Mastering Arabic Relative Pronouns (الأسماء الموصولة): A Beginner's Guide with Examples

 Arabic Relative Pronouns Explained: Rules, Agreement & Practice for Beginners

Imagine you want to describe which student succeeded or what street you walked on. How do you connect these details in Arabic? That’s where الأسماء الموصولة (Relative Pronouns) come in! They act like linguistic bridges, linking a noun (like "the student") to a descriptive clause (like "who studied hard"). 

In this article, we will explore how to use these connectors correctly, focusing on agreement in gender and number, and how verbs align within the relative clause. With clear examples and simple steps, this guide will help learners master one of the most important tools in Arabic grammar.

✅ 1. What are Relative Pronouns (الأسماء الموصولة)?

Relative pronouns are words that connect a noun to a descriptive clause (a phrase that gives more details about the noun).

This second part is called صلة الموصول = “the relative clause.”

✅ 2. What kind of word is it (part of speech)?

It’s a noun (اسم), not a verb or particle.

Its job is to link a noun with a descriptive clause.

✅ 3. What is the function of the relative pronoun?

• It joins/connects two parts:
• A noun (someone or something).
• A sentence that describes or gives more information about that noun.
• It clarifies the noun by providing additional, specific details about it.

✅ 4. A very important rule: Agreement

The relative pronoun must match the noun that comes before it in:

• Number: singular, dual, or plural
• Gender: masculine or feminine

Also: the verb in the clause that follows should agree with that noun too.

✅ 5. Key Relative Pronouns (with meaning):

• الذي (who/that): masculine singular
• التي (who/that): feminine singular
• اللذانِ (who/that): masculine dual
• اللتانِ (who/that ): feminine dual
• الذين (who/that): masculine plural
• اللائي / اللاتي (who/that): feminine plural
  
  

Summary Table

✅ 6. How to Use Them (Step by Step):

• Identify the noun you want to describe.

Example: "الطَّالِبَةُ" (the female student).

• Choose the matching pronoun based on gender/number:

♀ Singular → الَّتِي.

• Add a descriptive clause (verb/subject) after it, ensure the verb in the following clause also agrees in number and gender with the relative pronoun and the noun:

"الَّتِي دَرَسَتْ" (who studied).

• Full sentence: ... الطَّالِبَةُ الَّتِي دَرَسَتْ (The female student who studied .....)

✅ 7. Quick review:

• The relative pronoun connects a noun to a clause that describes it.
• It must match the noun in number and gender.
• The verb in the clause also matches the noun.
• The clause that follows is called relative clause (صلة الموصول).

✅ 8. Sentence Examples

Let's apply these rules to the examples provided:

Singular Masculine:

Sentence: جَاءَ الطَّالِبُ الَّذِيْ غَابَ بِالْأَمْسِ. (The student who was absent yesterday has come.)

Explanation: "الطَّالِبُ" (the student) is singular and masculine. So, we use the relative pronoun "الَّذِيْ." The verb "غَابَ" (was absent) is also in the singular masculine form.

Singular Feminine:

Sentence: أَيْنَ الطَّبِيْبَةُ الَّتِيْ أَجْرَتِ الْعَمَلِيَّةَ؟ (Where is the female doctor who performed the operation?)

Explanation: "الطَّبِيْبَةُ" (the female doctor) is singular and feminine. We use "الَّتِيْ." The verb "أَجْرَتِ" (performed) is also in the singular feminine form (note the ت for feminine agreement).

Dual Masculine:

Sentence: خَرَجَ الدَّارِسَانِ اللَّذَانِ حَفِظَا الْقَصِيْدَةَ. (The two students who memorized the poem have left.)

Explanation: "الدَّارِسَانِ" (the two students) is dual and masculine. We use "اللَّذَانِ." The verb "حَفِظَا" (memorized) is also in the dual masculine form (note the ا for dual agreement).

Dual Feminine:

Sentence: ذَهَبَتِ الدَّارِسَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ كَتَبَتَا الْبَحْثَ. (The two female students who wrote the research paper have gone.)

Explanation: "الدَّارِسَتَانِ" (the two female students) is dual and feminine. We use "اللَّتَانِ." The verb "كَتَبَتَا" (wrote) is also in the dual feminine form.

Plural Masculine:

Sentence: حَضَرَ الْعُمَّالُ الَّذِيْنَ سَافَرُوْا الشَّهْرَ الْمَاضِيَ. (The workers who traveled last month have arrived.)

Explanation: "الْعُمَّالُ" (the workers) is plural and masculine. We use "الَّذِيْنَ." The verb "سَافَرُوْا" (traveled) is also in the plural masculine form (note the وْا for plural agreement).

Plural Feminine:

Sentence: أَيْنَ الدَّارِسَاتُ اللَّاتِيْ خَرَجْنَ مُبَكِّرَاتٍ؟ (Where are the female students who left early?)

Explanation: "الدَّارِسَاتُ" (the female students) is plural and feminine. We use "اللَّاتِيْ." The verb "خَرَجْنَ" (left) is also in the plural feminine form (note the ن for feminine plural agreement).

✅ 9. Summary 

In summary, relative pronouns (الأسماء الموصولة) are the essential tools for connecting a noun to a descriptive clause, known as the relative clause (صلة الموصول). 

The most important rule to remember is agreement: the relative pronoun you choose must always match the noun it refers to in both number (singular, dual, or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine). Furthermore, the verb in the descriptive clause must also agree with the noun. 

By mastering the use of pronouns like الَّذِيْ (singular masculine), الَّتِيْ (singular feminine), اللَّذَانِ (dual masculine), اللَّتَانِ (dual feminine), الَّذِيْنَ (plural masculine), and اللَّاتِيْ (plural feminine), you can link ideas seamlessly and build more sophisticated and detailed sentences in Arabic.

With a solid grasp of these core concepts and a bit of practice, you'll find that using relative pronouns becomes second nature. They are the key to moving beyond simple statements and beginning to express more complex thoughts with confidence and precision. Keep practicing with different nouns and verbs, and you'll soon be able to describe the world around you in rich, descriptive detail.

Exercises

1. Translate the following sentences into Arabic

What is this street that you walk on?

What is this building that is on the left?

Where are the two students who were present yesterday?

Where are the two female students who were present yesterday?

Where are the students who were present yesterday?

Where are the female students who were present yesterday?

The student who was absent yesterday has come.

Where are the female students who left early?

2. Translate the following sentences into English

حَضَرَ الْعُمَّالُ الَّذِيْنَ سَافَرُوْا الشَّهْرَ الْمَاضِيَ

أَيْنَ الطَّبِيْبَةُ الَّتِيْ أَجْرَتِ الْعَمَلِيَّةَ؟

خَرَجَ الدَّارِسَانِ اللَّذَانِ حَفِظَا الْقَصِيْدَةَ

ذَهَبَتِ الدَّارِسَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ كَتَبَتَا الْبَحْثَ

دَخَلَ الْمُدَرِّسُ الَّذِيْ شَرَحَ الدَّرْسَ أَمَامَنَا

لَمْ يَحْضُرِ الْأَطِبَّاءُ الَّذِيْنَ أَشْرَفُوْا عَلَى الْمَرْضَى

مَنْ هَذَانِ الْوَلَدَانِ اللَّذَانِ جَاءَا مَعَكَ؟

أَيْنَ الْمُوَظَّفَةُ الَّتِيْ تَعْمَلُ فِيْ قِسْمِ الْمَوَارِدِ الْبَشَرِيَّةِ؟

هَؤُلَاءِ الْمُمَرِّضَاتُ اللَّاتِيْ يَعْمَلْنَ فِيْ الْمُسْتَشْفَى الْجَدِيْدِ

Answers

مَا هَذَا الشَّارِعُ الَّذِيْ تَسِيْرُ فِيْهِ

What is this street that you walk on?

مَا هَذِهِ الْبِنَايَةُ الَّتِيْ عَلَى الْيَسَارِ؟

What is this building that is on the left?

أَيْنَ الطَّالِبَانِ اللَّذَانِ حَضَرَا بِالْأَمْسِ؟

Where are the two students who were present yesterday?

أَيْنَ الطَّالِبَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ حَضَرَتَا بِالْأَمْسِ؟

Where are the two female students who were present yesterday?

أَيْنَ الطُّلَّابُ الَّذِيْنَ حَضَرُوْا بِالْأَمْسِ؟

Where are the students who were present yesterday?

أَيْنَ الطَّالِبَاتُ اللَّاتِيْ حَضَرْنَ بِالْأَمْسِ؟

Where are the female students who were present yesterday?

جَاءَ الطَّالِبُ الَّذِيْ غَابَ بِالْأَمْسِ

The student who was absent yesterday has come.

أَيْنَ الدَّارِسَاتُ اللَّاتِيْ خَرَجْنَ مُبَكِّرَاتٍ؟

Where are the female students who left early?

حَضَرَ الْعُمَّالُ الَّذِيْنَ سَافَرُوْا الشَّهْرَ الْمَاضِيَ

The workers who traveled last month have arrived.

أَيْنَ الطَّبِيْبَةُ الَّتِيْ أَجْرَتِ الْعَمَلِيَّةَ؟

Where is the female doctor who performed the operation?

خَرَجَ الدَّارِسَانِ اللَّذَانِ حَفِظَا الْقَصِيْدَةَ

The two students who memorized the poem have left.

ذَهَبَتِ الدَّارِسَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ كَتَبَتَا الْبَحْثَ

The two female students who wrote the research paper have gone.

دَخَلَ الْمُدَرِّسُ الَّذِيْ شَرَحَ الدَّرْسَ أَمَامَنَا

The teacher who explained the lesson in front of us has entered.

لَمْ يَحْضُرِ الْأَطِبَّاءُ الَّذِيْنَ أَشْرَفُوْا عَلَى الْمَرْضَى

The doctors who supervised the patients did not attend.

مَنْ هَذَانِ الْوَلَدَانِ اللَّذَانِ جَاءَا مَعَكَ؟

Who are these two boys who came with you?

أَيْنَ الْمُوَظَّفَةُ الَّتِيْ تَعْمَلُ فِيْ قِسْمِ الْمَوَارِدِ الْبَشَرِيَّةِ؟

Where is the female employee who works in the human resources department?

هَؤُلَاءِ الْمُمَرِّضَاتُ اللَّاتِيْ يَعْمَلْنَ فِيْ الْمُسْتَشْفَى الْجَدِيْدِ

These are the nurses who work in the new hospital.