With the help of Corpus Linguistics, it is now easy to analyze the structures of Quran. To do this I took help from Quranic Arabic Corpus Morphology Data 0.4 published by corpus.quran.com. In my analysis of the data in Excel 2007, Technical Help was given by Ashish Mathur, MVP from India.
1. Verb + Preposition
For understanding meaning clearly, it is sometimes essential to know Quranic verb-preposition combination. By this you know which preposition goes with which ver. Look at these examples
LOCATION FORM TAG FEATURES
(2:4:4:1) >unzila V STEM|POS:V|PERF|PASS|(IV)|LEM:>anzala|ROOT:nzl|3MS
(2:4:5:1) <ilayo P STEM|POS:P|LEM:<ilaY`
(2:4:7:1) >unzila V STEM|POS:V|PERF|PASS|(IV)|LEM:>anzala|ROOT:nzl|3MS
(2:4:8:1) min P STEM|POS:P|LEM:min
وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
(2:11:2:1) qiyla V STEM|POS:V|PERF|PASS|LEM:qaAla|ROOT:qwl|3MS
(2:11:3:1) la P PREFIX|l:P+
(2:13:2:1) qiyla V STEM|POS:V|PERF|PASS|LEM:qaAla|ROOT:qwl|3MS
(2:13:3:1) la P PREFIX|l:P+
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
(2:15:2:1) yasotahozi}u V STEM|POS:V|IMPF|(X)|LEM:{sotuhozi}a|ROOT:hzA|3MS
(2:15:3:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
(2:20:17:2) *ahaba V STEM|POS:V|PERF|LEM:*ahaba|ROOT:*hb|3MS
(2:20:18:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
(2:22:2:1) jaEala V STEM|POS:V|PERF|LEM:jaEala|ROOT:jEl|3MS
(2:22:3:1) la P PREFIX|l:P+
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً
(2:22:12:2) >axoraja V STEM|POS:V|PERF|(IV)|LEM:>axoraja|ROOT:xrj|3MS
(2:22:13:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ
(2:24:12:1) >uEid~ato V STEM|POS:V|PERF|PASS|(IV)|LEM:>aEad~a|ROOT:Edd|3FS
(2:24:13:1) li P PREFIX|l:P+
أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ
(2:25:9:1) tajoriY V STEM|POS:V|IMPF|LEM:jarayo|ROOT:jry|3FS
(2:25:10:1) min P STEM|POS:P|LEM:min
وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ
2. Verb + Pronoun + Preposition
LOCATION FORM TAG FEATURES
(1:7:3:1) >anoEamo V STEM|POS:V|PERF|(IV)|LEM:>anoEama|ROOT:nEm|2MS
(1:7:3:2) ta PRON SUFFIX|PRON:2MS
(1:7:4:1) Ealayo P STEM|POS:P|LEM:EalaY`
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
(2:3:2:1) yu&ominu V STEM|POS:V|IMPF|(IV)|LEM:'aAmana|ROOT:Amn|3MP
(2:3:2:2) wna PRON SUFFIX|PRON:3MP
(2:3:3:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
(2:4:2:1) yu&ominu V STEM|POS:V|IMPF|(IV)|LEM:'aAmana|ROOT:Amn|3MP
(2:4:2:2) wna PRON SUFFIX|PRON:3MP
(2:4:3:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ
(2:8:5:1) 'aAma V STEM|POS:V|PERF|(IV)|LEM:'aAmana|ROOT:Amn|1P
(2:8:5:2) n~aA PRON SUFFIX|PRON:1P
(2:8:6:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
Study the last 3 examples. The verbs here are formed from the same Verbal Noun (Masdar) الايمان and the same ROOT ا م ن So everywhere in the Quran we see that these verbs, either past or present/future/imperatives, are followed by preposition bi.
3. Verb + Proper Noun + Preposition
LOCATION FORM TAG FEATURES
(2:7:1:1) xatama V STEM|POS:V|PERF|LEM:xatama|ROOT:xtm|3MS
(2:7:2:1) {ll~ahu PN STEM|POS:PN|LEM:{ll~ah|ROOT:Alh|NOM
(2:7:3:1) EalaY` P STEM|POS:P|LEM:EalaY`
خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ
(2:17:10:1) *ahaba V STEM|POS:V|PERF|LEM:*ahaba|ROOT:*hb|3MS
(2:17:11:1) {ll~ahu PN STEM|POS:PN|LEM:{ll~ah|ROOT:Alh|NOM
(2:17:12:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Important: the Verb ذهب usually means 'to go' but when it comes with the preposition bi, it means 'to take away'. For example in the verses 2:20, 2:17 -Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
(2:26:25:1) >araAda V STEM|POS:V|PERF|(IV)|LEM:>araAda|ROOT:rwd|3MS
(2:26:26:1) {ll~ahu PN STEM|POS:PN|LEM:{ll~ah|ROOT:Alh|NOM
(2:26:27:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا
(2:27:10:1) >amara V STEM|POS:V|PERF|LEM:>amara|ROOT:Amr|3MS
(2:27:11:1) {ll~ahu PN STEM|POS:PN|LEM:{ll~ah|ROOT:Alh|NOM
(2:27:12:1) bi P PREFIX|bi+
الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ
(2:67:2:1) qaAla V STEM|POS:V|PERF|LEM:qaAla|ROOT:qwl|3MS
(2:67:3:1) muwsaY` PN STEM|POS:PN|LEM:muwsaY`|M|NOM
(2:67:4:1) li P PREFIX|l:P+
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً
In this way we can search the whole Quran to find out Verb-specific prepositions.
Also note the variety in meaning of the words concerned.
Here are some examples -
Verbs followed by Certain Preposition:
1.Taba ila = to return in repentance تاب يتوب الى
أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ [٥:٧٤]
Will they not then turn to Allah and ask His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 5:74
وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى رَحِيمٌۭ وَدُودٌۭ [١١:٩٠]
And ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him; surely my Lord is Merciful, Loving-kind. 11:90
2. Taba 'ala = Accept repentance تاب يتوب على
فَتَلَقَّىٰٓ ءَادَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ كَلِمَـٰتٍۢ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ [٢:٣٧]
Thereupon Adam received words [of guidance] from his Sustainer, and He accepted his repentance: for, verily, He alone is the-Acceptor of Repentance, the Dispenser of Grace. 2:37
عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ
..........Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. 2:187
3. A'adda li (Verv Form IV)= Prepare اَعَدَّ ل
Note that the use of this preposition with this Verb (Form) is fixed throughout the Quran (20 occurrences). See: 2:24,3:131,3:133,4:93,4:102;8:60;9:46;9:89;9:100;3 3:8;33:29; 33:35;33:44;33:57;33:64;48:6;57:21;58:15;65:10;76: 31;
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا۟ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ [٢:٢٤]
But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers. 2:24
وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًۭا مُّتَعَمِّدًۭا فَجَزَآؤُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ خَـٰلِدًۭا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُۥ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُۥ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًۭا [٤:٩٣]
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment. 2:93
DET+N+DET+ADJ
The Determiner AL with Noun is followed by another AL and Adjective. Examples are
(1:6:2:1)
الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
the straight way
(2:8:7:3)
الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ
the Last Day
(2:32:11:1)
الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
the All-Knowing, the All-Wise
(2:37:10:1)
التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
the Oft-returning, the Most Merciful
(2:85:37:1)
الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا
the life of the world
(2:94:5:1)
الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ
the last Home
(2:105:24:1)
الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
Bounty Great
(2:149:7:1)
الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ
the sacred Mosque
(2:164:36:2)
السَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ
the clouds controlled
(2:187:36:1)
الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ
White thread
(2:187:39:1)
الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ
Black thread
V+PRON+DET+N
This structure separates those verbs that take Direct Object after them. For Example --
(1:6:1:1) {hodi V
(1:6:1:2) naA PRON
(1:6:2:1) {l DET
(1:6:2:2) S~ira`Ta N
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ [١:٦]
(Lord), guide us to the right path,
(2:3:4:2) yuqiymu
(2:3:4:3) wna
(2:3:5:1) {l
(2:3:5:2) S~alaw`pa
وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ
establish prayer
(2:16:3:1) {$otara
(2:16:3:2) wuA@
(2:16:4:1) {l
(2:16:4:2) D~ala`lapa
اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ
purchased error
(2:24:6:2) {t~aqu V
(2:24:6:3) wA@ PRON
(2:24:7:1) {l DET
(2:24:7:2) n~aAra N
فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ
then fear the Fire
(2:25:4:2) Eamilu V
(2:25:4:3) wA@ PRON
(2:25:5:1) {l DET
(2:25:5:2) S~a`liHa`ti N
وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ
and do righteous deeds
(2:42:2:1) talobisu V
(2:42:2:2) wA@ PRON
(2:42:3:1) {lo DET
(2:42:3:2) Haq~a N
(2:42:5:2) takotumu V
(2:42:5:3) wA@ PRON
(2:42:6:1) {lo DET
(2:42:6:2) Haq~a N
وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ [٢:٤٢]
And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].
Structural Variety in the Same Verse
There is an interesting structural variety in Verse No 286 of Surah Baqarah
(2:286:39:2) {Eofu V
(2:286:40:1) Ean~a P
(2:286:40:2) A PRON
(2:286:41:1) wa CONJ
(2:286:41:2) {gofiro V
(2:286:42:1) la P
(2:286:42:2) naA PRON
(2:286:43:1) wa CONJ
(2:286:43:2) {roHamo V
(2:286:43:3) naA^ PRON
وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا
And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us.
There are 3 verbs here. The 1st verb اعْفُ always takes the preposition Ean~a, the 2nd verb اغْفِرْ takes the preposition Laam, but interestingly enough the 3rd verb takes the Direct Object Naa [no preposition used]. Such kind of contiguous structural variety is perhaps rare in the Quran.
Also note the use of Direct Object and Preposition in this famous Verse --
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴿الأعراف: ٢٣﴾
"Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers." 7:23
