هذا الشكل بسيط.

هذا is the masculine singular demonstrative, meaning this.

It is used here because الشكل is a masculine singular noun in Arabic. So:

• هذا = this (for masculine singular nouns)
• هذه = this (for feminine singular nouns)

So هذا الشكل means this shape / this form.

In Arabic, every noun has grammatical gender, either masculine or feminine.
شَكْل is a masculine noun, so it takes the masculine demonstrative هذا.

This is grammatical gender, so it is something you often just have to learn with the noun.

الشكل can mean several related things depending on context, such as:

• shape
• form
• figure
• appearance

In this sentence, shape or form is the most natural meaning.

Also note:

• شكل = a shape / a form
• الشكل = the shape / the form

The الـ at the beginning makes the noun definite.

The prefix الـ is the Arabic definite article, equivalent to the in English.

So:

• شكل = a shape
• الشكل = the shape

In هذا الشكل, the noun is definite because it is referring to a specific shape: this shape.

In fact, demonstratives like هذا usually go with definite reference. So هذا الشكل is a natural phrase meaning this shape.

In Arabic, present-tense sentences often do not use a separate word for is / am / are.

So:

• هذا الشكل بسيط literally: this shape simple
• natural English: This shape is simple

This is completely normal in Arabic. The verb to be is usually omitted in the present tense.

If you wanted the past tense, Arabic would use a verb, for example:

• كان هذا الشكل بسيطًا = This shape was simple

Yes. بسيط means simple.

In this sentence, it functions as the predicate: it tells you something about this shape.

So the structure is:

• هذا الشكل = the subject/topic
• بسيط = what is being said about it

So بسيط is describing the subject, but here it is not just part of a noun phrase like the simple shape. It is the main predicate of the sentence: is simple.

This is a very important point.

In هذا الشكل بسيط, بسيط is the predicate of the sentence, so it is usually indefinite.

That is why we say:

• هذا الشكل بسيط = This shape is simple

If you said:

• هذا الشكل البسيط

that would mean something like:

• this simple shape

Here البسيط is no longer the predicate; it becomes an attributive adjective directly attached to الشكل.

So compare:

• هذا الشكل بسيط = This shape is simple.
• هذا الشكل البسيط = This simple shape.

This difference is very important in Arabic.

A very useful clue is definiteness.

1. Predicate sentence

• هذا الشكل بسيط
• This shape is simple

Here:

• الشكل is definite
• بسيط is indefinite

That signals that بسيط is the predicate.

2. Noun + adjective phrase

• هذا الشكل البسيط
• This simple shape

Here:

• الشكل is definite
• البسيط is also definite

That signals that البسيط is an adjective directly modifying الشكل.

So in Arabic, matching definiteness helps you identify whether something is:

• an adjective inside the noun phrase, or
• the predicate of the sentence.

In Arabic, demonstratives often come before the noun in simple expressions like this:

• هذا الشكل = this shape

That is the standard pattern you should learn first.

You may also later encounter other structures, especially in more formal grammar discussions, but for learners, هذا + noun is the basic and most useful pattern.

It is pronounced roughly:

hādhā ash-shakl

The reason is that the ل of الـ assimilates to certain letters called sun letters.
The letter ش is one of them.

So:

• written: الشكل
• pronounced: ash-shakl, not al-shakl

This is why you hear a doubled sh sound.

A careful pronunciation is:

hādhā ash-shaklu basīṭun

In everyday reading and speaking, especially when case endings are not pronounced, you will often hear:

hādhā ash-shakl basīṭ

A rough English-friendly guide:

• هذا = haa-thaa (with dh like th in this)
• الشكل = ash-shakl
• بسيط = ba-seet

In fully vocalized formal Arabic, the sentence would typically be:

هٰذَا الشَّكْلُ بَسِيطٌ

With case endings:

• الشكلُ = nominative
• بسيطٌ = nominative

Why nominative? Because in a basic nominal sentence:

• the subject/topic is nominative
• the predicate is also nominative

However, in most ordinary writing, these short vowels and tanwīn are omitted, so you usually just see:

هذا الشكل بسيط

Yes. Like many Arabic adjectives, بسيط changes to agree in gender and number when needed.

For example:

• بسيط = simple (masculine singular)
• بسيطة = simple (feminine singular)

So if the noun were feminine, you would change both the demonstrative and the adjective as needed. For example:

• هذه الفكرة بسيطة = This idea is simple

Here:

• هذه because فكرة is feminine
• بسيطة because the adjective agrees with the feminine noun

بسيط comes from the root ب س ط.

This root is associated with ideas like:

• spreading out
• extending
• making broad or plain

In modern usage, بسيط commonly means:

• simple
• uncomplicated
• modest
• basic

As with many Arabic words, knowing the root can help you connect related vocabulary later.

Yes. Even though the basic meaning is clear, الشكل can vary a bit by context.

Depending on what you are talking about, the sentence could be understood as:

• This shape is simple
• This form is simple
• This figure is simple
• This design is simple

Arabic words often have a range of meanings, and context tells you which one is best.

Yes, absolutely. It is a complete and natural Arabic sentence.

Arabic often allows very compact sentences, especially in the present tense.
So هذا الشكل بسيط is a full sentence meaning:

This shape is simple.

Even without a separate word for is, the sentence is grammatically complete.