One question that plagues many new students of the Arabic language is the difference between hadhaa kitaabun and hadhaal kitaabu …
The difference is best demonstrated by example: hadhaa kitaabun kabiyrun means “this is a big book,” and “hadhaal kitaabul kabiyru” means “this big book …”
Get the difference? The first (hadhaa kitaabun) is talking about any book. “This is a book.” Nothing special. The second–hadhaal kitaabu–is talking about a specific book. It’s saying “this book … something.”
And how do you know the difference? in the second case, the book is definite–it’s a specific book. Notice, al-kitaabu–the book. Not kitaabun–a book.
And, notice the second one is a fragment–this big book what? This big book is open? This big book is on the table? And so on.
Bismillaah
Was Salaamu ‘alaykum
There is a part in this lesson which confused me.
Where “hadhaa kitaabun” is this is a book (general) and “hadhaal kitaabu” is this is the book”.
Since kitaab is not a “feminine noun” how did the kabirun become “kabiratu” as opposed to “kabiru”?
Was Salaamu Alaykum
Abu Jamiylah
Wa’alikum as-salaam wa rahmatullah,
Jazakumullahu khayuran, that was a typo actually. May Allah reward you for your efforts!
Als, “hadhaal kitaabu” is not “this is the book”, but “this book …” (it’s a fragment), wallahu ‘alim. I guess it depends on how you use it (context).
Wa alaykumus Salaam
Jazaakum Allaahu khayran for the clarification and the correction of my error with “this book” as opposed to this is the book.
May Allaah Reward you for benefiting the believers AMEEN
Was Salaamu ‘alaykum
Abu jamiylah