Arabic Relative Pronouns: Who, Which, That (الذي، التي)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'الذي' for masculine and 'التي' for feminine to connect nouns to descriptions.
- Use الذي (alladhi) for masculine singular nouns: الرجل الذي يقرأ (The man who reads).
- Use التي (allati) for feminine singular nouns: المرأة التي تكتب (The woman who writes).
- Relative pronouns must agree with the gender of the noun they describe.
Overview
Arabic, like many languages, requires precise methods to connect and elaborate on ideas within sentences. When you want to specify which person or what thing you are discussing, you employ Relative Pronouns (الأسماء الموصولة, al-asmāʾ al-mawṣūlah). These are essential linguistic tools that act as bridges, linking a noun (the antecedent) to a descriptive clause (the relative clause) that provides additional, specific information about that noun.
Without them, your expressions would remain fragmented and lack the clarity necessary for effective communication. Consider the difference: رأيتُ الرجل. الرجل يقرأ كتاباً. (I saw the man.
The man is reading a book.) versus رأيتُ الرجل الذي يقرأ كتاباً. (I saw the man who is reading a book.). The latter is more cohesive and natural.
The fundamental principle governing Arabic relative pronouns is agreement. Unlike English, where a single word like "that" can often refer to people, places, or things regardless of number, Arabic relative pronouns must meticulously match their antecedent in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular, dual, or plural). This granular agreement ensures grammatical harmony and avoids ambiguity.
For learners at the A1 level, the primary focus is on the singular forms: الذي (al-ladhī) for masculine singular antecedents and التي (al-latī) for feminine singular antecedents. Mastering these two forms unlocks a significant portion of daily descriptive communication in Arabic, from discussing specific individuals to identifying particular objects.
How This Grammar Works
قاعدة المطابقة, qāʿidat al-muṭābaqah) is paramount. The relative pronoun you choose must directly correspond to the gender and number of the noun it describes. For A1 learners, this means:- Use
الذي(al-ladhī, الذي) when the antecedent noun is masculine singular. This applies to male persons, masculine animals, and masculine objects or concepts. For example:الرجل الذي يعمل في المكتب.(The man who works in the office.). Here,الرجل(the man) is masculine singular, soالذيis used. - Use
التي(al-latī, التي) when the antecedent noun is feminine singular. This is for female persons, feminine animals, and feminine objects or concepts, often identifiable by theتَاء مَرْبُوطَة(tāʾ marbūṭah, ة) at the end of the noun. For instance:السيارة التي اشتريتها جديدة.(The car which I bought is new.). Here,السيارة(the car) is feminine singular, thusالتيis correctly applied.
الذي or التي is typically used only when the noun it refers to (the antecedent) is definite. A noun is definite if it begins with the definite article الـ (al-) or is a proper noun (e.g., مُحَمَّد, Mohammad).الـ), Arabic constructs the descriptive clause differently, without an explicit relative pronoun. For example, you would not say رجلٌ الذي جاء (an incorrect structure) but rather رجلٌ جاء (a man came / a man who came). This structural difference underscores a key linguistic principle in Arabic: clarity regarding specific entities.ضَمِير العَائِد, ḍamīr al-ʿāʾid). This is a small pronoun (a suffix or standalone pronoun) within the relative clause that refers back to the antecedent. It acts as an anchor, creating an explicit grammatical link between the relative clause and the noun it modifies.البيت الذي اشتريتُهُ واسع. (The house that I bought it is spacious.), the ـهُ (hu) is the resumptive pronoun, referring back to البيت (the house).الولد الذي يركض سريع. (The boy who runs is fast.). Here, the ـهو (he) is implicitly contained within the verb يركض (he runs).Formation Pattern
الذي and التي follows a clear, systematic process that ensures grammatical accuracy. This pattern combines the antecedent noun, the appropriate relative pronoun, and a descriptive clause containing a resumptive pronoun. Here's a step-by-step guide:
مَوْصُول (mawṣūl), or the word being connected. Crucially, determine its gender (masculine or feminine) and ensure it is definite (preceded by الـ or a proper name). For example, if you want to describe الكِتَاب (al-kitāb, the book), it is masculine singular and definite. If you want to describe الطَالِبَة (al-ṭālibah, the student), it is feminine singular and definite.
الذي for masculine singular nouns and التي for feminine singular nouns. Place this relative pronoun immediately after the antecedent noun.
الكتاب (masculine singular definite): الكتاب الذي... (The book which...)
الطالبة (feminine singular definite): الطالبة التي... (The student who...)
ضَمِير العَائِد) that refers back to the antecedent. This resumptive pronoun will match the antecedent in gender and number and function within the relative clause (e.g., as a direct object, object of a preposition, or even implicitly as the subject of the verb).
الكتاب الذي قرأتُهُ أمس. (The book which I read it yesterday.) Here, ـهُ is the masculine singular direct object pronoun referring to الكتاب.
الطالبة التي جلستُ معها. (The student with whom I sat.) Here, ـها is the feminine singular pronoun attached to the preposition مع.
الرجل الذي يدرس العربية. (The man who studies Arabic.) The verb يدرس inherently includes the masculine singular subject pronoun 'he'.
الذي | الرجل الذي | الرجل الذي يقرأ الكتابَ هُوَ أخي. (The man who reads the book is my brother.) |
التي | الفتاة التي | الفتاة التي رسمتْ الصورةَ جميلةٌ.هي (The girl who drew the picture is beautiful.) |
When To Use It
الذي, التي) are deployed whenever you need to add specific, defining details to an already identified noun. They clarify ambiguity and provide essential context, transforming simple statements into richer, more informative expressions. Think of them as verbal spotlights, highlighting exactly which noun you are talking about from a group or a general reference.- Identifying Specific Individuals: When you refer to a particular person and need to distinguish them or provide more information about them. For example:
قابلتُ الأستاذَ الذي درّسني العام الماضي.(I met the professor who taught me last year.) Here,الذيspecifies which professor you are talking about. Similarly:أختي هي الفتاة التي تلبس الفستان الأحمر.(My sister is the girl who is wearing the red dress.)
- Describing Unique Objects or Places: To add a characteristic or an action associated with a specific thing or location. This is incredibly useful for providing directions, describing personal belongings, or giving reviews. Consider:
أبحث عن المقهى الذي يقدم قهوة تركية ممتازة.(I am looking for the café which serves excellent Turkish coffee.) Or:هذا هو الكتاب الذي أوصى به صديقي.(This is the book which my friend recommended.)
- Clarifying Choices or Preferences: When presenting options or stating a preference, relative pronouns help pinpoint the exact item. For instance:
هل تفضل البيتزا التي تحتوي على الخضروات؟(Do you prefer the pizza that contains vegetables?) Or:أريد الغرفة التي تطل على البحر.(I want the room that overlooks the sea.)
- Expressing Events or Situations: They can also connect a noun to an event or situation associated with it. For example:
المشكلة التي واجهناها كانت صعبة.(The problem which we faced was difficult.) Or:القصة التي رويتها ممتعة جداً.(The story which you told was very interesting.)
التطبيق الذي يساعدني في تعلم اللغة), a viral video (الفيديو الذي انتشر على تيك توك), or a new café (المكان الذي فتح مؤخراً), الذي and التي are indispensable for conveying precise meaning. They allow you to weave complex ideas into a coherent narrative, making your Arabic sound natural and sophisticated.Common Mistakes
الذي and التي into their Arabic. Recognizing these common errors and understanding their underlying grammatical reasons is crucial for mastery. Focusing on these points will significantly improve your accuracy.- Gender Mismatch: This is perhaps the most frequent error for beginners. Using
الذيfor a feminine noun orالتيfor a masculine noun immediately breaks agreement. Arabic grammar is strict on gender, which is inherent to every noun. For example, sayingالسيارة الذي اشتريتُهاis incorrect becauseالسيارة(the car) is feminine, requiringالتي. The correct form isالسيارة التي اشتريتُها.Similarly,الكتاب التي قرأتُهُis wrong;الكتاب(the book) is masculine, so it must beالكتاب الذي قرأتُهُ.Always confirm the gender of the antecedent, often by looking for theتَاء مَرْبُوطَة(ة) at the end of feminine nouns, or consulting a dictionary for those without this indicator.
- Forgetting the Definiteness Condition: Another common mistake is attempting to use
الذيorالتيafter an indefinite noun. In Arabic, relative pronounsالذيandالتيspecifically modify definite antecedents. If the noun is indefinite (e.g.,رجلٌ- a man,سيارةٌ- a car), the descriptive clause follows directly without a relative pronoun. For example, you should not sayرجلٌ الذي جاءto mean "a man who came." The correct construction is simplyرجلٌ جاء.The relative clause then functions adjectivally, modifying the indefinite noun. This is a fundamental structural difference from English and requires a shift in thinking.
- Omitting or Misplacing the Resumptive Pronoun: The resumptive pronoun (
ضَمِير العَائِد) is a non-negotiable component of most Arabic relative clauses. It is the grammatical link back to the antecedent. Learners often forget to include this pronoun, leading to incomplete or ungrammatical sentences. For instance,البيت الذي اشتريت(The house that I bought) is incorrect; it needs the object pronoun:البيت الذي اشتريتُهُ.(The house that I bought it.). The resumptive pronoun ensures that the relative clause has a grammatical connection to the noun it describes. Its form (e.g.,ـهُ,ـها,ـهما) must match the gender and number of the antecedent.
- Confusing Relative Clauses with Adjectives: While both adjectives and relative clauses describe nouns, their structure and function differ. An adjective directly precedes or follows its noun, agreeing in definiteness, gender, number, and case:
الكتاب الجميل(The beautiful book). A relative clause, introduced byالذيorالتي, provides a more complex, sentence-like description. Do not useالذيorالتيif a simple adjective suffices for the meaning you intend. For example, useالمرأة الطويلة(The tall woman) rather thanالمرأة التي هي طويلة(The woman who is tall), unless you specifically want the nuance of a clause.
- Spelling Variations: While less of a grammatical error, confusing the singular
الذي(oneل) with dual forms likeاللذان(twoلs) can lead to errors. For A1, focus on the singular forms and their correct spelling.
Real Conversations
To truly grasp الذي and التي, it is essential to see how they function in authentic, contemporary Arabic communication. These pronouns are not confined to textbooks; they are integral to everyday interactions, from casual chat to more formal exchanges. They allow speakers to be precise and nuanced, reflecting the richness of Arabic expression.
Consider these examples from various modern contexts:
- Social Media Commentary: When discussing content online, specificity is key. شاهدتُ الفيديو الذي انتشر أمس، كان مضحكاً جداً! (I watched the video that went viral yesterday, it was very funny!). Here, الفيديو (the video) is masculine singular, hence الذي. The ـهُ in انتشر is the implicit resumptive pronoun (it went viral).
- Text Messaging/WhatsApp: In informal communication, even with some dialectal influence, the underlying structure of relative clauses is often maintained. كيف حال صديقتك التي سافرت إلى دبي؟ (How is your friend who traveled to Dubai?). صديقتك (your friend) is feminine singular, so التي is used. The verb سافرت (she traveled) contains the implicit feminine singular subject pronoun.
- Shopping or Making Requests: When asking about a particular item, الذي or التي helps specify your need. أريد القميص الذي عليه هذا الشعار. (I want the shirt that has this logo on it.) القميص (the shirt) is masculine singular. Note the ـه in عليه (on it), serving as the resumptive pronoun for القميص.
- Giving Directions or Identifying Locations: These pronouns are invaluable for clarifying destinations or landmarks. هل تعرف المكتبة التي تقع بجانب الجامعة؟ (Do you know the library that is located next to the university?). المكتبة (the library) is feminine singular, requiring التي. The verb تقع (it is located) contains the implicit feminine singular subject pronoun.
- Discussing Experiences: Sharing personal stories or opinions often involves specific references. الرحلة التي ذهبنا إليها الأسبوع الماضي كانت رائعة. (The trip that we went on last week was wonderful.) الرحلة (the trip) is feminine singular, and إليها (to it) contains the resumptive pronoun ـها.
While many Arabic dialects simplify these forms, often using a single invariant إللي (illi) or اللي (allī) for all genders and numbers, understanding and using الذي and التي correctly in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is fundamental. MSA forms the basis for formal writing, news, educational content, and often influences formal spoken interactions. Mastering them now provides a strong foundation, allowing you to adapt to dialectal variations more easily later.
Quick FAQ
الذي and التي.- Q: Do I always need
الـ(the definite article) on the noun beforeالذيorالتي?
Yes, almost always for these specific relative pronouns. الذي and التي are used to modify definite nouns. If the noun is indefinite (without الـ), you typically do not use a relative pronoun; instead, the descriptive clause follows the indefinite noun directly, functioning like an adjective phrase. For example: رأيتُ رجلاً يقرأ. (I saw a man reading / a man who is reading.).
- Q: Can
التيbe used for non-human plural nouns, like "the books that..."?
Absolutely, this is a very important rule in Arabic grammar. In Modern Standard Arabic, all non-human plural nouns are grammatically treated as feminine singular. Therefore, when modifying a non-human plural, you use التي. For instance: الكتب التي قرأتُها مفيدة. (The books that I read are useful.). Even though الكتب (books) is plural, it takes التي and the feminine singular resumptive pronoun ـها (قرأتُها - I read them/it). This rule applies consistently.
- Q: Is there always a resumptive pronoun in the relative clause?
Yes, structurally, a resumptive pronoun (ضَمِير العَائِد) is almost always present, either explicitly as a suffix or a standalone pronoun, or implicitly understood within the verb's conjugation. This pronoun links the clause back to the antecedent. If the antecedent is the subject of the relative clause, the resumptive pronoun is often implicit in the verb (e.g., الولد الذي يضحك. - The boy who laughs, where هو is implicit in يضحك). If the antecedent is the object or object of a preposition within the clause, the resumptive pronoun is explicit (e.g., الكتاب الذي قرأتُهُ. - The book that I read it; المدرسة التي درستُ فيها. - The school that I studied in it).
- Q: How do I determine the gender of a noun if it doesn't end in
ة?
For many feminine nouns, the تَاء مَرْبُوطَة (ة) at the end is a clear indicator. However, many nouns are masculine without an obvious marker, and some feminine nouns (أرض, شمس) do not end in ة. The most reliable method is to consult a dictionary for nouns whose gender is not immediately apparent. Over time, through exposure and practice, you will internalize the gender of common nouns.
- Q: What about the dual and plural forms of relative pronouns (e.g.,
اللذان,الذين)?
While crucial for higher CEFR levels, for A1, the focus remains on الذي and التي. These dual (اللذان/اللذين for masculine, اللتان/اللتين for feminine) and plural (الذين for masculine human, اللاتي or اللواتي for feminine human) forms follow the same agreement principles but introduce additional complexities like case endings (for dual) and specific usage for human vs. non-human plurals. You will learn these systematically as you advance.
- Q: Are these forms used in spoken dialects?
In many Arabic dialects, the classical forms الذي and التي are often replaced by a single, invariable relative pronoun, most commonly إللي (illi) or اللي (allī), which is used for all genders, numbers, and even occasionally for indefinite antecedents. While this simplifies spoken communication, it is essential to learn and master the MSA forms first, as they are the foundation for written Arabic and formal speech across the Arab world.
Relative Pronoun Gender Agreement
| Gender | Pronoun | Arabic | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
Singular
|
الذي
|
الرجل الذي
|
|
Feminine
|
Singular
|
التي
|
المرأة التي
|
Meanings
Relative pronouns connect a noun to a clause that describes it, functioning like 'who', 'which', or 'that' in English.
Masculine Singular
Used for masculine singular nouns.
“الولد الذي يلعب”
“الطالب الذي يدرس”
Feminine Singular
Used for feminine singular nouns.
“البنت التي تلعب”
“الطالبة التي تدرس”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
Noun + الذي + Verb
|
الولد الذي يركض
|
|
Feminine
|
Noun + التي + Verb
|
البنت التي تركض
|
|
Negative
|
Noun + الذي/التي + لا + Verb
|
الرجل الذي لا ينام
|
|
Question
|
هل هذا هو... الذي...؟
|
هل هذا هو الكتاب الذي تريده؟
|
Formality Spectrum
الرجل الذي يقف هناك. (Describing someone.)
الرجل الذي يقف هناك. (Describing someone.)
الزلمة اللي واقف هناك. (Describing someone.)
الزلمة اللي واقف هون. (Describing someone.)
Relative Pronoun Connections
Masculine
- الذي who/that
Feminine
- التي who/that
Examples by Level
الولد الذي يلعب
The boy who plays
البنت التي تدرس
The girl who studies
هذا هو البيت الذي أسكن فيه
This is the house that I live in
السيارة التي أحبها
The car that I love
الرجل الذي قابلته لطيف
The man whom I met is kind
القصة التي قرأتها ممتعة
The story that I read is interesting
الطالب الذي نجح في الامتحان
The student who passed the exam
الشركة التي أعمل فيها كبيرة
The company that I work in is big
الأشياء التي اشتريتها من السوق
The things that I bought from the market
المعلم الذي شرح الدرس غائب
The teacher who explained the lesson is absent
المدينة التي ولدت فيها جميلة
The city where I was born is beautiful
القرار الذي اتخذته كان صعباً
The decision that I made was difficult
المشروع الذي أديره يتطلب وقتاً
The project that I manage requires time
النظرية التي اقترحها العالم صحيحة
The theory that the scientist proposed is correct
الرسالة التي أرسلتها لم تصل
The message that I sent did not arrive
اللاعب الذي سجل الهدف هو الأفضل
The player who scored the goal is the best
السياسات التي تتبعها الحكومة فعالة
The policies that the government follows are effective
الكاتب الذي أثر فيّ كثيراً هو نجيب محفوظ
The writer who influenced me a lot is Naguib Mahfouz
الفرص التي تتاح لنا نادرة
The opportunities that are available to us are rare
الرجل الذي لا يخطئ لا يتعلم
The man who does not make mistakes does not learn
المبادئ التي تأسست عليها الشركة
The principles upon which the company was founded
اللحظة التي أدركت فيها الحقيقة
The moment in which I realized the truth
العبقري الذي غير مجرى التاريخ
The genius who changed the course of history
الظروف التي أدت إلى هذا الوضع
The circumstances that led to this situation
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the demonstrative 'this' with the relative 'that'.
Learners use singular for plural.
Learners use singular for plural.
Common Mistakes
الولد التي يلعب
الولد الذي يلعب
البنت الذي تدرس
البنت التي تدرس
الرجل يلعب
الرجل الذي يلعب
الذي رجل
الرجل الذي
السيارات الذي اشتريتها
السيارات التي اشتريتها
هذا هو الذي كتاب
هذا هو الكتاب الذي
التي ولد
الولد الذي
الناس الذي ذهبوا
الناس الذين ذهبوا
التي ذهب
التي ذهبت
الذي هي ذهبت
التي ذهبت
الذي أدركته
التي أدركتها
الذي في البيت
الذي هو في البيت
التي رأيت
التي رأيتها
Sentence Patterns
هذا هو ___ الذي ___
هذه هي ___ التي ___
أحب ___ الذي ___
هذا هو المكان الذي ___
Real World Usage
الصورة التي نشرتها جميلة
الخبر اللي سمعته صحيح
المشروع الذي أدرته كان ناجحاً
الفندق الذي حجزته مريح
الطلب الذي وصل بارد
القرار الذي اتخذته الحكومة
Check the Noun
Plural Inanimates
Practice Daily
Dialect vs MSA
Smart Tips
Always check the gender of the noun first.
Treat them as feminine singular.
Use the full forms (الذي/التي) instead of the dialectal (اللي).
If you forget the gender, use 'اللي' as a safe bet in conversation.
Pronunciation
الذي
Pronounced 'alladhi'. The 'dh' is a soft th sound.
التي
Pronounced 'allati'. The 't' is a standard t sound.
Statement
الرجل الذي يقرأ ↘
Falling intonation at the end of the sentence.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'الذي' as a single 'l' for a single man, and 'التي' as two 'l's for a lady.
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge. On the left side is a person, on the right is an action. The bridge is labeled 'الذي' for a man and 'التي' for a woman.
Rhyme
For the man, use الذي, for the lady, use التي.
Story
Ali is a boy who loves soccer. He is 'الولد الذي يلعب'. His sister Sara is a girl who loves reading. She is 'البنت التي تقرأ'. They are both happy.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences describing your family members using 'الذي' or 'التي'.
Cultural Notes
In Levantine dialects, 'اللي' (illi) is used for both masculine and feminine.
Similar to Levantine, 'اللي' is the standard connector.
Standard 'الذي' and 'التي' are often used in formal settings.
These pronouns evolved from demonstrative roots in Proto-Semitic.
Conversation Starters
من هو الصديق الذي تحبه؟
ما هو الكتاب الذي تقرأه الآن؟
هل تعرف الشخص الذي يتحدث العربية؟
ما هي المدينة التي تحلم بزيارتها؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
الولد ___ يلعب.
البنت ___ تدرس.
Find and fix the mistake:
الرجل التي يقرأ.
الولد الذي يكتب.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
الذي / يقرأ / الكتاب / هو / هذا
الكتب ___ اشتريتها.
الرجل ___ قابلته.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesالولد ___ يلعب.
البنت ___ تدرس.
Find and fix the mistake:
الرجل التي يقرأ.
الولد الذي يكتب.
السيارة -> ?
الذي / يقرأ / الكتاب / هو / هذا
الكتب ___ اشتريتها.
الرجل ___ قابلته.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesالكتاب ___ اشتريته مفيد.
المعلمون ___ يعملون هنا.
The car that is here.
هذا هو الهاتف التي أحبه.
Match correctly:
لعب / الذي / الولد
القطتان ___ في الحديقة.
The books that... (الكتب ___)
رأيت ولد الذي يلعب.
صديقي ___ يسكن في دبي.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
الذي is for masculine singular nouns, and التي is for feminine singular nouns.
Yes, they are used for both people and objects.
Plural objects are treated as feminine singular, so use التي.
In dialects, people often use 'اللي' for everything.
Whenever you need to add a descriptive clause to a noun.
Yes, it is a gender agreement error.
Demonstratives point to things; relative pronouns connect them to descriptions.
Yes, there are plural forms like الذين and اللواتي, but start with the singulars.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
que
Arabic is gender-sensitive.
qui/que
Arabic uses gender agreement.
der/die/das
German has case endings.
no
Word order is reversed.
de
Arabic is inflected.
who/that
Gender agreement.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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