Lianna lets you connect an action with its reason: I returned because I am ill. The reason has its own noun or attached pronoun and its own predicate. Learn the because pattern using the inna endings you already know.
01Connect an action with its reason
Use لِأَنَّ (lianna) for “because.” Say what happened, then give the reason.
رَجَعْتُ لِأَنَّنِي مَرِيضٌ
rajatu liannani maridun
I returned because I am ill. — a male speaker
Rajatu gives the completed action. Liannani maridun explains why: “because I am ill.” The reason is a present state here; the past verb does not automatically put every following description into the past.
02Give the reason with a named noun
Lianna combines li with anna. Inside the reason clause, anna makes its noun accusative and keeps a simple predicate nominative, just like inna.
مَا خَرَجْتُ لِأَنَّ الْجَوَّ بَارِدٌ
ma kharajtu lianna ljawwa baridun
I did not go out because the weather is cold.
Aljawwa is the accusative noun in the reason; baridun is its nominative predicate. Do not make the weather noun genitive just because li appears inside lianna. Anna governs that noun.
03Attach he or she to because
When the reason’s noun is he or she, attach hu or ha directly to lianna: liannahu or liannaha. Choose the pronoun for the person explained.
رَجَعَ حَامِدٌ لِأَنَّهُ مَرِيضٌ
rajaa hamidun liannahu maridun
Hamid returned because he is ill.
رَجَعَتْ أَمِينَةُ لِأَنَّهَا مَرِيضَةٌ
rajaat aminatu liannaha maridatun
Amina returned because she is ill.
Hamidun and Aminatu belong to the main action clause. The attached reason pronouns occupy anna’s accusative noun position; maridun and maridatun remain nominative.
04Match the pronoun to the speaker or listener
Liannani and lianni both mean “because I.” The same I form works for a man or woman; the describing word matches the person.
رَجَعْتُ لِأَنِّي مَرِيضَةٌ
rajatu lianni maridatun
I returned because I am ill. — a female speaker
For “because you,” use لِأَنَّكَ (liannaka) to one man and لِأَنَّكِ (liannaki) to one woman. لِأَنَّنَا (liannana) means “because we.” Pick the person before choosing the predicate.
05Finish the reason with useful information
A reason can give a location instead of a describing word. Keep the entire prepositional phrase as its predicate.
فَتَحْتُ الْبَابَ لِأَنَّ الْمِفْتَاحَ مَعِي
fatahtu lbaba lianna lmiftaha mai
I opened the door because the key is with me.
Almiftaha is anna’s accusative noun. Mai means “with me” and gives the complete information about the key. Lianna plus the noun alone would leave this intended reason unfinished.
What to remember
- Lianna connects a statement or action with the reason for it.
- Inside the reason, anna makes its noun accusative; a simple predicate stays nominative.
- Attach pronouns directly: liannahu, liannaha, liannani or lianni, and liannaka or liannaki.
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Choose a reason noun or pronounReview the because forms and what follows them
| Role or pattern | Arabic | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Because the weather… | لِأَنَّ الْجَوَّ | lianna ljawwa |
| Because I… | لِأَنَّنِي / لِأَنِّي | liannani / lianni |
| Because we… | لِأَنَّنَا | liannana |
| Because you… — one man | لِأَنَّكَ | liannaka |
| Because you… — one woman | لِأَنَّكِ | liannaki |
| Because he… | لِأَنَّهُ | liannahu |
| Because she… | لِأَنَّهَا | liannaha |
| Because they… — male or mixed group | لِأَنَّهُمْ | liannahum |
| Because they… — female group | لِأَنَّهُنَّ | liannahunna |
These beginnings need information to complete the intended reason, such as maridun or a location phrase. Lianna is li plus anna, rather than an additional independent sister of inna. Anna governs its own noun; the li relates to the whole reason construction. Learn anna meaning “that” in a separate guide, and keep it distinct from أَنْ with a following verb.
Sources & further learning
References for the language explanations and learning guidance.
