A preposition ḥarf jar (حرف جر) comes before a noun and always places the noun into in the genitive case majrūr (مجرور). The preposition may be an individual word or it can be a preposition prefixed to a noun as part of the same word. The preposition and the genitive noun are related through a dependency known as jār wa majrūr (جار ومجرور), with the noun dependent on the preposition. The preposition may also link with other parts-of-speech that are nominals instead of nouns. For example a single word can consist of a preposition and a suffixed pronoun, which together are related in a jār wa majrūr dependency. According to traditional Arabic grammar the suffixed pronoun will still be considered to be in the genitive case majrūr (مجرور).
The preposition and the genitive nominal together form a preposition phrase. In traditional Arabic grammar a preposition phrase jār wa majrūr must always be attached to another part of the sentence (PP-attachment). In a dependency graph the type of relation for preposition phrase attachment is known as mutaʿaliq (متعلق) which may be translated as "link" or "attachment". A preposition phrase may attach to either a verb or a noun. For example, when an action is performed and the sentence uses a preposition phrase to add meaning, the preposition phrase can be attached to the verb through the mutaʿaliq relation. Similarly a preposition phrase can be mutaʿaliq with a noun. In dependency graphs a preposition and its genitive noun are represented together using a phrasal node. PP-attachment is annotated by showing a dependency between the phrase node and a terminal node in the graph such as a verb.
In verse (100:5) below a preposition phrase (PP) is attached to its preceeding verb:
| (100:5:3) collectively jamʿan | (100:5:2) thereby bihi | (100:5:1) Then penetrate (in the) center fawasaṭna |
Fig 1. Preposition phrase attached to a verb in verse (100:5).
The next verse (100:6) contains a preposition phrase attached to a noun:
| (100:6:4) (is) surely ungrateful. lakanūdun | (100:6:3) to his Lord, lirabbihi | (100:6:2) mankind, l-insāna | (100:6:1) Indeed, inna |
Fig 2. Preposition phrase attached to a noun in verse (100:6).
Particles of Oath
The letter wāw can be prefixed to a word as either a conjunction ("and") or as a particle of oath ("I swear by"). When used as an oath wāw acts like a genitive preposition ḥarf jar and places the following noun into the genitive case majrūr (مجرور). As an example consider the first verse of chapter 68 which begins with an oath. Because the letter wāw acts as preposition, it places the following noun (68:1:2) into the genitive case:
| (68:1:4) they write, yasṭurūna | (68:1:3) and what wamā | (68:1:2) By the pen wal-qalami | (68:1:1) Nun. noon |
Fig 3. Preposition phrase used to form an oath in verse (68:1).