Contents | Previous Topic | Next Topic

Inna and its Sisters

Inna and its sisters are particles that act like the verb kaana and its sisters كانَ وَأخَواتُها

to modify the meaning of a nominal sentence. They cannot be followed by a verb, but only by the subject of a nominal sentence, which is then called the noun of inna or any of its sisters . إسْمُ إنَّ وَأخَواتُها

The sisters of inna are: أنَّ , لأنَّ , لَكِنَّ , لَعَلَّ , لَيْتَ , كأنَّand إنَّ

They cannot be followed by an independent pronoun (أنا , أنْتَ , هُوَ , هِيَ , نَحْنُ , أنْتُمْ\أنْتُنَّ , هُمْ , هُنَّ etc.), but may take an attached possessive pronoun: (هُمْ , هُنَّ , ي , نا , كَِ , كُمْ , كُنَّ etc.). The subject of the subsequent nominal sentence is accusative.

1. إنَّ is used for emphasis at the beginning of a nominal sentence or after the verb 'said' قالَ. It connotes the meaning 'it is confirmed' or ' it is a matter of fact that', and is usually not translated into English, although it is sometimes translated as 'verily' or 'indeed'.

2. لأنَّ  'because'
3. لَكِنَّ 'but'
4. لَعَلَّ 'it is wished or anticipated that, perhaps'
5. لَيْتَ 'it is hoped'
6. كأنَّ 'as if'

See also:

• Kaana and its Sisters
• Subject and Predicate
• Subjunctive Particles
• Jussive Particles
• Negative Particles
• Conjunction Particles
• Interrogative Particles
• Vocative Particles