These particles are:
- — inna and anna: for emphasis (tawkid).
- — kaʾanna: for likening/comparison (tashbih).
- — lakinna: for adversative correction (istidrak — 'but, however').
- — laʿalla: for hopeful expectation (tarajji).
- — layta: for wishing (tamanni).
So the difference between the family of kana and the family of inna is that the former are verbs and the latter are particles. The kana family raises the noun (al-ism) to the nominative and puts the predicate in the accusative; the inna family does the opposite.
Examples of Inna and Its Sisters
inna al-hayat-a jihad-un
— Indeed, life is a struggle.
ʿalim-tu anna al-ʿamal-a ʿibadat-un
— I knew that work is worship.
kaʾanna Khalid-an asad-un
— Khalid is as if a lion. (likeness in strength)
al-qadaʾ-u nazih-un, wa-lakinna al-ʿadl-a batiʾ-un
— The judiciary is impartial, but justice is slow.
laʿalla al-nasr-a qarib-un
— Perhaps victory is near.
layta al-imtihan-a sahl-un
— Would that the exam were easy!
Iʿrab of Inna and Its Sisters
The basic rule for inna and its sisters is that the noun (ism) precedes the predicate (khabar). However, the predicate may precede the noun if it is a quasi-clause (shibh jumla — i.e., a prepositional or adverbial phrase).
Examples:
inna al-muʿallim-a sharif-un
— Indeed, the teacher is honorable.
inna: a particle of emphasis and accusative-governance. al-muʿallim: ism inna in the accusative case, marked by the manifest fatha at its end. sharif: khabar inna in the nominative case, marked by the manifest damma at its end.
kaʾanna al-matar-a luʾluʾ-un
— It is as if the rain were pearls.
kaʾanna: a particle of likening and accusative-governance. al-matar: its noun (ism) in the accusative case, marked by the manifest fatha. luʾluʾ: its predicate in the nominative, marked by the manifest damma.
laʿalla al-nasr-a qarib-un
— Perhaps victory is near.
laʿalla: a particle of expectation and accusative-governance. al-nasr: its noun in the accusative, marked by the manifest fatha. qarib: its predicate in the nominative, marked by the manifest damma.
— Allah, Glorified, says: "Indeed in that is a sign..." — Quran 3:13 (Sahih International)
inna: a particle of emphasis and accusative-governance. fi dhalika: a prepositional phrase attached to an omitted predicate of inna. la-ʿibratan: ism inna postposed, in the accusative marked by fatha; the lam is for emphasis (lam al-tawkid).
The Entry of Lam al-Tawkid (the Emphatic Lam)
— Allah Most High says: "And indeed, the Hour is coming..." — Quran 15:85 (Sahih International)
inna: a particle of emphasis and accusative-governance. al-saʿa: its noun in the accusative. la-atiya: its predicate in the nominative; the lam is for emphasis.
— Allah Most High says: "And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers..." — Quran 82:10 (Sahih International)
inna: a particle of emphasis and accusative-governance. ʿalay-kum: a fronted predicate of inna (a quasi-clause). la-hafizina: ism inna in the accusative, marked by yaʾ because it is a sound masculine plural; the lam is for emphasis.
The Entry of Restrictive 'Ma' (Ma al-Maniʿa)
— Allah Most High says: "The believers are but brothers..." — Quran 49:10 (Sahih International)
innama: 'kaffa wa-makfufa' (the 'ma' has restrained inna from operating). al-muʾminun: a mubtadaʾ in the nominative, marked by waw because it is a sound masculine plural. ikhwa: a khabar in the nominative, marked by damma.
Question: Why did we say 'kaffa wa-makfufa' — and where is the noun and the predicate of inna?
Answer: Look at the rule above [— since 'ma' has cancelled the operation, the original mubtadaʾ-khabar structure remains].
laytama al-tilmidh-a najih-un
— Would that the pupil were successful!
laytama: a particle of wishing and accusative-governance; the 'ma' is redundant (zaʾida). al-tilmidh: its noun (ism) in the accusative, marked by fatha. najih: its predicate in the nominative, marked by damma.
This is the case when layta retains its operation. If its operation is dropped, we parse: al-tilmidh-u: a mubtadaʾ in the nominative, marked by damma. najih: a khabar in the nominative, marked by damma.
Question: Do we say 'laytama al-ʿilm-a sahl-un' or 'laytama al-ʿilm-u sahl-un'?
Answer: Both are correct, because with laytama it is permissible either to apply the operation or to drop it.
Examples of Inna and Its Sisters from the Noble Quran
— "Know that Allah is severe in penalty..." — Quran 5:98 (Sahih International)
anna: a particle of emphasis and accusative-governance. Allah: the divine name — its noun (ism) in the accusative, marked by fatha. shadid: its predicate in the nominative, marked by damma.
— "Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve." — Quran 10:62 (Sahih International)
ala: an opening particle (huruf al-istiftah) for drawing attention; it has no place in iʿrab. inna: a particle of emphasis and accusative-governance. awliyaʾ: ism inna in the accusative, marked by the manifest fatha; it is a mudaf. Allah: the divine name — a mudaf ilayh in the genitive, marked by the manifest kasra (for honoring). The nominal clause (la khawfun ʿalayhim) stands in the position of nominative as the predicate of inna.
— "...as if they were being driven toward death while they were looking on." — Quran 8:6 (Sahih International)
And here, what do we have? Excellent — 'ma' has entered upon kaʾanna, and according to the previous rule, we drop its operation [and parse the remaining as a regular nominal sentence].