Knowing whether a noun is definite is extremely important.  For example, as we usually do not use the verb "to be" in the present, we have to rely on whether the predicate is definite or not to know whether there is a verb "to be" in the sentence.  The predicate of an equational sentence is indefinite.  See the podcast on Equational Sentences for more on this.  Concentrating today on "How to define a noun".   1. A proper noun is intrinsically definite, so no need to do anything! ِ Example: Ahmed (أحمد) or Baghdad (بغداد).  2. You can add the definite article “al” (الـ): the work “al3amal” (العمل) --- the students “aTTullaab” (الطلاب). Note that, in the second example, we do not pronounce the L in the definite article AL (الـ), for phonetic reasons. See podcast on pronunciation of the definite article!  3. You can add a possessive pronoun suffix, “ii” (ي) for my or “hu” (ه) for his or “kum” (كم) for your, plural, as in: my work “3amalii” (عملي), his work 3amaluhu (عمله) or your (plural) work “3amalukum” (عملكم).  4. You can add a noun. This is called idaafa (addition). Examples: my father’s work “3amalu waalidii” (عمل والدي) or the students’ work “3amalu TTullaab” (عمل الطلاب).  5. You cannot use any combination of the above. 

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