This boy is...

To expand on this, you may also want to say, for example "This boy is Rashid" rather than simply "This is Rashid". So, how do make the change between "This is a boy." and "This boy is..." ? Look at the examples below and spot the difference.

هذا ولد

Haadha walad.This is a boy

هذا الولد

Haadha al walad...This boy

As you can see, the difference is that "al" appeared. [As will learn and practice in the next lesson], "AL" is an Arabic "definate article" (ie it means "The"). In English when we say "This boy" we know which boy is being talking about, it is a defininate boy - This boy, not just any boy. That is the logic behind the inclusion of "AL" study the following examples :

هذا طالب
(haadha Taalib) This is a student

هذا الطالب مجتهد
(haadha aT Taalib mujtahid) This student is hard working

ذلك ولد
(dhaalika walad) That is a boy

ذلك الولد طالب
(dhaalika al walad Taalib) That boy is a student

هذه أمّ
(haadhihi Umm) This is a mother

هذه الأمّ مسلمة
(haadhihi al Umm muslima) This mother is Muslim

تلك مسلمة
(tilka muslima) That is a Muslim lady

تلك المسلمة عائشة
(tilka al muslima Aisha)