QCAA Arabic (SEE) key terms

The formal register of Arabic used in writing, news and public speech, and the variety students are expected to use in the external examination. It has standardised grammar and vocabulary shared across the Arab world.

The spoken, everyday varieties of Arabic that differ from region to region in vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. They are used in conversation, songs and some media but rarely in formal examination writing.

The branch of Arabic grammar that governs sentence structure, word order and the case endings of nouns and the moods of verbs. It is a core area of accuracy in the written and oral tasks.

The study of word formation in Arabic, including roots, patterns and how prefixes, suffixes and internal vowel changes create related nouns and verbs. It supports accurate vocabulary building and dictionary use.

The set of usually three consonants that carries the core meaning of an Arabic word family, such as ك-ت-ب for writing. Recognising roots helps candidates guess meanings and use a dictionary efficiently.

The fixed vowel-and-consonant pattern into which a root is placed to form a word, conventionally shown with the letters ف-ع-ل. Patterns signal meanings such as doer, place or intensity.

The system of case and mood endings that shows a word's grammatical role in a sentence, such as nominative for subjects and accusative for objects. Accuracy here affects marks for language.

The noun phrase that opens a nominal sentence and is normally in the nominative case, as in الطالبُ مجتهد. It is typically followed by a predicate that completes the statement.

The predicate that completes a nominal sentence and gives information about the subject, normally nominative. It may be a single word, a phrase or a whole clause.

A sentence beginning with a noun, made up of a subject and a predicate. It typically describes a state or identity rather than an action, in contrast with a sentence starting with a verb.

A sentence that begins with a verb and usually states an action, with a doer and often an object. Its default order is verb, then doer, then object.

A word expressing an action or state and carrying tense and person. Arabic verbs are classified as past, present or imperative, and agree with their subject in person and gender.

The past-tense verb form, describing actions completed before the moment of speaking, such as كتب. It has its own set of person and gender endings and is common in narrative writing.

The present or future verb form, describing ongoing or upcoming actions, such as يكتب. Its endings change according to mood, and it can be made future by adding سوف or the prefix سـ.

The imperative verb form used to give a command or request, such as اكتب. It addresses the second person and is built on a form derived from the present tense.

The doer of a verb, the person or thing performing the action. It is normally nominative and is placed after the verb in a verbal sentence.

The direct object, the person or thing affected by a transitive verb. It is normally accusative and follows the doer in a verbal sentence.

A pronoun, either attached or detached, that stands in for a noun already known from context. Pronouns carry person, gender and number and are essential for tracing reference in texts.

The masculine grammatical gender, the default category for nouns and the form of verbs and adjectives used with masculine subjects. Agreement rules require matching gender between related words.

The feminine grammatical gender, usually marked on nouns by a final ة, though some nouns are feminine without it. Verbs, pronouns and adjectives must agree with feminine nouns.

The plural number category, formed either by a regular sound plural with a suffix or by an irregular broken plural that changes the word's internal pattern. Plural agreement affects verbs and adjectives.

The dual form used for exactly two of something, marked by a suffix such as ـان or ـين. It applies to nouns, adjectives and pronouns and must be matched by dual verb forms.

The singular form, referring to one item, as opposed to the dual and plural. The term can also describe a word that is not part of a compound construction.

The glottal stop sound, written as ء or carried on a seat letter such as ا, و or ي. Its correct spelling, including the rules for hamzat al-waṣl and hamzat al-qaṭʿ, is a frequent accuracy point.

The ة written at the end of many feminine nouns, pronounced as a light t in connected speech and as h when pausing. It must be distinguished from the open ت in writing.

Arabic spelling and the conventions governing how words are written, including rules for hamza, ta marbuta, alif maqsura and the definite article. Correct spelling is assessed directly in written tasks.

The short vowel marks and other diacritics written above or below letters to show pronunciation and grammatical endings. Full vocalisation is used in poetry and textbooks, but rarely in modern prose.

A word with a meaning close or identical to another word. Knowledge of synonyms supports paraphrase, summary writing and vocabulary questions, though near-synonyms often differ in tone or usage.

A word with the opposite meaning to another, such as كبير and صغير. Identifying antonyms helps candidates work out unfamiliar vocabulary and answer questions on meaning relationships.

The surrounding words, sentences or situation that determine the meaning of an expression. Using context is the main strategy for inferring the sense of unknown vocabulary in reading passages.

The central idea or main point of a text or paragraph, which the supporting details explain or illustrate. Identifying it is a standard requirement in reading comprehension questions.

A supporting idea or detail that develops the main idea of a text. Distinguishing supporting points from the main point is a common comprehension and summary skill.

The writer's purpose or intention in producing a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain or warn. Naming the purpose is a frequent requirement in analysis questions.

The particular readers or listeners a text is aimed at, which shapes its vocabulary, tone and level of formality. Identifying the audience helps explain why a text is written as it is.

The tone or attitude conveyed by a text, for example humorous, critical, sympathetic or neutral. Tone is inferred from word choice, sentence structure and the writer's stance.

The characteristic way a writer expresses ideas, including choices of vocabulary, sentence length, imagery and formality. Commenting on style is part of analytical response to texts.

A figurative expression that describes something through comparison or imagery rather than literal wording. Recognising and explaining such images is a standard element of literary analysis.

A simile, an explicit comparison between two things using a particle such as كـ or مثل. Both the compared items and the shared quality are usually stated.

A metaphor, in which a comparison is implied rather than stated, so that one thing is described in terms belonging to another. It is a key feature of literary and rhetorical style.

A shortened restatement of a text's main points in the writer's own words, keeping the essential information and leaving out detail and example. It is a common productive task in the examination.

Expressing the same meaning in different words, either to clarify or to avoid copying the original. It is a required skill in summary and paraphrase tasks and must preserve the original sense.

A structured piece of prose writing that presents and develops a viewpoint on a topic, usually with an introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. It is a frequent extended-writing task.

The opening section of a piece of writing, which introduces the topic, sets the context and often states the writer's position. It prepares the reader for the argument or narrative that follows.

The closing section of a text, which draws the ideas together, restates the main position and may offer a recommendation or final reflection. It should not introduce entirely new arguments.

A letter or written message addressed to a person or organisation, following conventions such as greeting, body and sign-off. Formal and informal letters differ in register and layout.

Punctuation marks such as the comma, full stop, question mark and quotation marks, which organise written Arabic and clarify meaning. Correct use is part of written accuracy.

A connective word or phrase such as لكن, لأن or بالإضافة إلى ذلك that links ideas and shows relationships between sentences. Effective use improves coherence in extended writing.

The quality of a text whose parts hold together logically and linguistically, so that sentences and paragraphs connect smoothly. It is achieved through linking words, pronoun reference and consistent organisation.