 (Concept):
نعملُ لِلنّجاحِ.(We work for success.) –النّجاحِ(success) is the ultimate goal. - Example 3 (Reason):
هذا الدواءُ لِلسُّعالِ.(This medicine is for coughs.) –السُّعالِ(coughs) is the condition it remedies.
لِـ is used to specify what something is intended for, or to whom it is assigned. It highlights allocation, suitability, or the intended use of an object or space.- Grammatical Structure: Item/Place +
لِـ+ Designation (Noun/Pronoun in Genitive) - Example 1 (Place):
هذه الغرفةُ لِلضُّيوفِ.(This room is for the guests.) –الضُّيوفِ(the guests) are the designated users. - Example 2 (Item):
هذا الكرسيُّ لِلْجُلوسِ.(This chair is for sitting.) –الجُلوسِ(sitting) is its designated function. - Example 3 (Time):
الاجتماعُ لِيَومِ الخميسِ.(The meeting is for Thursday.) –يَومِ الخميسِ(Thursday) is the allocated time.
Common Mistakes
لِـ, primarily due to its unique behavior and the absence of direct English equivalents. Understanding these pitfalls is the first step towards avoiding them.الـ: This is by far the most prevalent error. Learners often mistakenly retain the ألف (alif) of the definite article الـ when لِـ precedes it. This results in an incorrect form like لِالبيتِ instead of the correct لِلبَيْتِ. The linguistic reason for dropping the ألف is همزة الوصل (hamzat al-waṣl), which is designed to be omitted when preceded by a connecting word for phonetic smoothness. Always remember the transformation: لِـ + الـ + Noun -> لِلْـ + Noun.- Incorrect:
أنا ذاهبٌ لِالمكتبةِ.(I am going to the library.) - Correct:
أنا ذاهبٌ لِلمَكتَبَةِ.(I am going to the library.)
لِـ is a kasra, it shifts to a fatha when attaching to most pronouns (e.g., لكَ, لهُ). A common mistake is to apply the kasra uniformly, leading to ungrammatical forms like لِكَ or لِهُ. Remember the special cases: لي (for me) and لنا (for us) retain the kasra, but all other attached pronouns take لَـ with a fatha.- Incorrect:
هذا القلمُ لِكَ.(This pen is for you.) - Correct:
هذا القلمُ لَكَ.(This pen is for you.)
لِـ with إلى (ilā): Both لِـ and إلى can translate as "to" in English, but their meanings and usages are distinct. إلى specifically denotes physical movement towards a destination or a spatial end point. لِـ, on the other hand, indicates the recipient, beneficiary, purpose, or possession. A helpful distinction: إلى is about where you are going; لِـ is about for whom or why you are going/doing something.- Example (
إلىfor physical movement):سافرتُ إلى القاهرةِ.(I traveled to Cairo.) - Example (
لِـfor recipient):أعطيتُ الكتابَ لِأحمدَ.(I gave the book to Ahmed.)
أعطيتُ الكتابَ إلى أحمدَ if Ahmed is the direct recipient of the item, though إلى can be used with verbs of giving when emphasizing direction. For A1, stick to لِـ for recipients.لِـ with عِندَ (ʿinda) or مَعَ (maʿa) for Possession: Arabic has several ways to express possession, leading to confusion. لِـ expresses a more inherent, abstract, or permanent type of possession (family, attributes, legal ownership, or general belonging). عِندَ (ʿinda) means "at/with" and typically denotes present, tangible possession – something you physically have on hand or at your place. مَعَ (maʿa) means "with" and primarily indicates accompaniment.- Example (
لِـfor inherent possession):لي فكرةٌ جديدةٌ.(I have a new idea.) - Example (
عِندَfor tangible possession):عندي قلمٌ أزرقُ.(I have a blue pen – meaning I possess it now.) - Incorrect:
عندي أختٌ.(While grammatically possible, it sounds like you possess a sister as an object, rather than having a family member.لي أختٌis the natural expression.)
ل after الـ: When لِـ is attached to a definite noun (الـ + Noun) that itself begins with the letter ل, the result is a tripled ل sound. For instance, اللَّونُ (the color) becomes لِلَّونِ (for the color). Learners sometimes omit one of the ل's or mispronounce the shaddah. The correct form always involves the shaddah (ّ) over the ل of the noun, indicating the assimilation of the first ل sound into the second.- Incorrect:
هذا لِلغةِ العربيةِ.(Missing shaddah on theلofلغة) - Correct:
هذا لِلُّغَةِ العَرَبِيَّةِ.(This is for the Arabic language.)
Real Conversations
لِـ is not confined to formal texts; it's a living, breathing part of everyday Arabic speech, from casual chats to professional correspondence. Understanding its real-world application demonstrates its practical importance.
1. Expressing Possession in Daily Life:
This is one of the most natural uses. Instead of searching for an equivalent to 'have,' speakers frequently construct sentences using لِـ.
- Example 1 (Casual chat): لمن هذا الكتابُ؟ (Whose book is this?) – Response: إنهُ لي. (It's mine/It's for me.)
- Example 2 (Introducing family): لي أخٌ كبيرٌ يعيشُ في دبي. (I have an older brother who lives in Dubai.)
- Example 3 (Describing attributes): لِصَديقتي عينانِ جميلتانِ. (My friend has beautiful eyes.)
2. Directing Actions and Gifts:
Whether giving something to someone or assigning a task, لِـ clarifies the recipient.
- Example 1 (Giving directions): هذه الرسالةُ لِأستاذي. (This message is for my professor.)
- Example 2 (Offering a favor): هل يمكنني أن أشتريَ لكَ شيئاً؟ (Can I buy something for you?)
- Example 3 (Designating a task): هذا الواجبُ لِفريقِ العملِ. (This assignment is for the work team.)
3. Stating Purposes and Intentions:
In both formal and informal contexts, لِـ helps to articulate the 'why' behind actions.
- Example 1 (Reason for visit): جئتُ لِزيارةِ أهلي. (I came to visit my family.)
- Example 2 (Educational context): ندرسُ بجدٍّ لِلتَّفوُّقِ. (We study hard for excellence.)
- Example 3 (Explaining an item's use): هذه النظاراتُ لِلقِراءَةِ. (These glasses are for reading.)
4. Setting Appointments and Designations:
In scheduling and organization, لِـ is used to specify dates or allocate resources.
- Example 1 (Setting a date): الموعدُ لِيَومِ الأربعاءِ الساعةُ الخامسةُ. (The appointment is for Wednesday at five o'clock.)
- Example 2 (Identifying ownership of a space): هذه السيارةُ لِأَبي. (This car is my father's / belongs to my father.)
5. In Modern Digital Communication (MSA/Near-MSA):
Even in less formal digital communication, the principles of لِـ remain consistent, though short forms might appear.
- Text Message: الفيلم الجديد لك؟ (Is the new movie for you?)
- Social Media Caption: لحظاتٌ جميلةٌ للعائلةِ. (Beautiful moments for the family.)
While some dialects might use other constructions for to have, in MSA and educated speech, لِـ remains the standard for inherent possession. Its consistent application across registers underscores its centrality to Arabic grammar.
Quick FAQ
لِـ always mean "to" or "for"?Not exclusively. While "to" and "for" are common translations, لِـ also frequently translates as "belonging to" or is used to express "to have" in Arabic, where there's no direct verb for possession. Its precise meaning is highly context-dependent, reflecting recipient, purpose, or ownership.
ألف of الـ disappear when لِـ precedes it?This is due to a phonetic rule in Arabic called همزة الوصل (hamzat al-waṣl). The initial ألف of the definite article الـ is a glottal stop that is pronounced only when it starts a sentence or clause. When a word (لِـ in this case) precedes it, the ألف is dropped to ensure smoother pronunciation and avoid awkward sound combinations.
لِـ be used with names?Absolutely. You can attach لِـ directly to proper nouns (names) to indicate they are the recipient or beneficiary. For instance, لِفاطمةَ (for Fatima) or لِعليٍّ (to Ali). Names, being definite, do not take الـ unless they are common nouns used as names.
No, not a single, direct verb equivalent to the English "to have." Instead, Arabic expresses possession through various prepositional phrases, with لِـ being the primary one for inherent or stable possession, and عِندَ (ʿinda - at/with) or مَعَ (maʿa - with) for tangible or present possession.
لي and عندي for possession?لي (from لِـ + ـي) denotes inherent, stable, or relational possession, such as family members (لي أختٌ), abstract qualities (لي رأيٌ), or legal ownership (لي بيتٌ). عندي (meaning 'at my place' or 'with me') indicates tangible, temporary, or present possession of items you physically possess at a given moment (عندي قلمٌ, عندي سيارةٌ if referring to the one currently at your disposal).
لِـ means "to", "for", or "has"?The context is key. If لِـ is followed by an indefinite noun (e.g., لي أختٌ), it typically implies possession ("I have"). If it's followed by a definite noun or pronoun and connected to an action (e.g., أرسلتُ لِصديقي), it means "to" or "for" (recipient). If it explains a purpose (e.g., لِلدِّراسةِ), it means "for" or "in order to." With practice, you will develop an intuitive understanding.
لِـ without الـ?Yes, absolutely. When لِـ precedes an indefinite noun or a proper noun that doesn't take الـ, it attaches directly without any ألف being dropped (since there was no ألف to begin with). For example, لِكِتابٍ (for a book) or لِفاطمةَ (for Fatima).
Li + Pronoun Suffixes
| Pronoun | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
I
|
لِي
|
For me / I have
|
|
You (m)
|
لَكَ
|
For you / You have
|
|
You (f)
|
لَكِ
|
For you / You have
|
|
He
|
لَهُ
|
For him / He has
|
|
She
|
لَهَا
|
For her / She has
|
|
We
|
لَنَا
|
For us / We have
|
|
They
|
لَهُمْ
|
For them / They have
|
Li + Definite Nouns
| Original | With Li | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
الْبَيْت
|
لِلْبَيْت
|
For the house
|
|
الْكِتَاب
|
لِلْكِتَاب
|
For the book
|
|
الْعَمَل
|
لِلْعَمَل
|
For the work
|
Meanings
The particle 'Li' is a versatile prefix used to indicate purpose, destination, or ownership.
Beneficiary
Indicating who something is for.
“هَذِهِ الْهَدِيَّةُ لِأُمِّي (This gift is for my mother).”
“لِلْأَطْفَالِ (For the children).”
Possession
Indicating ownership (I have...).
“لِي بَيْتٌ (I have a house).”
“لَهُ سَيَّارَةٌ (He has a car).”
Purpose/Direction
Indicating the reason for an action or destination.
“لِلدِّرَاسَةِ (For studying).”
“لِلْعَمَلِ (For work).”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Li + Noun
|
لِي كِتَابٌ (I have a book)
|
|
Negative
|
Laysa + Li + Noun
|
لَيْسَ لِي كِتَابٌ (I don't have a book)
|
|
Question
|
Hal + Li + Noun
|
هَلْ لَكَ كِتَابٌ؟ (Do you have a book?)
|
|
Beneficiary
|
Li + Name
|
لِأَحْمَدَ (For Ahmad)
|
|
Purpose
|
Li + Masdar
|
لِلدِّرَاسَةِ (For studying)
|
|
Possession
|
Li + Pronoun
|
لَهُ بَيْتٌ (He has a house)
|
Formality Spectrum
هَذَا لَكُمْ (Giving a gift)
هَذَا لَكَ (Giving a gift)
هَذَا لِك (Giving a gift)
هَذَا إِلك (Giving a gift)
The Three Faces of Li
Possession
- لِي I have
Beneficiary
- لِأَحْمَد For Ahmad
Purpose
- لِلْعَمَل For work
Examples by Level
لِي كِتَابٌ
I have a book
لِأَحْمَدَ
For Ahmad
لِلْبَيْتِ
For the house
لِي صَدِيقٌ
I have a friend
لَهُ سَيَّارَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ
He has a new car
لَهَا قِطَّةٌ صَغِيرَةٌ
She has a small cat
هَذَا لَكَ
This is for you
لِلْعَمَلِ نَحْنُ هُنَا
We are here for work
لِي رَأْيٌ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضُوعِ
I have an opinion on this topic
لِكُلِّ مُجْتَهِدٍ نَصِيبٌ
For every striver there is a share
لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ خِيَارٌ
He had no choice
لِتَحْقِيقِ الْأَهْدَافِ
For achieving the goals
لَمْ يَكُنْ لِي أَنْ أَرْفُضَ
It was not for me to refuse
لِلْأَسَفِ لَيْسَ لِي وَقْتٌ
Unfortunately, I have no time
لِأَيِّ سَبَبٍ فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ؟
For what reason did you do that?
لَيْسَ لَهُمْ حَقٌّ فِي ذَلِكَ
They have no right to that
لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءٌ
For every disease there is a cure
لَمْ يَكُنْ لِي سِوَى هَذَا
I had nothing but this
لِأَجْلِ ذَلِكَ أَتَيْتُ
For that reason I came
لِلْحَقِيقَةِ، هَذَا صَعْبٌ
In truth, this is difficult
لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ
To God belongs what is in the heavens
لَمْ يَكُنْ لِي أَنْ أَتَجَاهَلَ
It was not for me to ignore
لِذَاتِ السَّبَبِ
For the very same reason
لَا شَيْءَ لِي هُنَا
I have nothing here
Easily Confused
Both can mean 'to have'.
Both are prepositions.
Both mean 'for'.
Common Mistakes
Li kitab
Li-kitab
Li al-kitab
Lil-kitab
Ana li kitab
Li kitab
Li-ana
Li
Li-huwa
Lahu
Li-hiya
Laha
Li-nahnu
Lana
Inda-li
Li
Li-fi-al-bayt
Li-l-bayt
Li-amala
Li-l-amal
Li-an-yaktub
Li-yaktub
Li-sabab
Li-ajli-sabab
Li-al-haqiqa
Lil-haqiqa
Sentence Patterns
لِي ___
هَذَا لِـ ___
أَنَا هُنَا لِـ ___
لَيْسَ لِي ___
Real World Usage
لِي خَبَرٌ لَكَ
لِي خِبْرَةٌ فِي هَذَا
لِي قَهْوَةٌ
لِي حَقِيبَةٌ
لِي رَأْيٌ
لَهُ الْحَقُّ
The Prefix Rule
The Alif Drop
Possession vs Location
Dialect Variations
Smart Tips
Always check if your word starts with 'Al'.
Use 'Li' for permanent things.
Start with 'Hal'.
Use 'Li' + Masdar.
Pronunciation
Kasra
The 'Li' is pronounced with a short 'i' sound.
Statement
لِي كِتَابٌ ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Question
هَلْ لَكَ كِتَابٌ؟ ↗
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Li is like a 'Lee' (leash) that connects you to your things.
Visual Association
Imagine a gift box with a tag that says 'Li' (For).
Rhyme
For you, for me, for all to see, just add the little letter Li.
Story
Ahmad wanted a book. He said 'Li-kitab' (I have a book). He gave it to his friend. He said 'Li-sadiqi' (For my friend). It was for studying. He said 'Li-dirasa'.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences using 'Li' to describe things you have in your room.
Cultural Notes
In many Levantine dialects, 'Li' is often replaced by 'Il' or 'El'.
The usage of 'Li' is very standard and formal.
Often uses 'Li' in formal contexts, but 'Ma'aya' for possession.
Derived from the Proto-Semitic preposition 'li'.
Conversation Starters
هَلْ لَكَ أُخْتٌ؟
لِمَاذَا تَتَعَلَّمُ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ؟
هَلْ لَكَ سَيَّارَةٌ؟
لِمَنْ هَذِهِ الْهَدِيَّةُ؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ كِتَابٌ (I have a book)
Which is correct for 'For the house'?
Find and fix the mistake:
لِي الْكِتَاب (I have the book).
لِي كِتَابٌ
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
لِي / كِتَابٌ / جَدِيدٌ
___ الْعَمَلِ
___ سَيَّارَةٌ (She has a car)
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ كِتَابٌ (I have a book)
Which is correct for 'For the house'?
Find and fix the mistake:
لِي الْكِتَاب (I have the book).
لِي كِتَابٌ
Match: لِي, لَكَ, لَهُ
لِي / كِتَابٌ / جَدِيدٌ
___ الْعَمَلِ
___ سَيَّارَةٌ (She has a car)
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesTranslate the phrase:
Connect the pairs:
قهوة / هذه / لك
الكتاب ____.
Choose the correct sentence:
لِأنتم
Translate to Arabic:
Match purpose to phrase:
فكرة / لي
Identify the correct form:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Yes, it must be attached to the following word.
Use 'Laysa li' (لَيْسَ لِي).
Yes, the suffix changes (Lahu for him, Laha for her).
Not directly for time, use other prepositions.
It is a standard Arabic elision rule for 'Lam al-Jarr'.
Yes, it is standard in all registers.
No, use 'Fi' or 'Ila'.
No, it is specific to Arabic grammar.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Para / Tener
Arabic uses one particle for both functions.
Pour / Avoir
Arabic merges these into one prefix.
Für / Haben
Arabic is more compact.
no tame ni / aru
Arabic is a prefix-based system.
Li
None.
Wei / You
Arabic uses a prefix.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
PREPOSITIONS IN ARABIC | PARTICLES OF GENITIVE CASE | ARABIC GRAMMAR (LESSON 15).
ARABIC LANGUAGE ACADEMY
Prepositions and The Prepositional Phrase in Arabic (Genitive Phrase) - حروف الجر - جار و مجرور
The Arabic Classroom
Easy Arabic Grammar Lesson 20 (Object Pronouns with Prepositions)
Islamic Society of PIEAS
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