In this lesson, we explore the Arabic particle أن (an), which functions similarly to the English infinitive marker "to." For autodidact students, أن is a crucial grammatical particle that introduces verbs in the subjunctive mood, creating structures equivalent to English infinitives like "to go," "to eat," or "to study."
Course Index
أن (an) is a particle that introduces verbs in the subjunctive mood, functioning like the English infinitive marker "to." It is used after verbs of wanting, hoping, necessity, and in many other constructions where English would use an infinitive.
In our 15 examples, you'll see أن used in various contexts: expressing desires ("I want to study"), necessities ("You need to understand"), possibilities ("It's possible to succeed"), and purposes ("in order to learn"). This particle is essential for forming complex sentences in Arabic.
This is educational material designed for language learning, specifically for English speakers studying Arabic script and grammar through the Latinum Institute's proven interlinear method.
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أن (an) introduces verbs in the subjunctive mood -
Functions like English "to" + infinitive -
Changes the following verb's ending -
Used after verbs of wanting, hoping, necessity -
Essential for expressing purpose and intention -
Different from أنّ (anna) meaning "that" (with shadda)
Arabic is written from right to left. The transliteration system used here follows a modified version of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) standard: -
ʾ represents the glottal stop (hamza) -
ʿ represents the pharyngeal fricative (ʿayn) -
Long vowels are marked with macrons: ā, ī, ū -
Emphatic consonants: ṣ, ḍ, ṭ, ẓ
Common mistakes for English speakers: -
Forgetting that أن changes the verb ending that follows -
Confusing أن (an) with أنّ (anna) - note the shadda -
Not recognizing when أن is required vs. optional
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12.1 أُريدُ (urīdu) I-want أن (an) to أَدرُسَ (adrusa) study-SUBJUNC العَرَبِيَّةَ (al-ʿarabiyyata) the-Arabic-ACC
12.2 يَجِبُ (yajibu) it-is-necessary عَلَيكَ (ʿalayka) upon-you أن (an) to تَفهَمَ (tafhama) understand-SUBJUNC الدَّرسَ (ad-darsa) the-lesson-ACC
12.3 هَل (hal) QUES يُمكِنُ (yumkinu) is-possible أن (an) to نَذهَبَ (nadhhaba) we-go-SUBJUNC مَعاً (maʿan) together
12.4 قَرَّرتُ (qarrartu) I-decided أن (an) to أُسافِرَ (usāfira) travel-SUBJUNC إلى (ilā) to مِصرَ (miṣra) Egypt-GEN
12.5 تُحِبُّ (tuḥibbu) she-loves أن (an) to تَقرَأَ (taqraʾa) read-SUBJUNC الكُتُبَ (al-kutuba) the-books-ACC
12.6 حاوَلَ (ḥāwala) he-tried أن (an) to يَكتُبَ (yaktuba) write-SUBJUNC رِسالَةً (risālatan) letter-ACC
12.7 مِن (min) from المُهِمِّ (al-muhimmi) the-important-GEN أن (an) to نَصِلَ (naṣila) arrive-SUBJUNC مُبَكِّرينَ (mubakkirīna) early-ACC-PL
12.8 طَلَبَ (ṭalaba) he-requested مِنّي (minnī) from-me أن (an) to أُساعِدَهُ (usāʿidahu) help-SUBJUNC-him
12.9 يَسعى (yasʿā) he-strives أن (an) to يُحَقِّقَ (yuḥaqqiqa) achieve-SUBJUNC أَحلامَهُ (aḥlāmahu) dreams-his-ACC
12.10 لا (lā) not أَستَطيعُ (astaṭīʿu) I-am-able أن (an) to أَنتَظِرَ (antaẓira) wait-SUBJUNC أَكثَرَ (akthara) more-ACC
12.11 تَعَلَّمنا (taʿallamnā) we-learned كَيفَ (kayfa) how أن (an) to نَطبُخَ (naṭbukha) cook-SUBJUNC الطَّعامَ (aṭ-ṭaʿāma) the-food-ACC
12.12 يُفَضِّلُ (yufaḍḍilu) he-prefers أن (an) to يَعمَلَ (yaʿmala) work-SUBJUNC وَحدَهُ (waḥdahu) alone-his
12.13 خَططتُ (khaṭaṭtu) I-planned أن (an) to أَشتَريَ (ashtariya) buy-SUBJUNC سَيّارَةً (sayyāratan) car-ACC جَديدَةً (jadīdatan) new-ACC
12.14 وَعَدَت (waʿadat) she-promised أن (an) to تَحضُرَ (taḥḍura) attend-SUBJUNC الاجتِماعَ (al-ijtimāʿa) the-meeting-ACC
12.15 نَحتاجُ (naḥtāju) we-need أن (an) to نَتَعاوَنَ (nataʿāwana) cooperate-SUBJUNC لِ (li) for النَّجاحِ (an-najāḥi) the-success-GEN
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12.1 أُريدُ أن أَدرُسَ العَرَبِيَّةَ I want to study Arabic.
12.2 يَجِبُ عَلَيكَ أن تَفهَمَ الدَّرسَ You must understand the lesson.
12.3 هَل يُمكِنُ أن نَذهَبَ مَعاً؟ Can we go together?
12.4 قَرَّرتُ أن أُسافِرَ إلى مِصرَ I decided to travel to Egypt.
12.5 تُحِبُّ أن تَقرَأَ الكُتُبَ She loves to read books.
12.6 حاوَلَ أن يَكتُبَ رِسالَةً He tried to write a letter.
12.7 مِن المُهِمِّ أن نَصِلَ مُبَكِّرينَ It's important to arrive early.
12.8 طَلَبَ مِنّي أن أُساعِدَهُ He asked me to help him.
12.9 يَسعى أن يُحَقِّقَ أَحلامَهُ He strives to achieve his dreams.
12.10 لا أَستَطيعُ أن أَنتَظِرَ أَكثَرَ I cannot wait any longer.
12.11 تَعَلَّمنا كَيفَ أن نَطبُخَ الطَّعامَ We learned how to cook food.
12.12 يُفَضِّلُ أن يَعمَلَ وَحدَهُ He prefers to work alone.
12.13 خَططتُ أن أَشتَريَ سَيّارَةً جَديدَةً I planned to buy a new car.
12.14 وَعَدَت أن تَحضُرَ الاجتِماعَ She promised to attend the meeting.
12.15 نَحتاجُ أن نَتَعاوَنَ لِلنَّجاحِ We need to cooperate for success.
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12.1 أُريدُ أن أَدرُسَ العَرَبِيَّةَ
12.2 يَجِبُ عَلَيكَ أن تَفهَمَ الدَّرسَ
12.3 هَل يُمكِنُ أن نَذهَبَ مَعاً؟
12.4 قَرَّرتُ أن أُسافِرَ إلى مِصرَ
12.5 تُحِبُّ أن تَقرَأَ الكُتُبَ
12.6 حاوَلَ أن يَكتُبَ رِسالَةً
12.7 مِن المُهِمِّ أن نَصِلَ مُبَكِّرينَ
12.8 طَلَبَ مِنّي أن أُساعِدَهُ
12.9 يَسعى أن يُحَقِّقَ أَحلامَهُ
12.10 لا أَستَطيعُ أن أَنتَظِرَ أَكثَرَ
12.11 تَعَلَّمنا كَيفَ أن نَطبُخَ الطَّعامَ
12.12 يُفَضِّلُ أن يَعمَلَ وَحدَهُ
12.13 خَططتُ أن أَشتَريَ سَيّارَةً جَديدَةً
12.14 وَعَدَت أن تَحضُرَ الاجتِماعَ
12.15 نَحتاجُ أن نَتَعاوَنَ لِلنَّجاحِ
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These are the grammar rules for أن (an):
The particle أن is one of the most important grammatical tools in Arabic. It introduces verbs in the subjunctive mood (المضارع المنصوب), which is similar to the English infinitive. When أن precedes a present tense verb, it changes the verb's ending:
Subjunctive Endings After أن: -
Singular: -a instead of -u (يَكتُبُ becomes يَكتُبَ) -
Dual: -ā remains -ā but without final nūn -
Plural masculine: -ū becomes -ū (without final nūn) -
Plural feminine: -na remains -na
Common Verbs That Require أن: -
أراد (arāda) - to want -
يجب (yajibu) - it is necessary -
يمكن (yumkinu) - it is possible -
حاول (ḥāwala) - to try -
قرّر (qarrara) - to decide -
يحب (yuḥibbu) - to love/like
Distinction from أنّ (anna): Do not confuse أن (an) with أنّ (anna). The latter has a shadda and means "that" (as in "I know that..."), while أن introduces infinitive-like constructions.
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Wrong mood after أن: Remember that verbs after أن must be in the subjunctive -
Incorrect: أريد أن يكتبُ (yarīdu an yaktubu) -
Correct: أريد أن يكتبَ (yarīdu an yaktuba) -
Omitting أن when required: Unlike English, Arabic requires أن in many contexts -
English: "I want to go" (no visible infinitive marker before "go") -
Arabic: Must use أن between "want" and "go" -
Using أن with past tense: أن is used with present tense verbs in subjunctive -
Incorrect: أريد أن كتبتُ -
Correct: أريد أن أكتبَ
Comparison with English: While English uses "to" + base form of verb, Arabic uses أن + subjunctive form. The subjunctive in Arabic involves actual changes to the verb ending, unlike English where the infinitive form doesn't change.
Other Uses of أن: -
After لِ (li) to express purpose: جئتُ لأن أساعدَكَ (I came to help you) -
In impersonal expressions: يمكن أن (it's possible to) -
After certain prepositions: قبل أن (before), بعد أن (after)
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The use of أن reflects important aspects of Arabic communication style. In formal Arabic, speakers often use elaborate constructions with أن to express intentions, desires, and obligations in a polite, indirect manner. This is especially common in professional and academic contexts.
Formal vs. Informal Usage: -
Formal: أودُّ أن أطلبَ منكم (I would like to request from you) -
Informal/Dialectal: Often drops أن or uses different constructions
Regional Variations: In many Arabic dialects, أن is often reduced or omitted entirely: -
Standard Arabic: أريد أن أذهب (urīdu an adhhaba) -
Egyptian: عايز أروح (ʿāyiz arūḥ) -
Levantine: بدي روح (biddī rūḥ)
Cultural Significance: The preference for using أن constructions in formal settings reflects the Arabic cultural value of indirect communication and politeness. Rather than giving direct commands, speakers often use phrases like "يجب أن" (it is necessary to) or "من الأفضل أن" (it is better to).
Idiomatic Expressions with أن: -
عسى أن (ʿasā an) - hopefully/may it be that -
لعلّ وعسى أن (laʿalla wa-ʿasā an) - perhaps and hopefully -
ما أجمل أن (mā ajmala an) - how beautiful it is to -
حريٌّ بنا أن (ḥariyyun binā an) - it behooves us to
Syntactical Peculiarities: In classical texts and formal modern Arabic, you may encounter لأن (li-an) where لِ gives additional emphasis to purpose. Also note that أن can be preceded by other particles creating compounds like كأن (ka-an - as if) or لأن (li-anna - because).
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From "ألف ليلة وليلة" (Alf Layla wa-Layla - One Thousand and One Nights):
قالَت شَهرَزاد: "أُريدُ أن أُحَدِّثَكَ بِحِكايَةٍ عَجيبَةٍ يا مَولايَ، وَأَرجو أن تَسمَحَ لي أن أَقُصَّها عَلَيكَ قَبلَ أن يَطلُعَ الفَجرُ. فَإن أَعجَبَتكَ، فَعَسى أن تُبقيَ عَلى حَياتي، وَإن لَم تُعجِبكَ، فَافعَل ما تَشاءُ. وَلكِنّي واثِقَةٌ أَنَّكَ سَتُحِبُّ أن تَسمَعَ نِهايَتَها، وَسَتَطلُبُ مِنّي أن أُكمِلَها في اللَّيلَةِ التّالِيَةِ."
قالَت (qālat) she-said شَهرَزاد (Shahrazād) Scheherazade أُريدُ (urīdu) I-want أن (an) to أُحَدِّثَكَ (uḥaddithaka) tell-you بِحِكايَةٍ (bi-ḥikāyatin) with-story عَجيبَةٍ (ʿajībatin) wondrous-GEN يا (yā) O مَولايَ (mawlāya) my-master وَأَرجو (wa-arjū) and-I-hope أن (an) to تَسمَحَ (tasmaḥa) allow-SUBJUNC لي (lī) to-me أن (an) to أَقُصَّها (aquṣṣahā) narrate-it عَلَيكَ (ʿalayka) to-you قَبلَ (qabla) before أن (an) to يَطلُعَ (yaṭluʿa) rise-SUBJUNC الفَجرُ (al-fajru) the-dawn
قالَت شَهرَزاد: "أُريدُ أن أُحَدِّثَكَ بِحِكايَةٍ عَجيبَةٍ يا مَولايَ، وَأَرجو أن تَسمَحَ لي أن أَقُصَّها عَلَيكَ قَبلَ أن يَطلُعَ الفَجرُ. فَإن أَعجَبَتكَ، فَعَسى أن تُبقيَ عَلى حَياتي، وَإن لَم تُعجِبكَ، فَافعَل ما تَشاءُ. وَلكِنّي واثِقَةٌ أَنَّكَ سَتُحِبُّ أن تَسمَعَ نِهايَتَها، وَسَتَطلُبُ مِنّي أن أُكمِلَها في اللَّيلَةِ التّالِيَةِ."
Scheherazade said: "I want to tell you a wondrous story, my lord, and I hope you will allow me to narrate it to you before dawn breaks. If it pleases you, perhaps you will spare my life, and if it doesn't please you, do as you wish. But I am confident that you will love to hear its ending, and will ask me to continue it the following night."
قالَت شَهرَزاد: "أُريدُ أن أُحَدِّثَكَ بِحِكايَةٍ عَجيبَةٍ يا مَولايَ، وَأَرجو أن تَسمَحَ لي أن أَقُصَّها عَلَيكَ قَبلَ أن يَطلُعَ الفَجرُ. فَإن أَعجَبَتكَ، فَعَسى أن تُبقيَ عَلى حَياتي، وَإن لَم تُعجِبكَ، فَافعَل ما تَشاءُ. وَلكِنّي واثِقَةٌ أَنَّكَ سَتُحِبُّ أن تَسمَعَ نِهايَتَها، وَسَتَطلُبُ مِنّي أن أُكمِلَها في اللَّيلَةِ التّالِيَةِ."
This passage masterfully demonstrates multiple uses of أن: -
أُريدُ أن أُحَدِّثَكَ - want + أن + subjunctive (expressing desire) -
أَرجو أن تَسمَحَ - hope + أن + subjunctive (expressing hope) -
أن أَقُصَّها - second أن after تسمح (allow me to narrate) -
قَبلَ أن يَطلُعَ - before + أن (temporal clause) -
عَسى أن تُبقيَ - perhaps + أن (expressing possibility/hope) -
سَتُحِبُّ أن تَسمَعَ - will love + أن (future desire) -
أن أُكمِلَها - to complete it (purpose/request)
Note the sophisticated layering of أن constructions, showing how Arabic uses this particle to create complex, nuanced expressions of intention, hope, and possibility. The passage also contains أَنَّكَ (that you), showing the distinction between أن and أنّ.
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12.16 أَعلَنَت (aʿlanat) announced الحُكومَةُ (al-ḥukūmatu) the-government أَنَّها (annahā) that-it تَنوي (tanwī) intends أن (an) to تُطَبِّقَ (tuṭabbiqa) implement-SUBJUNC قَوانينَ (qawānīna) laws-ACC جَديدَةً (jadīdatan) new-ACC لِحِمايَةِ (li-ḥimāyati) for-protection-GEN البيئَةِ (al-bīʾati) the-environment-GEN
12.17 يَتَوَقَّعُ (yatawaqqaʿu) expects الخُبَراءُ (al-khubarāʾu) the-experts أن (an) to تَرتَفِعَ (tartafiʿa) rise-SUBJUNC أَسعارُ (asʿāru) prices-NOM النَّفطِ (an-nafṭi) the-oil-GEN خِلالَ (khilāla) during الأَشهُرِ (al-ashhuri) the-months-GEN القادِمَةِ (al-qādimati) the-coming-GEN
12.18 دَعا (daʿā) called الأَمينُ (al-amīnu) the-secretary العامُّ (al-ʿāmmu) general جَميعَ (jamīʿa) all-ACC الدُّوَلِ (ad-duwali) the-countries-GEN أن (an) to تَتَعاوَنَ (tataʿāwana) cooperate-SUBJUNC في (fī) in مُكافَحَةِ (mukāfaḥati) fighting-GEN التَّغَيُّرِ (at-taghayyuri) the-change-GEN المُناخِيِّ (al-munākhiyyi) climate-GEN
12.19 قَرَّرَ (qarrara) decided مَجلِسُ (majlisu) council-NOM الإدارَةِ (al-idārati) the-administration-GEN أن (an) to يُؤَجِّلَ (yuʾajjila) postpone-SUBJUNC الاجتِماعَ (al-ijtimāʿa) the-meeting-ACC إلى (ilā) to وَقتٍ (waqtin) time-GEN لاحِقٍ (lāḥiqin) later-GEN
12.20 أَكَّدَ (akkada) confirmed الوَزيرُ (al-wazīru) the-minister ضَرورَةَ (ḍarūrata) necessity-ACC أن (an) to يَلتَزِمَ (yaltazima) commit-SUBJUNC الجَميعُ (al-jamīʿu) everyone-NOM بِالإجراءاتِ (bil-ijrāʾāti) with-the-procedures-GEN الصِّحِّيَّةِ (aṣ-ṣiḥḥiyyati) the-health-GEN
12.21 يَأمُلُ (yaʾmulu) hopes المُواطِنونَ (al-muwāṭinūna) the-citizens أن (an) to تَتَحَسَّنَ (tataḥassana) improve-SUBJUNC الأَوضاعُ (al-awḍāʿu) the-conditions-NOM الاقتِصادِيَّةُ (al-iqtiṣādiyyatu) the-economic-NOM قَريباً (qarīban) soon-ACC
12.22 رَفَضَت (rafaḍat) refused المُعارَضَةُ (al-muʿāraḍatu) the-opposition أن (an) to تُشارِكَ (tushārika) participate-SUBJUNC في (fī) in المُفاوَضاتِ (al-mufāwaḍāti) the-negotiations-GEN دونَ (dūna) without شُروطٍ (shurūṭin) conditions-GEN مُسبَقَةٍ (musbaqatin) prior-GEN
12.23 تَسعى (tasʿā) strives الشَّرِكَةُ (ash-sharikatu) the-company أن (an) to تُوَسِّعَ (tuwassiʿa) expand-SUBJUNC نَشاطاتِها (nashāṭātihā) activities-its-ACC في (fī) in الأَسواقِ (al-aswāqi) the-markets-GEN الآسِيَوِيَّةِ (al-āsiyawiyyati) the-Asian-GEN
12.24 أَشارَ (ashāra) indicated التَّقريرُ (at-taqrīru) the-report إلى (ilā) to أَهَمِّيَّةِ (ahammiyyati) importance-GEN أن (an) to نُطَوِّرَ (nuṭawwira) develop-SUBJUNC مَصادِرَ (maṣādira) sources-ACC طاقَةٍ (ṭāqatin) energy-GEN مُتَجَدِّدَةٍ (mutajaddidatin) renewable-GEN
12.25 وافَقَ (wāfaqa) agreed البَرلَمانُ (al-barlamānu) the-parliament عَلى (ʿalā) on أن (an) to يُناقِشَ (yunāqisha) discuss-SUBJUNC مَشروعَ (mashrūʿa) project-ACC القانونِ (al-qānūni) the-law-GEN الأُسبوعَ (al-usbūʿa) the-week-ACC المُقبِلَ (al-muqbila) the-next-ACC
12.26 يَخشى (yakhshā) fears المُزارِعونَ (al-muzāriʿūna) the-farmers أن (an) to تُؤَثِّرَ (tuʾaththira) affect-SUBJUNC مَوجَةُ (mawjatu) wave-NOM الجَفافِ (al-jafāfi) the-drought-GEN عَلى (ʿalā) on المَحاصيلِ (al-maḥāṣīli) the-crops-GEN
12.27 طالَبَت (ṭālabat) demanded المُنَظَّماتُ (al-munaẓẓamātu) the-organizations الدَّولِيَّةُ (ad-dawliyyatu) the-international أن (an) to تُوقِفَ (tūqifa) stop-SUBJUNC الحُكومَةُ (al-ḥukūmatu) the-government انتِهاكاتِ (intihākāti) violations-ACC حُقوقِ (ḥuqūqi) rights-GEN الإنسانِ (al-insāni) the-human-GEN
12.28 أَوصى (awṣā) recommended الأَطِبّاءُ (al-aṭibbāʾu) the-doctors أن (an) to يُمارِسَ (yumārisa) practice-SUBJUNC النّاسُ (an-nāsu) the-people الرِّياضَةَ (ar-riyāḍata) the-sports-ACC بانتِظامٍ (bintiẓāmin) with-regularity
12.29 يُحاوِلُ (yuḥāwilu) tries العُلَماءُ (al-ʿulamāʾu) the-scientists أن (an) to يَكتَشِفوا (yaktashifū) discover-SUBJUNC عِلاجاً (ʿilājan) treatment-ACC فَعّالاً (faʿʿālan) effective-ACC لِهذا (li-hādhā) for-this المَرَضِ (al-maraḍi) the-disease-GEN
12.30 تَأمُلُ (taʾmulu) hopes الجامِعَةُ (al-jāmiʿatu) the-university أن (an) to تَستَقبِلَ (tastaqbila) receive-SUBJUNC عَدَداً (ʿadadan) number-ACC أَكبَرَ (akbara) greater-ACC مِنَ (mina) of الطُّلّابِ (aṭ-ṭullābi) the-students-GEN الدَّولِيّينَ (ad-dawliyyīna) the-international-GEN
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12.16 أَعلَنَت الحُكومَةُ أَنَّها تَنوي أن تُطَبِّقَ قَوانينَ جَديدَةً لِحِمايَةِ البيئَةِ The government announced that it intends to implement new laws for environmental protection.
12.17 يَتَوَقَّعُ الخُبَراءُ أن تَرتَفِعَ أَسعارُ النَّفطِ خِلالَ الأَشهُرِ القادِمَةِ Experts expect oil prices to rise during the coming months.
12.18 دَعا الأَمينُ العامُّ جَميعَ الدُّوَلِ أن تَتَعاوَنَ في مُكافَحَةِ التَّغَيُّرِ المُناخِيِّ The Secretary-General called on all countries to cooperate in combating climate change.
12.19 قَرَّرَ مَجلِسُ الإدارَةِ أن يُؤَجِّلَ الاجتِماعَ إلى وَقتٍ لاحِقٍ The board of directors decided to postpone the meeting to a later time.
12.20 أَكَّدَ الوَزيرُ ضَرورَةَ أن يَلتَزِمَ الجَميعُ بِالإجراءاتِ الصِّحِّيَّةِ The minister stressed the necessity for everyone to adhere to health procedures.
12.21 يَأمُلُ المُواطِنونَ أن تَتَحَسَّنَ الأَوضاعُ الاقتِصادِيَّةُ قَريباً Citizens hope the economic conditions will improve soon.
12.22 رَفَضَت المُعارَضَةُ أن تُشارِكَ في المُفاوَضاتِ دونَ شُروطٍ مُسبَقَةٍ The opposition refused to participate in negotiations without preconditions.
12.23 تَسعى الشَّرِكَةُ أن تُوَسِّعَ نَشاطاتِها في الأَسواقِ الآسِيَوِيَّةِ The company seeks to expand its activities in Asian markets.
12.24 أَشارَ التَّقريرُ إلى أَهَمِّيَّةِ أن نُطَوِّرَ مَصادِرَ طاقَةٍ مُتَجَدِّدَةٍ The report pointed to the importance of developing renewable energy sources.
12.25 وافَقَ البَرلَمانُ عَلى أن يُناقِشَ مَشروعَ القانونِ الأُسبوعَ المُقبِلَ Parliament agreed to discuss the draft law next week.
12.26 يَخشى المُزارِعونَ أن تُؤَثِّرَ مَوجَةُ الجَفافِ عَلى المَحاصيلِ Farmers fear that the drought wave will affect the crops.
12.27 طالَبَت المُنَظَّماتُ الدَّولِيَّةُ أن تُوقِفَ الحُكومَةُ انتِهاكاتِ حُقوقِ الإنسانِ International organizations demanded that the government stop human rights violations.
12.28 أَوصى الأَطِبّاءُ أن يُمارِسَ النّاسُ الرِّياضَةَ بانتِظامٍ Doctors recommended that people exercise regularly.
12.29 يُحاوِلُ العُلَماءُ أن يَكتَشِفوا عِلاجاً فَعّالاً لِهذا المَرَضِ Scientists are trying to discover an effective treatment for this disease.
12.30 تَأمُلُ الجامِعَةُ أن تَستَقبِلَ عَدَداً أَكبَرَ مِنَ الطُّلّابِ الدَّولِيّينَ The university hopes to receive a larger number of international students.
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12.16 أَعلَنَت الحُكومَةُ أَنَّها تَنوي أن تُطَبِّقَ قَوانينَ جَديدَةً لِحِمايَةِ البيئَةِ
12.17 يَتَوَقَّعُ الخُبَراءُ أن تَرتَفِعَ أَسعارُ النَّفطِ خِلالَ الأَشهُرِ القادِمَةِ
12.18 دَعا الأَمينُ العامُّ جَميعَ الدُّوَلِ أن تَتَعاوَنَ في مُكافَحَةِ التَّغَيُّرِ المُناخِيِّ
12.19 قَرَّرَ مَجلِسُ الإدارَةِ أن يُؤَجِّلَ الاجتِماعَ إلى وَقتٍ لاحِقٍ
12.20 أَكَّدَ الوَزيرُ ضَرورَةَ أن يَلتَزِمَ الجَميعُ بِالإجراءاتِ الصِّحِّيَّةِ
12.21 يَأمُلُ المُواطِنونَ أن تَتَحَسَّنَ الأَوضاعُ الاقتِصادِيَّةُ قَريباً
12.22 رَفَضَت المُعارَضَةُ أن تُشارِكَ في المُفاوَضاتِ دونَ شُروطٍ مُسبَقَةٍ
12.23 تَسعى الشَّرِكَةُ أن تُوَسِّعَ نَشاطاتِها في الأَسواقِ الآسِيَوِيَّةِ
12.24 أَشارَ التَّقريرُ إلى أَهَمِّيَّةِ أن نُطَوِّرَ مَصادِرَ طاقَةٍ مُتَجَدِّدَةٍ
12.25 وافَقَ البَرلَمانُ عَلى أن يُناقِشَ مَشروعَ القانونِ الأُسبوعَ المُقبِلَ
12.26 يَخشى المُزارِعونَ أن تُؤَثِّرَ مَوجَةُ الجَفافِ عَلى المَحاصيلِ
12.27 طالَبَت المُنَظَّماتُ الدَّولِيَّةُ أن تُوقِفَ الحُكومَةُ انتِهاكاتِ حُقوقِ الإنسانِ
12.28 أَوصى الأَطِبّاءُ أن يُمارِسَ النّاسُ الرِّياضَةَ بانتِظامٍ
12.29 يُحاوِلُ العُلَماءُ أن يَكتَشِفوا عِلاجاً فَعّالاً لِهذا المَرَضِ
12.30 تَأمُلُ الجامِعَةُ أن تَستَقبِلَ عَدَداً أَكبَرَ مِنَ الطُّلّابِ الدَّولِيّينَ
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The news genre demonstrates sophisticated uses of أن in formal Arabic discourse. Notice how أن appears after verbs of:
Announcement and Declaration: -
أعلن (aʿlana) - to announce -
أكّد (akkada) - to confirm -
أشار (ashāra) - to indicate
Mental States and Expectations: -
يتوقّع (yatawaqqaʿu) - to expect -
يأمل (yaʾmulu) - to hope -
يخشى (yakhshā) - to fear
Decision and Request: -
قرّر (qarrara) - to decide -
دعا (daʿā) - to call upon -
طالب (ṭālaba) - to demand
The news examples also show the important distinction between أن (an) and أنّ (anna): -
أن introduces subjunctive verbs (to do something) -
أنّ introduces noun clauses (that something is the case)
Example 12.16 contains both: "أَنَّها تَنوي أن تُطَبِّقَ" (that it intends to implement)
Advanced Patterns: -
ضرورة أن (ḍarūrat an) - the necessity to -
أهمية أن (ahammiyyat an) - the importance to -
على أن (ʿalā an) - on the condition that
These constructions are particularly common in formal Arabic media and demonstrate how أن functions as a crucial grammatical bridge between concepts and actions in sophisticated discourse.
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Key pronunciation points for أن constructions:
The particle أن itself: -
IPA: /ʔan/ -
Very short, unstressed -
The hamza (glottal stop) is pronounced -
Often elided in rapid speech
Subjunctive endings after أن: -
-a ending: /a/ (short vowel) -
No final -n sound in plurals -
Stress typically remains on the same syllable as indicative
Common pronunciation errors: -
Pronouncing أن too heavily or with stress -
Forgetting to change verb endings to subjunctive -
Confusing أن /ʔan/ with أنّ /ʔanna/ (note gemination) -
Adding unwanted pauses after أن
Audio practice suggestions: -
Listen to news broadcasts for formal usage -
TV dramas for colloquial variations -
Quran recitation for classical pronunciation
Connected speech patterns: -
أن أذهب often sounds like /ʔan ʔaðhaba/ -
ريد أن becomes /ʔurīd ʔan/ with smooth transition -
Final -t of feminine verbs assimilates: قررت أن /qararat ʔan/
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This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute's Modern Language Course series, utilizing our proven interlinear glossing method that has helped thousands of autodidact learners since 2006. The Latinum Institute specializes in making complex languages accessible through systematic, word-by-word analysis that reveals the underlying structure of the target language.
Our approach, as demonstrated in this Arabic lesson, allows learners to immediately engage with authentic texts while building a deep understanding of grammar and syntax. By presenting each word with its transliteration and grammatical function, we remove the barriers that typically prevent self-directed learners from progressing rapidly in languages with non-Latin scripts.
Visit our course index at https://latinum.substack.com/p/index to explore lessons in over 15 languages, each following this same rigorous methodology. The Latinum Institute continues to expand its offerings, with materials developed from our base at latinum.org.uk.
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