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### Attached Prepositions

In English, prepositions like "by," "for," and "like" are separate words. In Arabic, a few common prepositions consist of just a single letter and attach directly to the front of the following noun.

### "By" and "With" (بـ)

The preposition بـ means "by" (when talking about transportation) or "with" (when using a tool).

When attaching بـ to a definite noun starting with ال (the), it simply connects to the first letter (ا) without changing the spelling. 

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### "For" (لـ) and a Special Spelling Rule

The preposition لـ means "for" or "to" and is used to show purpose, destination, or belonging. 

There is one **important spelling rule** for this preposition: When you attach لـ to a word that starts with ال, the ا (alif) from the ال is dropped completely. You write the لـ directly connected to the ل of the definite article. 

For example, combining لـ with القطار (the train) becomes للقطار (for the train).

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### "Like" or "As" (كـ)

The preposition كـ means "like" or "as" and is used to make comparisons.

Just like بـ, this preposition attaches directly to the front of the word without dropping any letters. When added to a word with ال, it connects straight to the alif. 

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Attached prepositions (بـ، لـ، كـ)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

interrogative

noun

numeral

particle

prefix

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The definite article and locatives (الـ)

Basic noun gender (ة)

Sun and moon letters

Singular subject pronouns (أنا، أنت، هو، هي)

Indefinite nouns and nominal sentences (ـٌ)

Demonstrative pronouns for 'this' (هذا / هذه)

Separate prepositions (في، من، إلى، على)

Attributive adjectives

Predicative adjectives

Yes/No questions (هل، أ)

Basic questions (من، ما، أين)

Singular possessive pronouns (ـي، ـك، ـه، ـها)

Plural subject pronouns (نحن، أنتم، هم)

Plural possessive pronouns (ـنا، ـكم، ـهم)

Noun possession

Pronouns with prepositions

Having and possessing (عند، لـ، مع)

Regular plural nouns (ـون، ـين، ـات)

Broken plurals

Dual nouns (ـان / ـين)

Plural and distant demonstratives (هؤلاء، ذلك، تلك)

Non-human plural agreement

Present tense singular verbs

Verbal sentences (VSO)

Present tense plural verbs

Topicalized sentences (SVO)

The indefinite accusative case (ـاً)

Verb object pronouns (-ني، -ك، -ه)

Present tense negation (لا)

Question words with verbs (متى، كيف...)

Adverbs of time and place

The future tense (سـ / سوف)

Intentions and desires (أن)

Negating states and possession (ليس)

Past tense singular suffixes

Past tense plural suffixes

Negating past events (ما)

Singular commands

Numbers 1 to 10

Number agreement for 1 and 2 (واحد، اثنان)

Asking how many (كم)

Numbers 3 to 10 (ثلاثة إلى عشرة)

Ordinal numbers 1 to 10 (الأول، الثاني)

Basic conjunctions (فـ، أو، لكن)

Ordering at a café (واحد، اثنان)

Food and drink with conjunctions (و، ف، أو، لكن)

There is and there are (هناك / ليس هناك)

Direct address (يا)

Giving reasons (لأنّ)

Relative pronouns (الذي / التي)

Quantifiers (كل / بعض)

The past tense of 'to be' (كان)

Past possession

Numbers 11 to 19 and tens to 80

Telling time (الساعة)

This book vs this is a book (هذا الكتاب، هذا كتاب)

Greetings (مرحبا، السلام عليكم)

How are you? and goodbye (كيف حالك، مع السلامة)

Nationalities (مصري، مصرية)

Roots and patterns (كتب، كتاب، مكتب)

Politeness (من فضلك، آسف)

Complex possession chains

Colors and traits (أفعل / فعلاء)

Plural colors and traits (فُعْل)

Comparative adjectives (أفعل من)

Superlative adjectives (أفعل)

Adverbs of manner (ـاً)

The nominative case (ـُ)

The genitive case (ـِ)

The accusative case (ـَ)

Dual noun cases (ـان / ـين)

Masculine plurals and 'the best of' (أفضل النجارين)

Emphasizing sentences (إنّ)

Connecting clauses (أنّ)

Reporting speech (قال إنّ)

Expressing contrast (لكنّ)

Comparison and probability (كأنّ, لعلّ)

Distant plural pointing (أولئك)

Plural relative pronouns (الذين, اللواتي)

Past habits (كان + present)

Ongoing actions (ما زال)

Masculine plurals online (مبرمجون، مؤثرون)

Perfective past (قد)

Probability (قد)

The subjunctive mood (أن)

Expressing purpose (لـ)

Question	Answer
to travel	سافرsâfara
by, with (attached)	بbi
train	قطارqitâr
The man traveled to the city by train.	سافر الرجل إلى المدينة بالقطار.sâfara r-rajulu ilâ l-madînati bil-qitâri
bus	حافلةhâfila
The student went to the school by bus.	ذهب الطالب إلى المدرسة بالحافلة.dhahaba at-tâlibu ilâ al-madrasati bil-hâfilati
The guest went to the hotel by car.	ذهب الضيف إلى الفندق بالسيارة.dhahaba ad-dayfu ilâ al-funduqi bis-sayyârati.
to cut	قطعqata'a
knife	سكينsikkîn
The father cut the food with the knife.	قطع الأب الطعام بالسكين.qata'a al-abu at-ta'âma bis-sikkîni.
The man cut the paper with the knife.	قطع الرجل الورقة بالسكين.qata'a ar-rajulu al-waraqata bis-sikkîn.
spoon	ملعقةmil'aqa
for, to (attached)	لli
This spoon is for the kitchen.	هذه الملعقة للمطبخ.hâdhihi al-mil'aqatu lil-matbakhi
The key is for the car, not for the bus.	المفتاح للسيارة، لا للحافلة.al-miftâhu lissayyârati, lâ lilhâfilati.
Is the ticket for the train?	هل التذكرة للقطار؟hal it-tadhkiratu lil-qitâr?
Is the room for the guest?	هل الغرفة للضيف؟hal al-ghurfatu lid-dayfi?
like, as (attached)	كka
airplane	طائرةtâ'ira
This train is fast like the airplane.	هذا القطار سريع كالطائرة.hâdhâ al-qitâru sarî'un kat-tâ'irah
The boy is strong like the lion.	الولد قوي كالأسد.al-waladu qawiyyun kal-asad.
The river is big like the sea.	النهر كبير كالبحر.an-nahru kabîrun kal-bahri
The girl is beautiful like the moon.	البنت جميلة كالقمر.al-bintu jamîlatun kalqamari
The doctor went to the hospital by car.	ذهب الطبيب إلى المستشفى بالسيارة.dhahaba at-tabibu ila al-mustashfa bis-sayyarati
Did he travel by airplane?	هل سافر بالطائرة؟hal sâfara bittâ'irah?
This spoon is for the food.	هذه الملعقة للطعام.hâdhihi al-mil'aqatu littaâmi.
like / such as	مثلmithl
You are like my brother.	أنت مثل أخي.anta mithlu akhî
My car is like your car.	سيارتي مثل سيارتك.sayyârati mithlu sayyâratika

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