Most languages have distinct sentence structures that non-native learners must master to speak and write the language. If you want to learn the Arabic language, spend time studying the language’s unique sentence structures. An online Arabic course will help you understand how Arabic differs from English sentence structure patterns. Here are a few differences between Arabic and English sentence structures:
Understanding Nominal vs. Verbal Sentences
The Arabic language has two categories of sentences: nominal and verbal sentences. These sentence categories have varying structures and form the foundation of spoken and written communication. English speakers learning Arabic need to understand the differences between nominal and verbal sentences. To avoid making mistakes, learners should not translate sentences between Arabic and English in the same structural order.
Verbal Sentences in English
The main difference between English and Arabic is that English has verbal sentences, while Arabic uses both verbal and nominal sentences. Verbal sentences in English begin with verbal elements like nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. They follow an S+V+O/C structure, where S represents the subject, V represents the verb, O represents the object, and C represents the complement.
The subject in a verbal sentence is the doer of the action and is usually identified with nouns or pronouns. It represents someone or something that is the main focus of the sentence. Subjects in the English language commonly appear at the beginning of a sentence. They can be nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases. A noun phrase contains a modifier and a noun.
The verb in verbal sentences is the word expressing an action or state of being. Action verbs express what the subject is doing, will do, or did. The object is someone or something receiving the action of the verb. It shows who or what the subject’s action affects. If an English sentence has a complement, a word or group of words will provide additional information about the object to complete the sentence.
Verbal Sentences in Arabic
Verbal sentences in Arabic might take an S+V+O/C or V+O+S pattern, depending on the sentence’s purpose. While these sentences have the same core components as English, the order can differ. An Arabic sentence type with inverted word order is an interrogative sentence.
Arabic speakers are able to change word order, particularly when emphasizing a particular part of a sentence. The language allows you to start your sentence with the subject or object for emphasis purposes. Declarative sentences in the Arabic language have an S+V+O/C structure. These sentences are simple sentences that express facts and opinions. Choosing an extensive online language course for kids, teens, or adults will help you explore various Arabic sentence structures.
Nominal Sentences in Arabic
Some sentences in Arabic require no verb, which is why they are referred to as nominal sentences. They’re constructed using the subject or topic and the predicate or comment. The structure pattern of nominal sentences is S+I. The S stands for the subject, while I denotes the information found in the predicate or comment.
Subjects in nominal sentences consist of a noun or pronoun. Predicates or comments, named “the information,” can be nouns, indefinite adjectives, or adverbs of time or place. It usually describes a person or a thing. Nominal sentences in Arabic express simple descriptions and statements, laying the foundation for beginning learners who want to master the language.
Learn the Arabic Language Online
Comprehensive Arabic language learning requires understanding its unique sentence structure patterns. As an English speaker learning Arabic, you’ll need to comprehend the different sentence structures between the two languages to avoid confusion. With proper guidance and assessments, you can gain a strong understanding of how English and Arabic sentence structures differ. Choose a comprehensive online language course today to start practicing the Arabic language.
