Question 1

Why is the word for "that" أنّ (anna) here instead of إنّ (inna) or أنْ (an)?

Accepted Answer

In Arabic, أنّ (anna) is used to say "that" in the middle of a sentence to introduce a noun clause (a mini-sentence starting with a noun). It is specifically used after verbs of thinking, knowing, or perceiving, like يعتقد (believes). You use إنّ (inna) at the very beginning of sentences, and أنْ (an) when it is followed directly by a verb.

Question 2

How does أنّ (anna) affect the grammar of the word الأرض (the earth) right after it?

Accepted Answer

أنّ acts just like its sister word إنّ (inna). It changes the subject of its clause into the accusative case (meaning it takes a fatha sound at the end). If you read this sentence with full vowel endings, it would be pronounced أنَّ الأرضَ (anna al-'arda), rather than al-'ardu.

Question 3

The word العالم here means "the scientist", but doesn't it also mean "the world"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they look identical without short vowels! "The scientist" is العالِم (al-'aalim) with a "kasra" (i-sound) under the letter laam. "The world" is العالَم (al-'aalam) with a "fatha" (a-sound) over the laam. As a learner, you have to rely on context to know which one is meant. Here, a scientist believing something makes more sense than a world believing something.

Question 4

I remember that الأرض (the earth) is inherently a feminine word. Why isn't the adjective "beautiful" feminine (جميلة)?

Accepted Answer

In the clause "the earth is a beautiful planet", the adjective جميل (beautiful) is directly describing the word كوكب (planet). Because كوكب is a masculine word, any adjective attached to it must also be masculine, regardless of the gender of the main subject (الأرض).

يعتقد العالم أن الأرض كوكب جميل.

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