---
title: "Basics of Arabic Grammar and Spelling for Primary School"
description: "Grammar and spelling rules for the primary stage with examples and exercises: word types, the sentence, hamza, the two tas, and the sun and moon al."
url: "https://iqraairtqi.com/en/blogs/basics-arabic-grammar-spelling-primary"
date: "2026-08-06T05:00:52+00:00"
---

# Basics of Arabic Grammar and Spelling for Primary School

<div class="whiteboard-box">- 📚 **In grammar** a primary pupil needs four things: word types (noun, verb, particle), the nominal and verbal sentence, masculine and feminine, and singular, dual and plural.
- ✍️ **In spelling:** the hamza, the two kinds of ta, the alef maqsura, and the sun and moon "al".
- 🧩 **Understand the rule before memorising it:** show examples, ask what the child notices, then write the rule together.
- ⏱️ **Short, regular practice** usually works better than one long weekly lesson.

</div>What does a primary pupil learn in grammar?
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### Word types: noun, verb and particle

<table class="table table-bordered"><tr><th>Type</th><th>How to recognise it</th><th>Examples</th></tr><tr><td>Noun</td><td>Names a person, animal, plant, thing or place, and accepts "al"</td><td>walad (boy), qitta (cat), shajara (tree), kitab (book)</td></tr><tr><td>Verb</td><td>Describes an action tied to a time, and accepts "qad"</td><td>kataba (wrote), yaktubu (writes), uktub (write!)</td></tr><tr><td>Particle</td><td>Has no meaning alone; links words</td><td>fi (in), min (from), 'ala (on), wa (and)</td></tr></table>

A quick trick for the child: if "al" can enter the word it is a noun (al-kitab); if "qad" can enter it, it is a verb (qad kataba).

### The nominal and the verbal sentence

- **A nominal sentence** starts with a noun: "al-waladu mujtahidun" (the boy is diligent).
- **A verbal sentence** starts with a verb: "kataba al-waladu ad-darsa" (the boy wrote the lesson).

### Masculine and feminine, singular, dual and plural

<table class="table table-bordered"><tr><th>Topic</th><th>Examples</th></tr><tr><td>Masculine / feminine</td><td>mu'allim / mu'allima (teacher), talib / taliba (student)</td></tr><tr><td>Singular</td><td>talib, kitab</td></tr><tr><td>Dual</td><td>talibani, kitabani</td></tr><tr><td>Sound masculine plural</td><td>mu'allimun</td></tr><tr><td>Sound feminine plural</td><td>mu'allimat</td></tr><tr><td>Broken plural</td><td>kitab → kutub, walad → awlad</td></tr></table>

Spelling basics for the primary stage
-------------------------------------

<table class="table table-bordered"><tr><th>Rule</th><th>Examples</th><th>Common mistake</th></tr><tr><td>**Hamzat al-qat'** is always pronounced and written (أ) or (إ)</td><td>أرض, أحمد, إنسان</td><td>Writing a bare alef</td></tr><tr><td>**Hamzat al-wasl** is a bare alef that drops when speech is joined</td><td>اكتب, استمع, اسم, the definite "ال"</td><td>Adding a hamza above it</td></tr><tr><td>**The closed ta (ة)** ends a feminine singular noun and is read as "h" when you stop</td><td>مدرسة, معلمة</td><td>Writing it as ه or ت</td></tr><tr><td>**The open ta (ت)** ends a verb with the subject's ta, a sound feminine plural, and some nouns</td><td>كتبتُ, معلمات, بيت, وقت</td><td>Writing it as ة</td></tr><tr><td>**Alef maqsura (ى)** in some particles</td><td>على, إلى, حتى, متى</td><td>Writing them with an alef</td></tr></table>

### The sun and moon "al"

After a moon letter the lam is pronounced: al-qamar, al-kitab, al-walad. After a sun letter the lam is silent and the letter is doubled: ash-shams, ar-rajul, an-nur.

<table class="table table-bordered"><tr><th>Moon letters (14)</th><th>Sun letters (14)</th></tr><tr><td>ا ب ج ح خ ع غ ف ق ك م ه و ي</td><td>ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن</td></tr></table>

How to teach a lesson: four steps
---------------------------------

1. **Examples first:** write three sentences that contain the same rule.
2. **Notice:** ask what repeats in these sentences.
3. **The rule:** put it into the child's words, then write it in one line.
4. **A short exercise:** five questions only, and correct mistakes at once.

### Kinds of dictation

- **Copied:** the child looks at the text, then copies it.
- **Observed:** the child studies the hard words, then writes them from memory.
- **Listening:** the child hears the text, then writes it.
- **Test:** to measure what the child has learned after practising.

Ready-made exercises with answers
---------------------------------

1. **Classify the words:** "al-waladu yal'abu fi al-hadiqa". → al-walad: noun, yal'abu: verb, fi: particle, al-hadiqa: noun.
2. **Complete with the right ta:** مدرس… , كتب… (verb with "I"), معلم… (feminine plural). → مدرسة, كتبتُ, معلمات.
3. **Sun or moon "al"?** القمر, الشمس, الكتاب, الرجل. → moon, sun, moon, sun.

Common mistakes and how to fix them
-----------------------------------

- **Writing على and إلى with an alef:** have the child learn each in a short sentence and write it three times a day for a week.
- **Mixing ة and ت:** ask the child to put the word in a sentence and stop on it: if it is read as "h" it is ة.
- **Memorising a rule without using it:** ask for an example of their own each time.

When does a child need a teacher?
---------------------------------

If the same mistake keeps returning after weeks of practice, or the child starts avoiding writing, there is probably an older gap that needs diagnosing. You may also find [grammar and spelling rules for beginners](/en/blogs/grammar-spelling-rules-arabic-beginners) useful if you want to start yourself.

How we help
-----------

At Iqraa Irtaqii Academy, one-to-one online lessons start by assessing the child's level and then follow a plan that suits them; the [Arabic foundation programme](/arabic-foundation) has the details.

<div class="faq-section">#### Frequently Asked Questions

<div class="faq-item">**Q: Where do I start with my child in grammar?**A: Start with word types (noun, verb, particle), then the nominal and verbal sentence; everything after builds on them.

</div><div class="faq-item">**Q: What is the difference between hamzat al-qat' and hamzat al-wasl?**A: Hamzat al-qat' is always pronounced and written (أ) or (إ) as in "أرض"; hamzat al-wasl drops when speech is joined and is a bare alef as in "اكتب".

</div><div class="faq-item">**Q: When is the ta closed and when open?**A: Closed at the end of a feminine singular noun such as "مدرسة"; open at the end of a verb with the subject's ta such as "كتبتُ" and in the sound feminine plural such as "معلمات".

</div><div class="faq-item">**Q: How many exercises a day are enough?**A: Five short questions are enough; what matters is that the practice repeats daily and mistakes are corrected at once.

</div></div><div style="text-align:center;margin:35px 0;padding:24px;background:#f0f7f4;border-radius:16px;">Ready to start with a specialist teacher?

[Book a free trial lesson on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/97466657295)</div>