Language/Moroccan-arabic/Grammar/Relative-Pronouns

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Moroccan Arabic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Relative Pronouns

Welcome to our lesson on Relative Pronouns in Moroccan Arabic! This topic is essential for anyone looking to create more complex sentences and enhance their conversational skills. In this lesson, we will explore the meaning, usage, and examples of relative pronouns, providing you with the tools you need to communicate more effectively.

Relative pronouns are key in connecting clauses and adding more information about nouns. They help in creating relationships between different parts of a sentence, making your conversations richer and more informative. By the end of this lesson, you will be well-equipped to use relative pronouns in your speech and writing.

Here's how we will structure our lesson:

1. Introduction to Relative Pronouns

2. Examples of Relative Pronouns

3. Exercises and Practice Scenarios

4. Solutions and Explanations for Exercises

Introduction to Relative Pronouns

In Moroccan Arabic, relative pronouns are used to link a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. They help to provide more details about the subject or object of the sentence. The most common relative pronoun in Moroccan Arabic is "اللي" (lli), which translates to "who, which, that" in English.

Let’s break it down a bit further:

• اللي (lli): This is the most versatile relative pronoun used for people and things. It can refer to singular or plural nouns and can be used in various contexts.

• اللي جاب (lli jab): This means "the one who brought."

• اللي شفت (lli shuft): This means "the one that I saw."

Using relative pronouns allows you to combine sentences and avoid repetition. For instance, instead of saying "I saw the car. The car is red," you can say "I saw the car that is red," which is much smoother and less repetitive.

Examples of Relative Pronouns

Now, let's look at some examples of sentences using the relative pronoun "اللي (lli)." We will present these examples in a table for clarity.

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
هاد البنت اللي كتدرس فالسّكّة	had lbent lli katdris fassikka	This is the girl who studies in school.
السيارة اللي شفتها زوينة	ssayara lli shuft-ha zwina	The car that I saw is beautiful.
الدار اللي ساكن فيها كبيرة	ddar lli sakn fiha kbira	The house that I live in is big.
هاد الكتاب اللي قريتو مفيد	had lktab lli qrit-u mufid	This book that I read is useful.
الجمل اللي شفتو فالسوق كان كبير	ljmal lli shuftu fassuq kan kbira	The camel that I saw in the market was big.
الولد اللي جاب النتيجة مزيانة	l-wlid lli jab n-nitija mziana	The boy who got the good result.
البنت اللي كتغني صوتها جميل	lbent lli katghanni swt-ha jmil	The girl who sings has a beautiful voice.
الكلب اللي عندي مخلص	l-kelb lli 3andi mkhless	The dog that I have is loyal.
السيدة اللي تعرفني غادي تجي	s-sayda lli ta3rfni ghadi tji	The woman who knows me will come.
الحديقة اللي زرعناها غادي تكون زوينة	l-hdika lli zra3naha ghadi tkoun zwina	The garden that we planted will be beautiful.

These examples illustrate how "اللي (lli)" can connect different parts of a sentence, making it more informative and engaging.

Now, let’s delve deeper into the usage of relative pronouns by exploring their functions and variations.

Functions of Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns can serve different functions in a sentence, primarily as the subject or object of the relative clause. Here’s how they function:

1. Subject of the Relative Clause: When "اللي (lli)" is used as the subject of the relative clause.

• Example: الولد اللي يلعب كرة القدم موهوب. (The boy who plays football is talented.)

2. Object of the Relative Clause: When "اللي (lli)" is used as the object of the relative clause.

• Example: السيارة اللي شريتها جديدة. (The car that I bought is new.)

3. Indicating Specificity: "اللي (lli)" is also used to specify which person or thing we are talking about.

• Example: الكتاب اللي قرأته هو المفضل عندي. (The book that I read is my favorite.)

4. Adding Additional Information: It can also be used to give more information about the noun.

• Example: المرأة اللي تشتغل في المستشفى تساعد الآخرين. (The woman who works in the hospital helps others.)

5. Distinguishing Between Different Entities: Sometimes it helps to differentiate between similar entities.

• Example: التاجر اللي باع لي الخبز هو طيب. (The baker who sold me the bread is nice.)

Now that we have a clear understanding of how relative pronouns function, let's explore some more examples to solidify this knowledge.

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
البنت اللي سافرت معايا كانت سعيدة	lbent lli safret m3aya kant sa3ida	The girl who traveled with me was happy.
الدار اللي شريتها كانت غالية	ddar lli shrit-ha kant galiya	The house that I bought was expensive.
الرجل اللي ساعدني كان لطيف	r-rajil lli sa3adni kan latif	The man who helped me was kind.
الغابة اللي زرعنا فيها شجر	l-ghaba lli zra3na fiha shajar	The forest where we planted trees.
الحفلة اللي حضرتها كانت ممتعة	l-hafla lli hdart-ha kant mumti3a	The party that I attended was enjoyable.
الشجرة اللي عندنا كبيرة	sh-shajra lli 3ndna kbira	The tree that we have is big.
الأكلة اللي طهيتها كانت لذيذة	l-akla lli tahit-ha kant ladhida	The dish that I cooked was delicious.
الطالبة اللي نجحت في الامتحان فرحت	t-taliba lli njahat f-l-imti7an fra7at	The student who passed the exam was happy.
الفيلم اللي شفتو كان مشوق	l-film lli shuftu kan mushawiq	The movie that I saw was exciting.
المحل اللي نشتري منه الخبز قريب	l-ma7al lli nshtari menhu l-khoubz qarib	The store where we buy bread is nearby.

Exercises and Practice Scenarios

Now that you have a solid understanding of relative pronouns in Moroccan Arabic, it’s time to put this knowledge into practice! Below are some exercises designed to help you apply what you’ve learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the appropriate form of "اللي" (lli).

1. الكتاب ____ قريته كان شيق.

2. المرأة ____ تعمل هنا لطيفة.

3. السيارة ____ عندي جديدة.

4. الجمل ____ رأيته في السوق كان كبير.

5. الصديق ____ زارني كان مريض.

Exercise 2: Translation Challenge

Translate the following sentences into Moroccan Arabic using "اللي" (lli).

1. The boy who reads is smart.

2. The house that is big is mine.

3. The teacher who helps us is nice.

4. The fruit that I bought is fresh.

5. The girl who sings beautifully is my sister.

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences

Using the following nouns, create sentences using "اللي" (lli).

• الجمل

• الكتاب

• الطالبة

• الحديقة

• السيارة

Exercise 4: Matching Exercise

Match the Moroccan Arabic sentences with their English translations.

1. الرجل اللي يشتغل في المستشفى. ( ) A. The book that is old.

2. البنت اللي تحب الدراسة. ( ) B. The man who works in the hospital.

3. الكتاب اللي قديم. ( ) C. The girl who loves studying.

Exercise 5: Sentence Reordering

Rearrange the following words to form correct sentences using "اللي" (lli).

1. الوالد / اللي / يحب / الطعام / لذيذ

2. الحديقة / اللي / زرعناها / جميلة

3. السيارة / اللي / شريت / جديدة

Solutions and Explanations for Exercises

Now, let's go over the solutions for each exercise to ensure you understand how to apply relative pronouns correctly.

Solutions to Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. الكتاب اللي قريته كان شيق.

2. المرأة اللي تعمل هنا لطيفة.

3. السيارة اللي عندي جديدة.

4. الجمل اللي رأيته في السوق كان كبير.

5. الصديق اللي زارني كان مريض.

Solutions to Exercise 2: Translation Challenge

1. الولد اللي كيقرا ذكي.

2. الدار اللي كبيرة ديالي.

3. المعلم اللي كيساعدنا لطيف.

4. الفاكهة اللي شريتها طازجة.

5. البنت اللي كاتغني زوينة هي أختي.

Solutions to Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences

(Answers will vary; here are some example sentences.)

1. الجمل اللي عندي كبير.

2. الكتاب اللي قريته شيق.

3. الطالبة اللي نجحت في الامتحان فرحت.

4. الحديقة اللي زرعناها خضرة.

5. السيارة اللي شريتها جديدة.

Solutions to Exercise 4: Matching Exercise

1. B (الرجل اللي يشتغل في المستشفى.)

2. C (البنت اللي تحب الدراسة.)

3. A (الكتاب اللي قديم.)

Solutions to Exercise 5: Sentence Reordering

1. الوالد اللي يحب الطعام لذيذ.

2. الحديقة اللي زرعناها جميلة.

3. السيارة اللي شريت جديدة.

Congratulations! You've completed the lesson on relative pronouns in Moroccan Arabic. By mastering this topic, you are now one step closer to speaking and understanding Moroccan Arabic with greater confidence. Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to create your own sentences using "اللي" (lli) in your day-to-day conversations. Happy learning!

Table of Contents - Moroccan Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction

• Alphabet and Writing
• Pronunciation

  ---

Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Asking for Directions
• Numbers and Counting

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Plurals
• Demonstratives
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Food and Drink

• Ordering Food in a Restaurant
• Describing Food
• Beverages and Ordering Drinks

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

House and Home

• Rooms and Furniture
• Household Chores
• Renting an Apartment

  ---

Adjectives

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

  ---

Traditions and Customs

• Weddings and Celebrations
• Greetings and Etiquette

  ---

Prepositions

• Directional Prepositions
• Temporal Prepositions

  ---

Transportation

• Taking a Taxi
• Public Transportation

  ---

Imperative Mood

• Affirmative Imperative
• Negative Imperative

  ---

Shopping and Bargaining

• Shopping for Clothes
• At the Market
• Bargaining and Haggling

  ---

Historical Sites and Landmarks

• The Medina
• Kasbahs

  ---

Relative Clauses

• Direct and Indirect Object Clauses
• Relative Pronouns

  ---

Health and Emergencies

• At the Hospital
• Emergencies and First Aid

  ---

Passive Voice

• Formation of Passive Constructions
• Uses of the Passive

  ---

Leisure and Entertainment

• Music and Dance
• Sports and Activities

  ---

Holidays and Festivals

• Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha
• Ramadan

  ---

Conditional Mood

• Formation of the Conditional
• Uses of the Conditional

  ---

Regional Dialects

• Darija and Other Dialects
• Language Use and Social Context

  ---

Indirect Speech

• Reported Speech
• Indirect Questions

  ---

Weather and Climate

• Describing the Weather
• Seasons and Climate

Other Lessons

• The Inclusive Case in Moroccan Arabic
• Indirect Questions
• Directional Prepositions
• Pronunciation
• Gender and Plurals
• How to use “can” in Moroccan Arabic
• Formation of the Conditional
• Conditional Mood
• Indefinite Articles in Moroccan Arabic
• How to use “to be” with names and places

◀️ Direct and Indirect Object Clauses — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — At the Hospital ▶️