JAMB Arabic Studies 2024
Questions & Answers

The definite article 'ال' (al-) specifies a noun, e.g., الكتاب (al-kitāb, the book). 'في' (fī, in), 'على' (‘alā, on), and 'من' (min, from) are prepositions.

'She reads a book' is 'هي تقرأ كتابا' (hiya taqra’ kitāban). 'تكتب' means 'writes,' 'هو' is 'he,' and 'هن' is 'they (f).'

'هما' (humā) is the dual pronoun for 'they two' (m/f). 'هو' is 'he,' 'هم' is 'they (m, plural),' and 'هن' is 'they (f, plural).'

The plural of 'قلم' (qalam) is 'أقلام' (aqlām), a broken plural. 'قلمين' (qalamayn) is dual, and others are incorrect.

'الحمد لله' (al-ḥamdu lillāh) means 'Praise be to Allah,' expressing gratitude. Others are different phrases: 'بسم الله' (in the name), 'الله أكبر' (Allah is great), 'السلام عليكم' (peace be upon you).

The 'fatha' (َ) marks the accusative case (manṣūb), e.g., رأيت كتابًا (I saw a book). 'Damma' (ُ) is nominative (marfū‘), 'kasra' (ِ) is genitive (majrūr), and 'sukun' (ْ) indicates no vowel.

'بيت' (bayt) means 'house.' Others are 'مدرسة' (madrasa, school), 'كتاب' (kitāb, book), and 'قلم' (qalam, pen).

Imru’ al-Qays is renowned for his pre-Islamic 'Mu‘allaqāt' ode. Others are from later periods: Al-Mutanabbi (Abbasid), Abu Nuwas (Abbasid), Al-Ma‘arri (post-Umayyad).

For 'she,' 'شرب' (shariba) in present tense is 'تشرب' (tashrab). 'يشرب' is 'he,' 'نشرب' is 'we,' and 'أشرب' is 'I.'

'مدرسات' (mudarrisāt, female teachers) is a sound feminine plural with the suffix 'ات' (-āt). 'كتب' (kutub), 'مدن' (mudun), and 'أشجار' (ashjār) are broken plurals.

'قصة' (qiṣṣa) means 'story.' 'قصيدة' (qaṣīda) is a poem, 'رواية' (riwāya) is a novel, and 'مقال' (maqāl) is an article.

'Good morning' is 'صباح الخير' (ṣabāḥ al-khayr). 'مساء الخير' is 'good evening,' 'السلام عليكم' is 'peace be upon you,' and 'شكرا جزيلا' is 'thank you very much.'

Abbasid poetry (750–1258 CE) reflected urban sophistication and courtly themes, unlike pre-Islamic poetry’s focus on desert or tribal life.

For 'we,' the past tense of 'ركض' (rakaḍa) is 'ركضنا' (rakadnā). 'ركضت' is 'I/you/she,' 'ركضوا' is 'they (m),' and 'ركض' is the base form.

'هذا' (hādhā, this) is a demonstrative pronoun. 'أنا' (anā) is 'I,' 'من' (man/min) is 'who/from,' and 'كيف' (kayf) is 'how.'

'جامعة' (jāmi‘a) means 'university.' Others are 'مدرسة' (madrasa, school), 'مستشفى' (mustashfā, hospital), and 'سوق' (sūq, market).

'لـ' (li-) expresses possession, e.g., الكتاب للطالب (al-kitāb lil-ṭālib, the book belongs to the student). Others are prepositions: 'في' (in), 'عن' (about), 'بـ' (with).

'Alf Layla wa Layla' (One Thousand and One Nights) is a collection of anonymous folk tales, compiled over centuries, not by a single author.

For 'they (m),' 'سمع' (sami‘a) in present tense is 'يسمعون' (yasma‘ūn). 'تسمع' is 'she,' 'أسمع' is 'I,' and 'نسمع' is 'we.'

Maqama is a rhymed prose narrative, often humorous, in Arabic literature. Qasida, ghazal, and mu‘allaqa are poetic forms.

'شكرا جزيلا' (shukran jazīlan) means 'Thank you very much.' Others are 'صباح الخير' (good morning), 'من فضلك' (please), and 'مع السلامة' (goodbye).

The plural of 'باب' (bāb) is 'أبواب' (abwāb), a broken plural following the pattern af‘āl. 'بابين' is dual, and others are incorrect.

Umayyad poetry (661–750 CE) often focused on political themes and courtly praise, reflecting the dynasty’s power, unlike pre-Islamic desert or tribal focus.

For 'you (m, singular),' the past tense of 'لعب' (la‘iba) is 'لعبت' (la‘ibta). 'لعب' is the base, 'لعبا' is 'they two,' and 'لعبنا' is 'we.'

'صديق' (ṣadīq) means 'friend.' 'أخ' (akh) is 'brother,' 'جار' (jār) is 'neighbor,' and 'معلم' (mu‘allim) is 'teacher.'

'بـ' (bi-) indicates instrumentality, e.g., كتبت بالقلم (katabtu bil-qalam, I wrote with the pen). 'لـ' is possession, 'إلى' is direction, and 'لا' is negation.

Ibn al-Muqaffa translated and adapted 'Kalila wa Dimna,' a collection of fables, into Arabic from Persian and Indian sources.

For 'I,' 'جلس' (jalasa) in present tense is 'أجلس' (ajlis). 'تجلس' is 'you,' 'يجلس' is 'he,' and 'نجلس' is 'we.'

Ghazal is a poetic form focused on love and beauty. Maqama and saj‘ are prose styles, and risala is an epistle.

'مساء الخير' (masā’ al-khayr) means 'Good evening.' 'صباح الخير' is 'good morning,' 'شكرا' is 'thank you,' and 'مع السلامة' is 'goodbye.'

The dual form of 'كتاب' (kitāb) is 'كتابين' (kitābayn). 'كتب' (kutub) is plural, and others are incorrect.

Pre-Islamic prose centered on oratory (e.g., tribal speeches) and storytelling, reflecting Arabia’s oral traditions.

For 'they (f),' the past tense of 'كتب' (kataba) is 'كتبن' (katabna). 'كتبوا' is 'they (m),' 'كتبت' is 'I/you/she,' and 'كتبنا' is 'we.'

'عائلة' (‘ā’ila) means 'family.' 'مدرسة' (madrasa) is 'school,' 'مدينة' (madīna) is 'city,' and 'سوق' (sūq) is 'market.'

'عن' (‘an) indicates separation, e.g., ابتعدت عن البيت (ibtacadtu ‘an al-bayt, I moved away from the house). 'لـ' is possession, 'بـ' is instrumentality, 'في' is location.

Al-Jahiz authored 'Al-Bayan wa al-Tabyin,' a seminal work on Arabic rhetoric and prose.

For 'you (f),' 'نام' (nāma) in present tense is 'تنامين' (tanāmīn). 'ينام' is 'he,' 'أنام' is 'I,' and 'ننام' is 'we.'

Rajaz is a poetic meter in Arabic, often used in simple or satirical poetry. Maqama and saj‘ are prose, and risala is an epistle.

'من فضلك' (min faḍlik) means 'Please,' used in polite requests. 'شكرا' is 'thank you,' 'مع السلامة' is 'goodbye,' and 'آسف' is 'sorry.'

The plural of 'شجرة' (shajara) is 'أشجار' (ashjār), a broken plural. 'شجرات' is sound feminine plural (rare), 'شجرين' is dual, and 'شجور' is incorrect.