diff --git a/src/arabic/ConjunctionAra.gf b/src/arabic/ConjunctionAra.gf
index b7aca53a7..025a68d43 100644
--- a/src/arabic/ConjunctionAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/ConjunctionAra.gf
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ lincat
 
   [S] =  {s1,s2 : Order => Str} ;
   [Adv] = {s1,s2 : Str} ;
-  [NP] = {s1,s2 : Case => Str ; a : Agr ; empty : Str} ;
+  [NP] = {s1,s2 : Case => Str ; a : Agr ; empty : Str; isHeavy : Bool} ;
   [AP] = {s1,s2 : Species => Gender => Number => State => Case => Str} ;
 
 lin
@@ -21,16 +21,19 @@ lin
 
   BaseNP x y = twoTable Case x y ** {
     a = conjAgr x.a y.a ;
-    empty = []
+    empty = [] ;
+    isHeavy = True ;
     } ;
   ConsNP xs x = consrTable Case comma xs x ** {
     a = conjAgr xs.a x.a ;
-    empty = []
+    empty = [] ;
+    isHeavy = True ;
     } ;
   ConjNP conj ss = conjunctDistrTable Case conj ss ** {
     a = let gn = pgn2gn ss.a.pgn in
         {pgn = Per3 gn.g (conjNumber conj.n gn.n) ; isPron = False} ;
-    empty = []
+    empty = [] ;
+    isHeavy = True ;
     } ;
 
   BaseAP = twoTable5 Species Gender Number State Case ;
diff --git a/src/arabic/ExtendAra.gf b/src/arabic/ExtendAra.gf
index be05864a5..2a0877ed6 100644
--- a/src/arabic/ExtendAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/ExtendAra.gf
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ concrete ExtendAra of Extend =
     ParamX,
     ResAra,
     Prelude,
+    RelativeAra,
     Coordination
 
   in {
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ concrete ExtendAra of Extend =
     -- : AP -> IComp ;   -- "how old"
     ICompAP ap = {s = \\gn => "كَمْ" ++ ap.s ! NoHum ! gn.g ! gn.n ! Indef ! Acc} ;
 
+    -- : ClSlash -> RCl  -- he lives in
+    EmptyRelSlash = RelSlash (IdRP ** {s = \\_ => []}) ;
+
   lincat
     VPS   = {s : PerGenNum => Str} ;  -- finite VP's with tense and polarity
     [VPS] = {s1,s2 : PerGenNum => Str} ;
diff --git a/src/arabic/IdiomAra.gf b/src/arabic/IdiomAra.gf
index a7a058b9a..ebd04cd04 100644
--- a/src/arabic/IdiomAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/IdiomAra.gf
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ concrete IdiomAra of Idiom = CatAra ** open
  lin
 
   -- : VP -> Cl ;        -- it is hot
-  ImpersCl vp =
-    let it : ResAra.NP = case vp.isPred of {
-    		True  => pron2np (gn2pron vp.obj.a.gn) ;
-	      False => gn2pron vp.obj.a.gn } ; -- if no obj, Per3 Masc Sg chosen by default
+  -- "it is a girl" becomes "she is a girl";
+  -- "it is twins" becomes "they<dual> are<dual> twins".
+  ImpersCl vp =            -- if no obj, default Per3 Masc Sg
+    let it : ResAra.NP = gn2pron vp.obj.a.gn ;
      in predVP it vp ;
 
   --  : VP -> Cl ;        -- one sleeps
diff --git a/src/arabic/NounAra.gf b/src/arabic/NounAra.gf
index 0f3c8b134..f3e828292 100644
--- a/src/arabic/NounAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/NounAra.gf
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ lin
       cn.s2 ! number
             ! (definite ! det.d) -- Indef remains Indef, rest become Def
             ! c
-    } in {
+    } in emptyNP ** {
       s = \\c => -- Dat is just a hack for liPrep
         let c' = case c of {Dat => Gen ; x => x} in
         case cnB4det det of {
@@ -37,13 +37,12 @@ lin
         };
       a = { pgn = agrP3 cn.h cn.g number;
             isPron = False } ;
-      empty = []
-    };
+      isHeavy = cn.isHeavy
+    } ;
 
-  UsePN pn = {
-    s =  pn.s;
-    a = {pgn = Per3 pn.g Sg ; isPron = False} ;
-    empty = []
+  UsePN pn = emptyNP ** {
+    s = pn.s;
+    a = {pgn = Per3 pn.g Sg ; isPron = False}
     };
 
   UsePron p = p ;
@@ -70,7 +69,8 @@ lin
 -}
 
   AdvNP np adv = np ** {
-    s = \\c => np.s ! c ++ adv.s
+    s = \\c => np.s ! c ++ adv.s ;
+    isHeavy = True ;
     };
 
   DetQuantOrd quant num ord = quant ** {
@@ -169,10 +169,11 @@ lin
     isEmpty = True
     } ;
 
-  MassNP cn =
-    {s = \\c => cn2str cn Sg Indef c ;
-     a = {pgn = Per3 cn.g Sg ; isPron = False} ;
-     empty = []} ;
+  MassNP cn = emptyNP ** {
+    s = \\c => cn2str cn Sg Indef c ;
+    a = {pgn = Per3 cn.g Sg ; isPron = False} ;
+    isHeavy = cn.isHeavy ;
+    } ;
 
   UseN,
   UseN2 = useN ;
@@ -190,12 +191,22 @@ lin
     };
 
   RelCN cn rs = cn ** {
-    s2 = \\n,s,c => cn.s2 ! n ! s ! c ++ rs.s ! {pgn=Per3 cn.g n ; isPron=False} ! c};
+    s2 = \\n,s,c => cn.s2 ! n ! s ! c
+        ++ rs.s ! {pgn=Per3 cn.g n ; isPron=False} ! c ;
+    isHeavy = True
+    } ;
 
-  RelNP np rs = np ** {s = \\c => np.s ! c ++ rs.s ! np.a ! c} ;
+
+  RelNP np rs = np ** {
+    s = \\c => np.s ! c ++ rs.s ! np.a ! c ;
+    isHeavy = True
+    } ;
 
   AdvCN,
-  SentCN = \cn,ss -> cn ** {s2 = \\n,d,c => cn.s2 ! n ! d ! c ++ ss.s} ;
+  SentCN = \cn,ss -> cn ** {
+    s2 = \\n,d,c => cn.s2 ! n ! d ! c ++ ss.s ;
+    isHeavy = True
+    } ;
 
   ApposCN cn np = cn ** {
     np = \\c => cn.np ! c ++ np.s ! c
diff --git a/src/arabic/ResAra.gf b/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
index 70feac263..63bffa5dd 100644
--- a/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ resource ResAra = PatternsAra ** open  Prelude, Predef, OrthoAra, ParamX  in {
     uttAP : AP -> (Gender => Str) ;
     uttAP ap = \\g => ap.s ! NoHum ! g ! Sg ! Const ! Bare ; ----IL
 
-    CN : Type = Noun ** {np : Case => Str};
+    CN : Type = Noun ** {np : Case => Str ; isHeavy : Bool};
 
     -- All fields of NP
     cn2str : CN -> Number -> State -> Case -> Str = \cn,n,s,c ->
@@ -181,7 +181,9 @@ resource ResAra = PatternsAra ** open  Prelude, Predef, OrthoAra, ParamX  in {
       cn.s2 ! n ! s ! c ++
       cn.np ! c ;
 
-    useN : Noun -> CN = \n -> n ** {np = \\_ => []} ;
+    useN : Noun -> CN = \n -> n ** {
+      np = \\_ => [] ;
+      isHeavy = False } ;
 
     uttCN : CN -> (Gender => Str) ;
     uttCN cn = \\_ => cn2str cn Sg Indef Bare ;
@@ -555,7 +557,7 @@ v1geminateForms : Str -> Vowel -> Vowel -> DefForms =
     umdad = "ُ" + mkStrong fcal mdd ;
     Umdud = (prefixImp ! vowImpf) + mdud;
     mamdUd = mkStrong mafcUl mdd
-   } in toDefForms 
+   } in toDefForms
           madd madad mudd mudid   -- VPerf
           amudd amdud umadd umdad -- VImpf
           Umdud mudd' mamdUd ;
@@ -615,7 +617,7 @@ v1defForms_perfA : Root3 -> Vowel -> DefForms = \rmy,vowImpf ->
    eirmi = prefixImp ! vowImpf + _rmi;
    eirmu = prefixImp ! vowImpf + _rmu;
    marmiy = mkStrong mafcil rmy
- } in toDefForms 
+ } in toDefForms
         rama ramay rumi rumu rumiy -- VPerf
         armi armu urma             -- VImpf
         eirmi eirmu marmiy ;
@@ -683,7 +685,7 @@ v2defective : Root3 -> Verb = \gny ->
     ugannu = "ُ" + gannu;
     uganna = "ُ" + ganna;
     mugannaY = "مُ" + ganna + "ى"
-  } in verbDef (toDefForms 
+  } in verbDef (toDefForms
           ganna gannay gunni gunnu gunniy -- VPerf
           uganni ugannu uganna            -- VImpf
           ganni gannu mugannaY) i ;
@@ -818,7 +820,7 @@ v7geminate : Str -> Verb = \fcl ->
          n => "ُنْ" + vforms ! n -- doesn't exist for form 7
     }) ;
 
-v8geminate : Str -> Verb = 
+v8geminate : Str -> Verb =
   \rootStr ->
   let {
     mdd = mkRoot3 rootStr ; --fcc
@@ -838,7 +840,7 @@ v8geminate : Str -> Verb =
     umtadad = "ُ" + _mtadad ;
     imtadid = "اِ" + _mtadid ;
     mumtadd = "مُ" + _mtadd ;
-  } in verbGeminate (toDefForms 
+  } in verbGeminate (toDefForms
         imtadd imtadad umtudd umtudid -- VPerf
         amtadd amtadid umtadd umtadad -- VPres
         imtadd imtadid mumtadd) ;
@@ -1507,6 +1509,7 @@ patGeminateImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str = \facc,facic ->
     NP : Type = {
       s : Case => Str ;
       a : Agr ;
+      isHeavy : Bool ; -- overrides verbal word order, if the subject is very complicated; e.g. built out of RelNP or similar
       empty : Str -- to prevent ambiguities with prodrop
       } ;
 
@@ -1516,15 +1519,14 @@ patGeminateImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str = \facc,facic ->
       } ;
 
     mkPron : (_,_,_ : Str) -> PerGenNum -> NP = \ana,nI,I,pgn ->
-     { s =
+     emptyNP ** {s =
         table {
           (Nom|Bare) => ana;
           Acc => nI ; -- object suffix
           Gen => I ;  -- possessive suffix
           Dat => I -- will only be used with preposition لِ
         };
-      a = {pgn = pgn; isPron = True };
-      empty = []
+      a = {pgn = pgn; isPron = True}
     };
 
     proDrop : NP -> NP = \np ->
@@ -1536,6 +1538,7 @@ patGeminateImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str = \facc,facic ->
     emptyNP : NP = {
       s = \\_ => [] ;
       a = {pgn = Per3 Masc Sg ; isPron = False} ;
+      isHeavy = False ;
       empty = [] } ;
 
     agrNP : Agr -> NP = \agr -> emptyNP ** {a = agr} ;
@@ -1653,7 +1656,7 @@ patGeminateImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str = \facc,facic ->
           }
       } ;
 
-    ip2np : IP -> Bool -> NP = \ip,isPred -> ip ** { s = ip.s ! isPred ! Masc ! Def ; empty = [] } ;
+    ip2np : IP -> Bool -> NP = \ip,isPred -> emptyNP ** ip ** {s = ip.s ! isPred ! Masc ! Def} ;
     np2ip : NP -> IP = \np -> np ** {s = \\_,_,_ => np.s} ;
 
     IDet : Type = {
@@ -1748,7 +1751,7 @@ patGeminateImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str = \facc,facic ->
                       True  =>           np.s ! sc.c
                    } ;
           } in wordOrder o
-                  vp.obj.a.isPron np.a.isPron
+                  vp.obj.a.isPron np.a.isPron np.isHeavy
                   (vStr vp pgn t p o)
                   vp.obj.s
                   (pred vp pgn t p)
@@ -1757,14 +1760,24 @@ patGeminateImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str = \facc,facic ->
       } ;
 
     -- seems complicated, but this is to share code with VPS and other similar structures
-    wordOrder : Order -> (objIsPron,subjIsPron : Bool) -> (verb,obj,pred,adv,subj : Str) -> Str =
-      \o,objIsPron,subjIsPron,verb,obj,pred,adv,subj ->
+    wordOrder : Order -> (objIsPron,subjIsPron,subjIsHeavy : Bool) -> (verb,obj,pred,adv,subj : Str) -> Str =
+      \o,objIsPron,subjIsPron,subjIsHeavy,verb,obj,pred,adv,subj ->
           let cl = wordOrderNoSubj o objIsPron verb obj pred adv in
           case o of {
+            -- If subject is pronoun, affix it in Subord word order.
             Subord =>
-              let bind = if_then_Str subjIsPron BIND [] -- in subord. clause, subj. pronoun binds to the main verb
+              let bind = if_then_Str subjIsPron BIND []
                in cl.before ++ bind ++ subj ++ cl.after ;
-            _  => cl.before         ++ subj ++ cl.after
+
+            -- If subject is "heavy" (e.g. contains a relative clause),
+            Verbal =>  -- then override Verbal word order.
+              case subjIsHeavy of {
+                True  => subj ++ cl.before ++ cl.after ;
+                False => cl.before ++ subj ++ cl.after
+              } ;
+
+            -- Any other word order, no special checks.
+            _  => cl.before ++ subj ++ cl.after
           } ;
 
     wordOrderNoSubj : Order -> (objIsPron : Bool) -> (verb,obj,pred,adv : Str) -> {before,after : Str} =
@@ -1833,7 +1846,7 @@ patGeminateImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str = \facc,facic ->
     Subj : Type = {s : Case => Str ; isPron : Bool} ;
 
     np2subj : NP -> Subj = \np -> np ** {isPron = np.a.isPron} ;
-    subj2np : Subj -> NP = \su -> su ** {a = {pgn = emptyNP.a.pgn ; isPron = su.isPron} ; empty=[]} ;
+    subj2np : Subj -> NP = \su -> emptyNP ** su ** {a = {pgn = emptyNP.a.pgn ; isPron = su.isPron}} ;
     emptyObj : Obj = {a = {gn = {g=Masc ; n=Sg} ; isPron = False}; s = []} ;
 
     insertObj : NP -> VPSlash -> VP = \np,vp -> vp ** {
diff --git a/src/arabic/StructuralAra.gf b/src/arabic/StructuralAra.gf
index 5db242869..e86d59397 100644
--- a/src/arabic/StructuralAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/StructuralAra.gf
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ concrete StructuralAra of Structural = CatAra **
   something_NP = regNP "شَيْء" Sg Indef ;
 --  somewhere_Adv = ss "سْموهري" ;
   that_Quant = mkQuant3 "ذَلِكَ" "تِلكَ" "أُلٱِكَ" Def;
-  that_Subj = mkSubj "أنَّ" ;
+  that_Subj = mkSubj "أَنَّ" ;
 ----b  that_NP = indeclNP "ذَلِكَ" Sg ;
   there_Adv = ss "هُناك" ;
 --  there7to_Adv = ss "تهري" ;
diff --git a/src/arabic/SymbolAra.gf b/src/arabic/SymbolAra.gf
index 10e2b7bb5..0f43ad1d2 100644
--- a/src/arabic/SymbolAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/SymbolAra.gf
@@ -14,15 +14,13 @@ lin
   --   } ;
   --IL TODO: check out some opers regarding state in ResAra. These are just dummy values.
   CNSymbNP det cn xs =
-    let g = cn.g ; n = sizeToNumber det.n  in {
+    let g = cn.g ; n = sizeToNumber det.n in emptyNP ** {
     s = \\c => det.s ! NoHum ! g ! c ++ cn2str cn n Def c ++ xs.s; ----IL word order?? Seems to be nontrivial according to ResAra comments.
-    a = dummyAgrP3 n ;
-    empty = []
+    a = dummyAgrP3 n
     } ;
-  CNNumNP cn i = {
+  CNNumNP cn i = emptyNP ** {
     s = \\c => cn2str cn Sg Def c ++ uttNum i ! cn.g ;
-    a = dummyAgrP3 Sg ;
-    empty = []
+    a = dummyAgrP3 Sg
     } ;
 
   SymbS sy = {s = \\_ => sy.s} ;