The Possessive Phrase

The possessive phrase is made up of two parts: the possessed مُضَافٌ, and the possessor مُضَافٌ إْلَيْهِ. In English, there are two ways of constructing this phrase. We can either say, 'Zaid's book,' or we can say, 'the book of Zaid.' Both mean the same thing. In Arabic, the structure is similar to the latter, where the possessed (book) comes first, followed by the possessor (Zaid). For instance:

كِتَابُ زَيْدٍ

From the example above, we can deduce two rules that govern the construction of the Mudaaf - Mudaaf Ilayh phrase:

• The Mudaaf lacks both 'al' ال and 'tanween'.
• The Mudaaf Ilayhi is in the state of Jarr.

Delving a little deeper, the fact that the Mudaaf lacks both 'al' and 'tanween' is intriguing. Remember that all nouns are either definite or indefinite. We say either 'a cat,' or 'the cat.' We say either 'a house' or 'the house'. In Arabic, 'tanween' is the equivalent of saying 'a' something, and 'al' is the equivalent of saying 'the' something. You either have one or the other. But in the case of a noun functioning as a Mudaaf, it has neither.

This characteristic of the Mudaaf is unique. The absence of 'tanween' and 'al' is a telltale sign that you are dealing with a Mudaaf Mudaaf Ilayh phrase.

Finally, the Mudaaf Ilayh will always be in the state of Jarr. It is one of two causes for an Ism to be in the state of Jarr. Notice that the state of the Mudaaf is not mentioned, and that is because its state is determined by its use. It could be in any state: Raf', Nasb, or Jarr.