The particle fa (ف) is a connective particle that is usually translated as "and", "then" or "so". The particle is used as a prefix and connects words, phrases and clauses together using different types of relations. These relations are dependent on the following functions of the particle:
- a coordinating conjunction (حرف عطف)
- a resumption particle (حرف استئنافية)
- a particle of cause (حرف سببية)
When used as a conjunction, the particle fa functions syntactically in a similar way to wa ("and").
The Resumption Particle (حرف استئنافية)
This is the most common use of fa (ف). A particle of resumption or recommencement (حرف استئنافية) is used to indicate a sequence of events, and provides a close connection between elements of the sentence. Figure 1 below shows the syntactic dependency graph for verse (69:16) which contains the prefix fa used in this sense at (69:16:3):
| (69:16:5) frail. wāhiyatun | (69:16:4) (is on) that Day yawma-idhin | (69:16:3) so it fahiya | (69:16:2) the heaven, l-samāu | (69:16:1) And will split wa-inshaqqati |
Fig 1. The prefix fa as a resumption particle in verse (69:16).
The Particle of Cause (حرف سببية)
When used in a resultative sense, the prefix fa (ف) is known as a particle of cause (حرف سببية). If followed by an imperfect verb, this particle will place the verb into the subjunctive mood manṣūb (منصوب):
| (80:4:4) the reminder? l-dhik'rā | (80:4:3) so would benefit him fatanfaʿahu | (80:4:2) be reminded yadhakkaru | (80:4:1) Or aw |
Fig 2. The prefix fa as a particle of cause in verse (80:4).