Grammar term · I'rab · The verb — a different system
Accusative particle (nasab)
harf nasab
حَرْف نَصْب
I'rabThe verb — a different systemcore term592+ in the Qur'an
In one line
A nasab-causer — a particle (أَنْ، لَنْ، كَيْ، حَتَّى…) that bends the present verb to a fatha.
The classical list
وَالنَّوَاصِبُ عَشَرَةٌ وَهِيَ: أَنْ، وَلَنْ، وَإِذَنْ، وَكَيْ، وَلَامُ كَيْ، وَلَامُ الْجُحُودِ، وَحَتَّى، وَالْجَوَابُ بِالْفَاءِ وَالْوَاوِ وَأَوْ.
“The nasab-causers are ten: an (that), lan (never), idhan (in that case), kay (so that), the lam of kay, the lam of denial, hatta (until/so that), and the response with fa, waw and aw.”
(الآجرّومية)
Key words in the Arabic
لَام الْجُحُودthe lam of denial: مَا كَانَ اللهُ لِيَفْعَلَ
حَتَّىuntil / so that
Understand it
These particles push the mudari' into nasab: a final fatha, or a dropped nun in the five verbs. The workhorses are أَنْ (that), لَنْ (emphatic never) and the purpose-words كَيْ، لِـ، حَتَّى (so that / until). Where jazm clips the verb short, nasab points it forward — most of these ten aim the verb at a goal.
How to spot it
Recognition test
A mudari' ending in fatha, or minus its nun — look left for أَنْ، لَنْ، حَتَّى، لِـ….
Related terms
Next in the guideحَرْف جَزْمJussive particle (jazm) →