I'rab of Surah An-Naba Ayah 15: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah An-Naba (النبأ) · Meccan · Ayah 15
لِّنُخْرِجَ بِهِۦ حَبًّۭا وَنَبَاتًۭا TransliterationLinukhrija bihi ḥabban wa nabātā
MeaningThat We may bring forth thereby grain and vegetation,
This verse states the purpose of sending the rain: so that Allah may bring forth grain and vegetation. The lām is a particle of purpose, and the present verb 'We bring forth' is accusative because of an implied 'an' after it. The prepositional phrase 'with it' attaches to the verb, and the two objects 'grain' and 'plants' are accusative.
Word by word i'rab
particle of purpose + subjunctive present verb
The lām indicates purpose ('so that'), and 'nukhrij' is a present verb in the accusative (subjunctive) mood due to an implied 'an' after the lām, with an understood 'We' as subject.
accusativeprepositional phrase (jārr wa majrur)
The preposition 'bi' ('with/by') plus the attached pronoun 'hi' (referring to the water); the phrase attaches to the verb 'nukhrij.'
genitivedirect object (maf'ul bihi)
The direct object of 'nukhrij,' accusative and indefinite, meaning 'grain.'
accusativeconjunction + noun joined to the object
The wāw conjoins 'nabāt' ('vegetation') to 'ḥabb,' so it shares the accusative case of the object.
accusativeDetailed i'rab
The verse opens with the lām of purpose prefixed to the present verb nukhrij ('We bring forth'). This verb is in the subjunctive (manṣūb) mood because of an implicitly understood particle an following the lām; together they form a verbal-noun construction (maṣdar mu'awwal) that, governed by the lām, attaches to anzalnā in the previous verse, expressing the goal of sending the rain. The subject of nukhrij is an implied 'We.' The prepositional phrase bihi ('with it,' the pronoun referring to the water) connects to the verb. The direct object is ḥabban ('grain'), accusative and indefinite, and nabātan ('vegetation') is joined to it by the conjunction wāw, sharing its accusative case.
Frequently asked
Why is نُخْرِجَ in the subjunctive (accusative) mood?
Because of an implied particle أن ('that') after the lām of purpose. This لام causes the following present verb to take the subjunctive mood, ending in fatḥa.
What does the prepositional phrase بِهِ refer back to?
The pronoun هِ ('it') refers to the water (مَآء) mentioned in the previous verse, meaning grain and plants are brought forth by means of that rain.