Lesson 14

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

Assalamu'alaikum and greetings to all.


LESSON 14 KAANA AND HER SISTERS

1. كَانَ ( kaana ) and her sisters are called verbs of incomplete predication, اَلْاَفْعَالُ اَلنَّاقِصَةُ ( al-af’alu annaqisah ).
2. These verbs express the idea of a state of continuation e.g. when it is said كَانَ أَحْمَدٌ ( kaana Ahmadun ) meaning ‘Ahmad was’, the person who hears the expression might ask, “ What was Ahmad? ”.
3. If it is said تَاجِرًا كَانَ أَحْمَدٌ ( kaana Ahmadun tajiran ) meaning ‘Ahmad was a merchant’, the predicate is complete.
4. The above nominal sentence is analysed thus :
1. كَانَ ( kaana ) is the verb of incomplete predication, اَلْفِعْلُ اَلنَّاقِصُ ( alfi’lu annaqis).
2. أَحْمَدٌ ( Ahmadun ) is the subject of kaana, كَانَ إِسْمٌ ( isim kaana ).,
3. تَاجِرًا ( tajiran ) is the predicate of kaana, خَبَرٌ كَانَ( khabar kaana ).
5. As mentioned earlier, both the subject and the predicate of a nominal sentence are in the nominative case. The verbs kaana and her sisters, when introduced at the beginning of a nominal sentence, bring about certain vowel changes, in respect of the subject and predicate, as follows :
1. the subject of kaana remains in the nominative case
2. the predicate of kaana will be in the accusative case
6. Kindly see Table 32 below which lists some of these verbs.

TABLE 32 KAANA AND HER SISTERS

No	VERBS	TRANSLITERATION	ENGLISH
1)	كَانَ	kaana	to be
2)	صَارَ	saara	to become
3)	أَصْبَحَ	asbaha	to become at dawn
4)	أَضْحَى	adhaa	to become in the forenoon
5)	أَمْسَى	amsaa	to become in the evening
6)	بَاتَ	baata	to become during the night
7)	ظَلَّ	zalla	to remain
8)	لَيْسَ	laisa	not to be



7. Kindly see Table 33 below for some examples of the nominal sentences which are written without or with kaana and her sisters. Please note the vowel changes that occur.

TABLE 33 SENTENCES WITHOUT OR WITH KAANA AND HER SISTERS

No	WITHOUT KAANA AND HER SISTERS.	WITH KAANA AND HER SISTERS.	ENGLISH
1)	اَلْوَلَدُ لَاعِبٌ alwaladu laa’ibun	كَانَ اَلْوَلَدُ لَاعِباً kaana alwaladu laa’iban	The boy was playing.
2)	اَلْجَوُّ حَارٌّ aljauwu harrun	صَارَ اَلْجَوُّ حَارًّا saara aljauwu harran	The weather became hot.
3)	اَلْمَطَرُ غَزِيْرٌ almataru ghazirun	أَصْبَحَ اَلْمَطَرُ غَزِيْراً asbaha almataru ghaziran	Rain became abundant at dawn.
4)	اَلْجُنْدِيُّ شُجَاعٌ aljundiyu shujaa-un	ظَلَّ اَلْجُنْدِيُّ شُجَاعاً zalla aljundiyu shujaa-an	The soldier remained brave.
5)	اَلْبِنَاءُ قَوِيٌ albina-u qawiyun	لَيْسَ اَلْبِنَاءُ قَوِياً laisa albina-u qawiyan	The building is not strong



8. Kindly see Table 34 below for the conjugation of Kaana in the perfect tense.

TABLE 34 PERFECT TENSE OF KAANA

PERSON	GENDER	PLURALITY	PERFECT TENSE		ENGLISH
غائب ( Ghaib ) THIRD PERSON i.e the person you are speaking about	مذكر Masculine	Singular	كَانَ	kaana	He was
		Dual	كَانَا	kaanaa	They ( two) were
		Plural	كَانُوا	kaanuu	They (all) were
	مؤنث Feminine	Singular	كَانَتْ	kaanat	She was
		Dual	كَانَتَا	kaanata	They ( two) were
		Plural	كُنَّ	kunna	They (all) were
مخاطب ( Mukhatob ) SECOND PERSON i.e the person you are speaking to	مذكر Masculine	Singular	كُنْتَ	kunta	You were
		Dual	كُنْتُمَا	kuntuma	You ( two) were
		Plural	كُنْتُمْ	kuntum	You (all) were
	مؤنث Feminine	Singular	كُنْتِ	kunti	You were
		Dual	كُنْتُمَا	kuntuma	You ( two) were
		Plural	كُنْتُنَّ	kuntunna	You (all) were
متكلم ( Mutakalim ) FIRST PERSON i.e the person who is speaking	مذكر / مؤنث Masculine / Feminine	Singular	كُنْتُ	kuntu	I was
		Plural	كُنَّا	kunnaa	We were



9. Kindly see Table 35 below for the conjugation of Kaana in the imperfect tense.

TABLE 35 IMPERFECT TENSE OF KAANA

PERSON	GENDER	PLURALITY	IMPERFECT TENSE		ENGLISH
غائب ( Ghaib ) THIRD PERSON i.e the person you are speaking about	مذكر Masculine	Singular	يَكُونُ	yakuunu	He will be
		Dual	يَكُونَانِ	yakuunaani	They ( two) will be
		Plural	يَكُونُونَ	yakuunuuna	They (all) will be
	مؤنث Feminine	Singular	تَكُونُ	takuunu	She will be
		Dual	تَكُونَانِ	takuunaani	They ( two) will be
		Plural	يَكُنَّ	takunna	They (all) will be
مخاطب ( Mukhatob ) SECOND PERSON i.e the person you are speaking to	مذكر Masculine	Singular	تَكُونُ	takuunu	You will be
		Dual	تَكُونَانِ	takuunaani	You ( two) will be
		Plural	تَكُونُونَ	takuunuuna	You (all) will be
	مؤنث Feminine	Singular	تَكُونِينَ	takuuniina	You will be
		Dual	تَكُونَانِ	takuunaani	You ( two) will be
		Plural	تَكُنَّ	takunna	You (all) will be
متكلم ( Mutakalim ) FIRST PERSON i.e the person who is speaking	مذكر / مؤنث Masculine / Feminine	Singular	أَكُونُ	akuunu	I will be
		Plural	نَكُونُ	nakuunu	We will be



10. Kindly see Table 36 below for the conjugation of Kaana in the imperatives.

TABLE 36 IMPERATIVES.OF KAANA

PERSON	GENDER	PLURALITY	IMPERATIVES		ENGLISH
مخاطب ( Mukhatob ) SECOND PERSON	مذكر Masculine	Singular	كُنْ	kun	You be
		Dual	كُونَا	kuunaa	You ( two) be
		Plural	كُونُوا	kuunuu	You (all) be
	مؤنث Feminine	Singular	كُونِي	kuunii	You be
		Dual	كُونَا	kuunaa	You ( two) be
		Plural	كُنَّ	kunna	You (all) be

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