Breakdown of درجة الحرارة على الشاشة.
Questions & Answers about درجة الحرارة على الشاشة.
Why is there no word for is in this sentence?
In Arabic, the verb to be is usually omitted in the present tense.
So درجة الحرارة على الشاشة literally looks like the temperature on the screen, but it means The temperature is on the screen.
This is called a nominal sentence. Arabic often says:
- الكتاب على الطاولة = The book is on the table
- الولد في البيت = The boy is at home
If you wanted was, will be, or something similar, Arabic would usually use a verb such as كان.
What is درجة الحرارة exactly? Why are there two nouns?
درجة الحرارة is a very common Arabic expression meaning temperature.
Literally, it is something like:
- درجة = degree
- الحرارة = the heat
So the phrase literally suggests the degree of heat, which corresponds to temperature.
This kind of noun combination is very common in Arabic.
Why does only الحرارة have ال, but درجة does not?
This is because درجة الحرارة is an iḍāfa construction, often called a genitive construction or noun construct.
In an iḍāfa:
- the first noun normally does not take ال
- the second noun can take ال
- if the second noun is definite, the whole phrase becomes definite
So:
- درجة حرارة = a temperature / a degree of heat
- درجة الحرارة = the temperature
Even though درجة has no ال, the whole phrase is definite because الحرارة is definite.
Why is على used here?
على is a preposition that usually means on, on top of, or upon.
So:
- على الشاشة = on the screen
In this sentence, it tells you the location of درجة الحرارة.
It works much like English on in:
- on the table
- on the wall
- on the screen
Why is الشاشة pronounced ash-shāsha rather than al-shāsha?
This happens because ش is a sun letter.
When ال comes before a sun letter, the l sound of al- is not pronounced, and the following consonant is doubled.
So:
- ال + شاشة
- written: الشاشة
- pronounced: ash-shāsha
This is a pronunciation rule only. The spelling still keeps ال.
What case is الشاشة in after على?
After a preposition like على, the noun is in the genitive case.
So in fully vowelled Arabic, الشاشة would be:
- الشاشةِ / ash-shāshati
In normal unvowelled writing, you usually do not see that final case ending, so it is simply written الشاشة.
This is very common in Modern Standard Arabic: the grammar is there, but everyday writing often leaves the short vowels unwritten.
Why is there a ة at the end of درجة and الحرارة?
The ة is called tāʾ marbūṭa. It often marks feminine nouns.
So:
- درجة is feminine
- الحرارة is also feminine
A useful thing to know is that ة is pronounced differently depending on context:
- at the end of a pause, it often sounds like -a or -ah
- in an iḍāfa or when case endings are pronounced, it can sound like -t
That is why درجة الحرارة is often pronounced approximately as:
- darajat al-ḥarāra
The t sound in درجة appears clearly because it is linked to the next word in the iḍāfa.
Is درجة الحرارة singular or plural?
It is singular.
Grammatically:
- درجة is a singular noun
- الحرارة is also singular
Together, the phrase refers to temperature as one concept, not multiple temperatures.
So even though English learners may focus on the word degree, the full Arabic expression functions as the normal singular term for temperature.
Is this definitely a full sentence, or could it just be a label?
It could be understood either way, depending on context.
As a full sentence, it can mean:
- The temperature is on the screen
But in real life, especially on signs, menus, interfaces, or captions, Arabic often uses short noun phrases without full sentence structure. So it could also function more like:
- Temperature on screen
- Screen temperature
depending on the situation
Context usually tells you whether it is a complete statement or just a label.
Could the word order be changed?
Yes, Arabic can sometimes change the order for emphasis.
The version you have:
- درجة الحرارة على الشاشة
is the most straightforward if you want to present the temperature first and then say where it is.
You could also sometimes see:
- على الشاشة درجة الحرارة
This gives more emphasis to on the screen, somewhat like On the screen is the temperature in English.
Both are possible in the right context, but the original order is simpler and more neutral for a learner.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning ArabicMaster Arabic — from درجة الحرارة على الشاشة to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions