Conditional Tools
Conditional tools can be categorized into two main types: those that are decisive and those that are non-decisive. Non-decisive conditional tools do not definitively determine what follows them, and they require the presence of an action and a response to the condition. The grammatical role of these tools varies based on their position in a sentence, and it is noted in their final grammatical analysis as either action or response to the condition. This article will explore non-decisive tools, accompanied by some grammatical examples.
Non-Decisive Conditional Tools
- لو (Law): This indicates a hypothetical situation and is classified as a non-decisive conditional particle, fixed in place with no grammatical position. Similar to all conditional tools, “لو” necessitates a response that can either include or exclude the letter “لام”.
- لولا (Lawla): This suggests that something is prevented from occurring due to the presence of another element. For example, the phrase “لولا رحمة ربك لهلك الناس” means the destruction is avoided by the presence of mercy. This tool must accompany a subject and predicate in the sentence and requires a conditional response. It is also classified as a non-decisive conditional particle, fixed in place with no grammatical position.
- إذا (Idha): This serves as a temporal reference for future events and is parsed as a conditional particle for future time, fixed in place as a temporal adverbial phrase.
- كلما (Kullamaa): This is used without repetition within the sentence and is analyzed as an adverb for repeated time, fixed in place as a temporal adverbial phrase.
- لوما (Lawma): This communicates the prevention of something due to the existence of another, similar to “لولا”, and is grammatically treated the same way as “لولا”.
- لما (Lamaa): This is a conditional particle that specifically addresses past events, requiring two clauses, as illustrated in the phrase: “لما أيقنت أن رزقي مكتوب لي اطمأن قلبي لقضاء الله,” meaning “When I was certain that my sustenance was written for me, my heart found peace in God’s decree.” It is grammatically classified as a conditional particle, fixed in place as a temporal adverbial phrase.
- أمّا (Amma): This indicates a distinction and substitutes for conditional tools; its corresponding response must always be prefixed with “فـ”. It is analyzed as a non-decisive conditional particle, fixed in place with no grammatical position.
Grammatical Examples
In the sentence, “إذا تتلى عليه آياتنا قال أساطير الأولين” (Surah Al-Qalam 15):
- إذا: A conditional particle fixed in place, functioning as a temporal expression for future time.
- تتلى: Present tense verb in the nominative case, with an implied subject, functioning as the action for the non-decisive conditional.
- عليه: A preposition, with “هـ” being a connected pronoun in the genitive case.
- آياتنا: A noun in the nominative case, serving as the grammatical subject, with “نا” as a connected pronoun in the genitive case.
- قال: A past tense verb in the accusative case, with an implied subject “he”, and this clause serves as the response to the non-decisive condition.
- أساطير: Predicative complement for an unstated subject.
- الأولين: A genitive phrase indicating possession, with “ين” being the marker for a plural masculine noun.
In the sentence, “لما جاء الشتاء ارتوت الأرضُ”:
- لما: A non-decisive conditional particle, functioning as a temporal expression.
- جاء: A past tense verb in the accusative case.
- الشتاء: Subject in the nominative case, serving as the agent of the action.
- ارتوت: A past tense verb in the accusative case, with “ت” as a connected pronoun having no grammatical case.
- الأرضُ: Subject in the nominative case, concluding the response to the non-decisive condition.
Video on Conditional Tools and Their Types
To learn more about conditional tools and their various types, please watch the video below.