Shariah Program Exam – Semester 1Name ______

September 14, 2011

Part 1: علم الصرف

Question 1) (8 marks)

Fill in the table with theابوابof ثلاثي مجرد, following the example of the first line. In the two columns on the right, show how the base letters ف ع ل can be put into each one of the ابواب.

Present Tense
Standard Example / Past Tense
Standard Example / Present Tense with
ف ع ل / Past Tense with

ف ع ل

يَنْصُرُ / نَصَرَ / يَفْعُلُ / فَعَلَ

In the same manner as above, fill in the table below with the first threeابوابof ثلاثي مزيد فيهthat do not begin with hamzatul wasl.

Present Tense
Standard Example / Past Tense
Standard Example / Present Tense with
ف ع ل / Past Tense with

ف ع ل

Question 2) (8 marks)

You have studied two different classification systems in Sarf: baabs and haft-e-aqsaam (the 7 categories). Explain clearly the distinct purpose(s) of each of these classifications. Give examples of at least 4 of the 7 haft-e-aqsaam.

Question 3) (8 marks)

Give a comprehensive rule for constructing the second person active command verb - امر, along with at least three distinct examples (chosen appropriately from different baabs).

Question 4) (8 marks)

Describe how to make the passive form of the maadhi and mudhaari’ verb. Provide an example of each.

Question 5) Translate into English/Arabic. State the conjugation number. (10 marks)

a)I will never be hit.______Conjugation #: __

b)They (feminine plural) must be hit.______Conjugation #: __

c)We must not hit.______Conjugation #: __

d)Indeed she will hit.______Conjugation #: __

e)You (masc. dual) are hitting.______Conjugation #: __

f) ______Conjugation #: __

g) ______Conjugation #: __

h) ______Conjugation #: __

i) ______Conjugation #: __

j) ______Conjugation #: __

Part 2: علم النحو

Question 1) (5 marks)

What is the purpose of grammatical states in Arabic and why are they so important, as opposed to English where they are not so prominent? Explain with an example or two.

Question 2) (4 marks)

What are the similarities and differences of words that are “true” mabni and “resembling/secondary” mabni?

Question 3) (6 marks)

-What is the significance of a word being “change-restricted”?

-How many causes of change-restriction are there?

-Give three examples of change-restricted words.

Question 4) (4 marks)

Explain what types of words are mu’rab and what types of words are mabni. Be thorough in your answer – i.e. be sure to cover every possible type of kalimah.

Question 5) (4 marks)

Every sentence must have a musnad ilayh and musnad portion in it. For each of the two main types of sentences, what are the more specific (Arabic) terms for the musnad ilayh and musnad? Be sure to tell what the two types of sentences are called as well.

Question 6) (11 marks)

Fill in the blanks below. Write your answers for each blank on the line below the paragraph.

How to determine the state of an attached pronoun

-The pronoun will either be attached to a verb or a non-verb.

-If attached to a verb, it will either be from the endings you learnt in Sarf or it won’t.

  • If it is from the endings you learnt in Sarf such as the “tu” in dharabtu, or the waaw in yaf’aloona, then the pronoun will be in the state of (a) ______either because of (b) ______, or (c) ______.
  • If it is not from the endings you learnt in Sarf, it will be in (d) ______on the basis of (e) ______, like dharabahu.

-If attached to a non-verb, then that would either be an Ism or a Harf.

  • If it is an ism then the state will be (f) ______on the basis of (g) ______, and you don’t even have to think about it e.g.kitaabuhu.
  • If it is attached to a harf, the harf will either be a preposition or one of the inna sisters.
  • If it is attached to a preposition, the state will be (h) ______because of coming after a preposition e.g. feehi.
  • If it is an inna sister, the pronoun will be in (i) ______because of being the (j) ______, such as (k) ______(give an example).

(a)______

(b)______

(c)______

(d)______

(e)______

(f)______

(g)______

(h)______

(i)______

(j)______

(k)______

Question 7) (12 marks)

Give a complete breakdown of the following sentence. Start with counting the total number of words including implied pronouns, and then proceed to separate the top layer major portions. Keep zooming in,until "each word is in its own box" (what we call '3rd tarkeeb') and translate it:


(Don’t forget to translate.)

Question 8) (12 marks)

For the following passage, identify every single word as being true mabni, secondary mabni, or mu’rab. When needed, explain the grammatical state of the words and why, using correct terminology. Please refrain from irrelevant details. Follow the style of what we called ‘second tarkeeb’ in class. Once done, translate the four lines into English.