Nouns | Adjectives | Demonstratives | Pronouns |
Prepositions | Articles | Plural | Coordination |
Genitive | Possessive | Negation | Questions |
Sentences | Verbs | Relative Clauses | ➕ more |
Arabic Grammar Cheat Sheet
Modern Standard Arabic
Part 1 - Nouns and Adjectives Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة Possessive Pronouns ضَمَائِر المِلْكِيَّة | Part 2 - Verbs, sentences and Questions Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام |
al-asmaa2
Nouns Definite and Indefinite | |
الكَلْب al-kalb the dog | كَلْب kalb a dog |
The prefix alif laam (al-) represents the definite article in Arabic
It is attached to the beginning of indefinite nouns and adjectives
Nouns and Adjectives Sun and Moon Letters | |
الرَّجُل al-rajul ➡️ ar-rajul the man | رَجُل rajul a man |
If the first letter of the word belongs to a category of letters called “sun letters”, it is pronounced as double
Nouns and Adjectives Sun and Moon Letters |
Here is a list of sun and moon letters
Nouns Singular, Dual and Plural | ||
كِلاب kilaab dogs | كَلْبان kalbaan two dogs | كَلْب kalb a dog |
Nouns and adjectives can be singular, dual (two), or plural (more than 2)
Plural forms are usually irregular and need to be memorized
Nouns
Feminine and Masculine | |
طَبيبة Tabeebah a doctor (f) | طَبيب Tabeeb a doctor (m) |
كَبيرة kabeerah Big (f) | كَبير kabeer Big (m) |
For some nouns and adjectives, it is possible to get the female equivalent by adding taa2 marbooTah “-ah ة” to the end of the word
al-Sifaat
Adjectives | |
كَلْب كَبِير kalb kabeer a big dog | كَلْب kalb a dog |
Adjectives come after nouns
Adjectives Definite | |
الكَلْب الكَبِير al-kalb al-kabeer The big dog | الكَلْب al-kalb the dog |
If the noun is definite, the adjective has to be also definite
Adjectives Feminine | |
القِطَّة الكَبِيرة al-qiTTah al-kabeerah The big cat | القِطَّة al-qiTTah the cat |
If the noun is feminite, the adjective has to be also feminine
Adjectives Plural | |
أولاد طيِّبون awlaad Tayyiboon kind boys | وَلَد طَيِّب walad Tayyib a kind boy |
If the noun is plural, the adjective has to be also plural
Adjectives
Dual
كَلبان صَغيران kalbaan Sagheeran small (2) dogs (2) | كَلب صَغير kalb Sagheer a small dog |
If the noun is dual, the adjective has to be also dual
Adjectives Verb to be vs. Noun with Adjective | |
البَيت جَديد al-bayt jadeed The house (m) is new | بَيت جَديد bayt jadeed a new house (m) |
البَيت الجَديد al-bayt al-jadeed the new house (m) | |
Verb to be isn’t used in present, notice how it is used here
al-Damaa2ir
الضَمَائِر Pronouns
Plural الجَمْع | Dual المُثَنَّى | Singular المُفْرَد | |||
نَحْنُ na7nu we | أنَا anaa I | المُتَكَلِّم First person | |||
أنْتُم antum you (plural) | أنْتُنّ antunna you (plural -f) | أنْتُمَا antumaa you (dual) | أنْتَ anta you (m) | أنْتِ anti you (f) | المُخَاطَب Second person |
هُمْ hum they | هُنّ hunna they (f) | هُمَا humaa they (dual) | هُوَ huwa he | هِيَ hiya she | الغَائِب Third person |
First person pronouns ضَمَائِر المُتَكَلِّم | |
أنا مِصْرِيَّة anaa miSriyyah I am Egyptian (f) | أنا طَبِيب anaa Tabeeb I am a doctor (m) |
نَحْنُ مُدَرِّسَات na7nu mudarrisaat We are teachers (f) | نَحْنُ مُدَرِّسُون na7nu mudarrisoon We are teachers (m) |
نَحْنُ سُعَداء/سَعِيدات na7nu su3adaa2 (m)/sa3eedaat (f) We are happy (m)/(f) | أنا سَعِيد/سعيدة anaa sa3eed (m)/sa3eedah (f) I am happy (m)/(f) |
First person pronouns are “anaa = I” and “na7nu = we”
We can make simple sentences with pronouns and adjectives or some nouns
Second person pronouns ضَمَائِر المُخاطَب | |
أنْتِ طَيِّبَة anti Tayyibah You (f) are kind (f) | أنْتَ طَيِّب anta Tayyib You (m) are kind (m) |
أنْتُمَا طَيِّبَتان antumaa Tayyibataan You (2) are kind (2-f) | أنْتُمَا طَيِّبان antumaa Tayyibaan You (2) are kind (2-m) |
أنْتُنَّ طَيِّبات antunna Tayyibaat You (pl-f) are kind (pl-f) | أنْتُم طَيِّبون antum Tayyiboon You (pl-m) are kind (pl-m) |
Second person (you) pronouns are:
Singular: “anta أنتَ = (male)” - “anti أنتِ = (female)”
Dual: “antumaa أنتُما”
Plural: “antum أنتُم = (male)” - “antunna أنتُنَّ = (female)”
Third person pronouns ضَمَائِر الغائِب | |
هِيَ ذَكِيّة hiya dhakiyyah She is smart (f) | هُوَ ذَكِيّ huwa dhakiyy He is smart (m) |
هُمَا ذَكِيَّتَان humaa dhakiyyataan They (2) are smart (f) | هُمَا ذَكِيَّان humaa dhakiyyaan They (2) are smart (m) |
هُنَّ ذَكِيّات hunna dhakiyyaat They (pl-f) are smart (pl-f) | هُم أذكِياء hum adhkiyaa2 They (pl-m) are smart (pl-m) |
Third person (he/she/they) pronouns are:
Singular: “huwa هُوَ= he” - “hiya هِيَ= she”
Dual They: “humaa هُما”
Plural They: “hum هُم = (male)” - “hunna هُنَّ= (female)”
asmaa2 al-ishaarah
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة | ||
👉👩👩👨👨 هَؤُلَاء haa2ulaa2 These (plural) | هَذَان 👉👨👨 haadhaan These (2- m) | هَذَا 👉👨 haadhaa This (m) |
هَاتَان 👉👩👩 haataan These (2- f) | هَذِهِ 👉👩 haadhihi This (f) | |
Demonstratives are words used to point to things, such as “this, that, these, and those” in English.
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة
مَا هَذَا؟ 👉❓ maa haadhaa? What is this? | |
هَذِهَ قِطَّة 👉🐈 haadhihi qittah This is a cat | هَذَا كَلْب 👉🐕 haadhaa kalb This is a dog |
هَذِهِ سَيَّارَة 👉🚗 haadhihi sayyaarah This is a car | هَذَا مَبْنَى 👉🏢 haadhaa mabnaa This is a building |
Ask and answer questions: what is this?
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة
هَذَا الكِتَاب haadhaa al-kitaab This book | هَذَا كِتَاب 👉📖 haadhaa kitaab This is a book |
هَذَا الكِتَاب مُفِيد haadhaa al-kitaab mufeed This book is useful | هَذَا كِتَاب مُفِيد haadhaa kitaab mufeed This is a useful book |
هذا الكِتَاب المُفِيد قَدِيم haadhaa al-kitaab al-mufeed qadeem This useful book is old | هَذَا الكِتَاب المُفِيد haadhaa al-kitaab al-mufeed This useful book |
Let’s build simple sentences with demonstratives
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة
هَذِهِ الحَدِيقَة haadhihi al-7adeeqah This garden | هَذِهِ حَدِيقَة 👉🏞 haadhihi 7adeeqah This is a garden |
هَذِهِ الحَدِيقَة جَمِيلَة haadhihi al-7adeeqah jameelah This garden is beautiful | هَذِهِ حَدِيقَة جَمِيلَة haadhihi 7adeeqah jameelah This is a beautiful garden |
هَذِهِ الحَدِيقَة الجَمِيلَة قَرِيبَة haadhihi al-7adeeqah al-jameelah qareebah This beautiful garden is nearby (f) | هَذِهِ الحَدِيقَة الجَمِيلَة haadhihi al-7adeeqah al-jameelah This beautiful garden |
Let’s build simple sentences with demonstratives
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة
مَن هَذَا؟ 👉🚶❓ man haadhaa? Who is this (m)? | |
هَذَا أَخِي haadhaa akhee This is my brother | هَذَا أَبِي haadhaa abee This is my father |
هَذَا اِبْنِي haadhaa ibnee This is my son | هَذَا صَدِيقِي haadhaa Sadeeqee This is my friend (m) |
Let’s build simple sentences with demonstratives
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة
مَن هَذِهِ؟ 👉👩❓ man haadhihi? Who is this (f)? | |
هَذِهِ أُخْتِي haadhihi ukhtee This is my sister | هَذِهِ أُمِّي haadhihi ummee This is my mother |
هَذِهِ اِبْنَتِي haadhihi ebnatee This is my daughter | هَذِهِ صَدِيقَتِي haadhihi Sadeeqatee This is my friend (f) |
Let’s build simple sentences with demonstratives
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة
هَذَا زَوْجِي haadhaa zawjee This is my husband 👉 | هَذِهِ زَوْجَتِي haadhihi zawjatee This is my wife 👈 |
Let’s build simple sentences with demonstratives
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة
هَاتَان بِنْتَان haataan bintaan These (2-f) are girls | هَذَان وَلَدَان haadhaan waladaan These (2) are boys (2) |
هَاتَان البِنْتَان haataan al-bintaan These (2-f) girls | هَذَان الوَلَدَان haadhaan al-waladaan These (2) boys (2) |
هَاتَان البِنْتَان كَرِيمَتَان haataan al-bintaan kareemataan These (2-f) girls (2) are generous (2-f) | هَذَان الوَلَدَان كَرِيمَان haadhaan al-waladaan kareemaan These (2) boys (2) are generous (2-m) |
Let’s build simple sentences with demonstratives
Demonstratives أسْمَاء الإِشَارَة
هَؤُلَاء مُدَرِّسَات haa2ulaa2 mudarrisaat These are teachers (f) | هَؤُلَاء مُدَرِّسُون haa2ulaa2 mudarrisoon These are teachers |
هَؤُلَاء المُدَرِّسَات haa2ulaa2 al-mudarrisaat These teachers (f) | هَؤُلَاء المُدَرِّسُون haa2ulaa2 al-mudarrisoon These teachers |
هَؤُلَاء المُدَرِّسَات مُمْتَازَات haa2ulaa2 al-mudarrisaat mumtaazaat These teachers (f) are excellent (pl-f) | هَؤُلَاء المُدَرِّسُون مُمْتَازُون haa2ulaa2 al-mudarrisoon mumtaazoon These teachers (m) are excellent (pl-m) |
Let’s build simple sentences with demonstratives
Damaa2ir al-milkiyyah
ضَمَائِر المِلْكِيَّة Possessive Pronouns
بَيْتي = بَيْت + ـي bayt + ee = baytee my house |
Possessive Pronouns in Arabic are not separate words, but are added to the end of nouns
ضَمَائِر المِلْكِيَّة Possessive Pronouns
Plural الجَمْع | Dual المُثَنَّى | Singular المُفْرَد | |||
ـنا -naa our | ـي -ee my | المُتَكَلِّم First person | |||
ـكُم -kum your (plural) | ـكُنَّ -kunna your (plural -f) | ـكُما -kumaa your (dual) | ـكَ -ka your (m) | ـكِ -ki your (f) | المُخَاطَب Second person |
ـهُمْ -hum their (m) | ـهُنَّ -hunna their (f) | ـهُمَا -humaa their (dual) | ـه -h his | ـها -haa her | الغَائِب Third person |
First person pronouns ضَمَائِر المُتَكَلِّم | |
بَيْتُنا هُناك baytunaa hunaak our house is there | بَيْتي هُنا baytee hunaa my house is here |
First person pronouns ضَمَائِر المُتَكَلِّم
بَيْتُكُمَا جَمِيل baytukumaa jameel your (2) house is beautiful |
بَيْتُكُم كَبِير baytukum kabeer your (pl) house is big |
بَيْتُكُنَّ صَغِير baytukunna Sagheer your (pl-f) house is small |
First person pronouns ضَمَائِر المُتَكَلِّم |
بَيْتُهُمَا بَسِيط baytuhumaa baseeT their (2) house is simple |
بَيْتُهُم بَعِيد baytuhum ba3eed their (pl) house is far |
بَيْتُهُنَّ قَرِيب baytuhunna qareeb their (pl-f) house is near |
First person pronouns ضَمَائِر المُتَكَلِّم |
مَدْرَسَة madrasah school |
مَدْرَسَتي كَبِيرَة madrasatee kabeerah my school is big |
مَدْرَسَتُنا صَغِيرَة madrasatunaa Sagheerah our school is small |
If the final letter in a word is taa’ marbootah, it is converted
to regular taa’ when adding a possessive pronoun
First person pronouns ضَمَائِر المُتَكَلِّم |
بَيْــتُـــنا هُناك baytunaa hunaak our house is there |
اِشْتَرَيْنَا بَيْـــتَــنا ishtaraynaa baytanaa we bought our house |
عُدْنا إِلَى بَيْــتِــنا 3udnaa ilaa baytinaa we returned to our house |
The vowel before the possessive pronoun has to be spelled out (cannot be sokoon) It depends on the grammatical case of the word (i3raab)
al-muDaaf w-al-muDaaf ilayh
المُضاف والمُضاف إليه Genitive Expressions
بَيْت القاضي bayt al-qaadee The judge’s house |
Genitive expressions are formed by the following formula:
1- The thing that belongs (indefinite) - called muDaaf
2- The thing it belongs to (definite - with al-) - called muDaaf ilaih
المُضاف والمُضاف إليه Genitive Expressions
ذَيل الكَلب dhayl al-kalb The dog’s tail |
مُدير الشركة mudeer al-sharikah The manager of the company |
عُنوان الكِتاب 3unwaan al-kitaab The title of the book |
المُضاف والمُضاف إليه Genitive Expressions
رَقَم الهاتِف raqam al-haatif Phone number |
زَيت زَيتُون zayt zaytoon Olive oil |
زَيت أطفال zayt aTfaal Baby oil |
In some cases, the second word in genitive expressions can be indefinite
7uroof al-jarr
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
إِلَى ilaa to | مِنْ min from | عَلَى 3alaa on | فِي fee in/at |
لِـ le- to/for | بِـ be- with/by (object) | مَعَ ma3a with (person) | عَنْ 3an about |
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
عَلَى الأَرْض 3alaa al-arD On the floor/on earth | إِلَى الَمَطَار ilaa al-maTaar To the airport |
عَنْ المُشكِلَة 3an al-mushkilah About the problem | مِنْ الَبَيْت min al-bayt From home |
لِسَلَامَتِكُم le-salaamatikum For your (pl) safety | فِي الحَدِيقَة fee al-7adeeqah In the garden |
بِالقَلَم be-l-qalam With the pen | مَعَ صَدِيقِي ma3a Sadeeqee with my friend |
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
مِنْ min from | |
مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتُم؟ min ayna antum? Where are you (pl) from? | مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْت؟ min ayna anta? Where are you (m) from? |
نَحْنُ مِنْ نَيْجيريا na7nu min Nigeria We are from Nigeria | أَنَا مِنْ الهِنْد anaa min al-hind I am from India |
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
مِنْ min from | |
مِنْ البِدَايَة min al-bidaayah From the beginning | مِنْ فَضْلِك min faDlik Please |
Expressions with “min مِن”
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
إِلَى ilaa to | |
إلَى أَيْنَ تُسَافِر فِي الصَّيْف؟ ilaa ayna tusaafir fee aS-Sayf? Where do you (m) travel in summer? | |
أنَا أُسَافِر إلَى لُبْنَان anaa usaafir ilaa lubnaan I travel to Lebanon |
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
إِلَى ilaa to | |
إلَى النِّهَايَة ilaa an-nihaayah To (till) the end | إلَى اللِّقَاء ilaa al-liqaa2 Goodbye |
مِنَ الألِف إلَى اليَاء min al-alif ilaa al-yaa2 From A to Z | |
Expressions with “ilaa إلى”
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
عَلَى 3alaa on | |
عَلَى المَائِدَة 3alaa al-maa2idah On the table | عَلَى الكُرْسِي 3alaa al-kursee On the chair |
The preposition “ 3alaa عَلَى” can simply mean “on”
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
عَلَى 3alaa on | |
عَلَى الأَقَلّ 3alaa al-aqall At least | عَلَى أَيْ حَال 3alaa ayy haal Anyway |
Expressions with “3alaa عَلَى”
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
فِي fee in/at | |
فِي المَغْرِب fee al-maghrib In Morocco | فِي مِصْر fee miSr In Egypt |
في أكتوبر * fee October In October | في الصَّيف fee aS-Sayf In summer |
The preposition “fee فِي” can be used with places and times
* Note that month names differ between Arab countries
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
مَعَ ma3a with (person) | |
سَافَرْتُ مَعَ أصْدِقَائِي saafartu ma3a aSdiqaa2ee I travelled with my friends | أنَا أَعِيش مَعَ أُسْرَتِي anaa a3eesh ma3a usratee I live with my family |
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
مَعَ ma3a with (usually person) | |
مَعَ تَحِيَّاتِي ma3a ta7iyyaatee Best regards Literally: with my greetings | مَعَ السَّلامَة ma3a as-salaamah Goodbye Literally: with safety |
Expressions with “ma3a مَعَ”
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
عَنْ 3an about | |
قَرَأتُ كِتَابَاً عَنْ العُلُوم qara2tu kitaaban 3an al-3uloom I read (past) a book about science | |
تَكَلَّمَ المُدِير عَنْ المُشْكِلَة takallama al-mudeer 3an al-mushkilah The manager spoke about the problem |
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
لِـ le- to/for | |
لـ البيت ← للبيت lel-bayt To the house | البيت 🏠 al-bayt The house |
When the preposition “le- لـ” comes before “al- الـ”,
it becomes “lel- للـ”
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
لِـ le- to/for | |
لِلعِلْم lel-3ilm For information | لِلأَسَف lel-asaf unfortunately |
Expressions with “le- لـ”
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
بِـ be- with/by (object) | |
بـ الكتاب ← بالكتاب bel-kitaab With the book | الكتاب al-kitaab The book |
When the preposition “be- بـ” comes before “al- الـ” , it is pronounced as “bel-” instead of “be- al-”
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
بِـ be- with/by (object) | |
بِثِقَة be-thiqah confidently | ثِقَة thiqah confidence |
بِسُرعَة be-sur3ah quickly | سُرعَة sur3ah speed |
The preposition “be- بـ” can be used to make adverbs
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
بِـ be- with/by (object) | |
أَنْتَ تَتَكَلَّم بِسُرْعَة anta tatakallam be-sur3ah You (m) speak fast | |
مِن فَضْلك تَكَلَّم بِبُطْء min faDlik takallam be-buT2 please speak slowly |
The preposition “be- بـ” can be used to make adverbs
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
أيْنَ الكَلْب؟ ayna al-kalb? Where is the dog? | |
الكَلْب عَلَى السَّيَّارَة al-kalb 3alaa as-sayaarah The dog is on the car | الكَلْب فِي السَّيَّارَة al-kalb fee as-sayyaarah The dog is in the car |
Prepositions حُرُوف الجَرّ
أَنَا أذْهَب إِلَى المَكْتَب anaa adh-hab ilaa al-maktab I am going to the office | |
أَنَا أذْهَب للمَكْتَب anaa adh-hab lel-maktab I am going to the office |
The prepositions “ilaa إلى” and “le- لـ” can sometimes be used interchangeably
Seeghat al-milkiyyah
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
بِـ be- | لِ/لَ le-/la- | معَ ma3a | لَدى ladaa | عِندَ 3inda |
There are different words to express the verb “have”, mostly prepositions or similar
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
لَديْنا مُشكِلة ladaynaa mushkilah We have a problem | عِندِي فِكرَة 3indee fikrah I have an idea |
Both words “3inda” and “ladaa” can be often used interchangeably
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
مَعَهُ حَقيبَة كَبيرة ma3ahu 7aqeebah kabeerah He has a big bag | |
البيت له حَديقَة al-bayt lahu 7adeeqah The house has a garden | |
الغُرفَة بِها حَمَّام al-ghurfah behaa 7ammaam The room has a bathroom |
Other forms give the meaning of have, but are prepositions *
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
3inda + pronouns
Plural الجَمْع | Dual المُثَنَّى | Singular المُفْرَد | |||
عِندَنا 3inda-naa We have | عِندَي 3ind-ee I have | المُتَكَلِّم First person | |||
عِندَكُم 3inda-kum You (pl) have | عِندَكُنَّ 3inda-kunna You (pl-f) have | عِندَكُما 3inda-kumaa You (2) have | عِندَكَ 3inda-ka You (m) have | عِندَكِ 3inda-ki You (f) have | المُخَاطَب Second person |
عِندَهُم 3inda-hum They (pl-m) have | عِندَهُنَّ 3inda-hunna They (pl-f) have | عِندَهُما 3inda-humaa They (2) have | عِندَهُ 3inda-hu He has | عِندَها 3inda-haa She has | الغَائِب Third person |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
ladaa + pronouns
Plural الجَمْع | Dual المُثَنَّى | Singular المُفْرَد | |||
لَدَيْنا laday-naa We have | لَدَيّ ladayya I have | المُتَكَلِّم First person | |||
لَدَيْكُم laday-kum You (3m) have | لَدَيْكُنَّ laday-kunna You (3f) have | لَدَيْكُما laday-kumaa You (2) have | لَدَيْكَ laday-ka You (m) have | لَدَيْكِ laday-ki You (f) have | المُخَاطَب Second person |
لَدَيْهِم laday-him They (3m) have | لَدَيْهِنَّ laday-hinna They (3f) have | لَدَيْهِما laday-himaa They (2) have | لَدَيْهِ laday-hi He has | لَدَيْها laday-haa She has | الغَائِب Third person |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
Ma3a + pronouns
Plural الجَمْع | Dual المُثَنَّى | Singular المُفْرَد | |||
مَعَنا ma3a-naa We have | مَعِي ma3ee I have | المُتَكَلِّم First person | |||
مَعَكُم ma3a-kum You (3m) have | مَعَكُنَّ ma3a-kunna You (3f) have | مَعَكُما ma3a-kumaa You (2) have | مَعَكَ ma3a-ka You (m) have | مَعَكِ ma3a-ki You (f) have | المُخَاطَب Second person |
مَعَهُم ma3a-hum They (3m) have | مَعَهُنَّ ma3a-hunna They (3f) have | مَعَهُما ma3a-humaa They (2) have | مَعَهُ ma3a-hu He has | مَعَها ma3a-haa She has | الغَائِب Third person |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
Preposition “la-/le-” + pronouns
Plural الجَمْع | Dual المُثَنَّى | Singular المُفْرَد | |||
لَنا la-naa We have | لي lee I have | المُتَكَلِّم First person | |||
لَكُم la-kum You (pl) have | لَكُنَّ la-kunna You (pl-f) have | لَكُما la-kumaa You (2) have | لَكَ la-ka You (m) have | لَكِ la-ki You (f) have | المُخَاطَب Second person |
لَهُم la-hum They (pl-m) have | لَهُنَّ la-hunna They (pl-f) have | لَهُما la-humaa They (2) have | لَهُ la-hu He has | لَها la-haa She has | الغَائِب Third person |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
Preposition “be-” + pronouns
Plural الجَمْع | Dual المُثَنَّى | Singular المُفْرَد | |||
بِنا be-naa We have | بي bee I have | المُتَكَلِّم First person | |||
بِكُم be-kum You (pl) have | بِكُنَّ be-kunna You (pl-f) have | بِكُما be-kumaa You (2) have | بِكَ be-ka You (m) have | بِكِ be-ki You (f) have | المُخَاطَب Second person |
بِهِم be-him They (pl-m) have | بِهِنَّ be-hinna They (pl-f) have | بِهِما be-himaa They (2) have | بِهِ be-hi He has | بِها be-haa She has | الغَائِب Third person |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
Which one to use | |
Someone has something, tangible or intangible. E.g. I have money, they have problems, we have a car, I have 2 children. | عِندَ |
لَدَى | |
Someone has something “on them”. E.g. I have a bag/ an apple, we have 10 dollars | مَعَ |
Someone owns something, or is owed something. Or something has property. E.g. I have 3 cars; You owe me 10 dollars; The program has many features. | لِ / لَ |
Also something has properties or items. E.g. The car has 5 seats; the room has a microwave. | بِ |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
لَدَى الجِيران كَلب ladaa al-jeeran kalb The neighbors have a dog | الجِيران لَدَيهِم كَلب al-jeeran ladayhim kalb The neighbors have a dog |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
عِندي قِطَّة 3indee qiTTah I have a cat | هَل عِندَكَ كلب؟ hal 3indaka kalb? Do you have a dog? |
لَدَينا سَمَكة ladaynaa samakah We have a fish | لَدَيكُم بَبغاء ladaykum babghaa2 You (3m) have a parrot |
عِندَهُ سُلحُفاة 3indahu sul7ufaah He has a turtle | لَدَيها حِصان ladayhaa 7iSaan She has a horse |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
هَل لَديكِ الحَل؟ hal ladayki al-7all? Do you (f) have the solution? | لَدَيَّ مُشكِلة ladayya mushkilah I have a problem |
هل عِندَكُم الإجابة؟ hal 3indakum al-ijaabah? Do you (3m) have the answer? | عِندَنا سُؤال 3indanaa su2aal We have a question |
عِندها معلومات 3indahaa ma3loomaat She has information | لَدَيهِ اِعتِراض ladayhi i3tiraaD He has an objection |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
هَل عِندَكَ دَرَّاجة؟ hal 3indaka darraajah Do you (m) have a bicycle? | عِندي بَيت 3indee bayt I have a house |
عِندها قارِب 3indahaa qaarib She has a boat | هل لَدَيكُم سَيَّارة؟ hal ladaykum sayyaarah? Do you (3m) have a car? |
عِندَهُ شَرِكة 3indahu sharikah He has a company | لَدَينا مَزرَعة ladaynaa mazra3ah We have a farm |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
هَل لَديكِ إخوَة؟ hal ladayki ikhwah Do you (f) have siblings? | عِندي أخ وأُخت 3indee akhkh wa-ukht I have a brother and a sister |
عِندنا أصدِقاء من الهند 3indanaa aSdiqaa2 min al-hind We have friends from India | هل عِندَكُم أطفال؟ hal 3indakum aTfaal? Do you (3m) have children? |
لَدَيها زَميلَة من باكستان ladayhaa zameelah min Pakistan She has a colleague (f) from Pakistan | عِندَهُ صَديق من نيجيريا 3indahu Sadeeq min Nigeria He has a friend from Nigeria |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
هل لديَك وَقت؟ hal ladayka waqt? Do you (m) have time? | عِندي مُحاضَرة 3indee mu7aaDarah I have a lecture |
هل لَديكُن اِجتِماع؟ hal ladaykunna ijtimaa3? Do you (3f) have a meeting? | لدينا حَفلَة ladaynaa 7aflah We have a party |
لديها مُكالَمة ladayhaa mukaalamah She has a call | عِندَهُ مُقابَلة 3indahu muqaabalah He has an interview |
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
عِندي جَرح في ساقي 3indee jar7 fee saaqee I have a wound in my leg | عِندي صُداع 3indee sudaa3 I have a headache |
عِندي اِلتِهاب في الحَلق 3indee iltihaab fi al-7alq I have sore throat | عِندِي حُمّى 3indee 7ummaa I have fever |
عِندي حَساسِيَة مِن اللَّبَن 3indee 7asaasiyah min al-laban I have milk allergy | عِندي ألم في مِعدَتي 3indee alam fee mi3datee I have pain in my stomach |
Verb “Have” can be used with different illnesses
Verb “Have” صيغَة المِلكِيَّة
أملُك سَيَّارَةً amluk sayyaaratan I own a car | عِندي سَيَّارة 3indee sayyaarah I have a car |
هَل تَمتَلِك بَيتاً؟ hal tamtalik baytan? Do you (m) own a house? | هَل لَدَيكَ بَيت؟ hal ladayka bayt? Do you have a house? |
هَل تمتلِكون مَصنَعاً؟ hal tamtalikoon maSna3an? Do you (3m) own a factory? | هَل عِندَكُم مَصنَع؟ hal 3indakum maSna3? Do you (3m) have a factory? |
There is an actual verbs “yamluk/yamtalik” to indicate possession, but they means more like “own”, so it can be mainly used for tangible properties
al-af3aal
Verbs الأفعال
Verb forms in Arabic vary according to:
Tense | Person | Number | Gender |
Past | 1st (I, we) | Singular | Male / Mixed |
Present | 2nd (You) | Dual | Female |
Imperative | 3rd (he, she, they) | Plural |
Verbs الأفعال
Conjugation of verbs along the different forms
Verbs الأفعال
الأَمْر Imperative | المُضَارِع Present | المَاضِي Past |
اُكْتُب uktub Write! | يَكتُب yaktub He writes | كَتَبَ kataba He wrote |
Verb Tenses: There are three verb tenses in Arabic. The default form is the past tense
Verbs الأفعال
يَكتُب yaktub He writes (present) | |
سَوْفَ يَكتُب sawfa yaktub He will write (Future) | سَيَكتُب sa-yaktub He will write (Future) |
Future can be expressed by adding
“sa- سـ” or “sawfa سَوْفَ”
before the verb in the present tense form
Verbs الأفعال
She writes taktub تَكْتُبْ | I wrote katabtu كَتَبْتُ | |
Root ktb كتب | ||
Imperative: write! uktub اُكْتُبْ | They write yaktuboon يَكْتُبْون |
Forms are derived from the verb root
Verbs الأفعال
مَاذَا كَتَبْتِ يَا سارة؟ maadhaa katabti ya Sarah? Sarah, What did you (f) write? | مَاذَا كَتَبْتَ يَا آدم؟ maadhaa katabta ya Adam? Adam, What did you (m) write? |
مَاذَا كَتَبْتُمَا؟ maadhaa katabtumaa? What did you (2) write? | |
مَاذَا كَتَبْتُنَّ يا فَتَيَات؟ maadhaa katabtunna yaa fatayaat? Girls, what did you write? | مَاذَا كَتَبْتُم؟ maadhaa katabtum? What did you (3m) write? |
Verbs الأفعال
كَتَبْنَا قَلِيلَاً katabnaa qaleelan We wrote a little | كَتَبْتُ كَثِيرَاً katabtu katheeran I wrote a lot |
كَتَبَت سَارَة تَعْلِيقَا katabat saarah ta3leeq-an Sarah wrote a comment | كَتَبَ عَليّ الإِجَابَة kataba 3alyy al-ijaabah Aly wrote the answer |
مَهَا وسَالي كَتَبَتا الوَاجِب Maha wa Sally katabataa al-waajib Maha and Sally wrote the homework | فَرِيد وحَسَن كَتَبا رِوايَة Farid wa Hassan katabaa riwaayah Farid and Hassan wrote a novel |
مُعْظَم الطَّالِبَات كَتَبْن فَقْرَتَين mu3adham at-taalibaat katabna faqratayn Most of the students (f) wrote 2 parapraphs | مُعْظَم الطُّلَّاب كَتَبْوا فَقْرَة mu3adham at-tullaab kataboo faqrah Most of the students wrote a parapraph |
Verbs الأفعال
أنْتِ تَكْتُبِين بِأُسْلُوب مُمْتَاز anti taktubeen bi-usloob mumtaaz You (f) write with an excellent style | أنْتَ تَكْتُب بِخَطّ جَمِيل anta taktub bi-khatt jameel You (m) write with a beautiful handwriting |
أَنْتُمَا تَكْتُبَان بِوُضُوح antuma taktubaan bi-wuDoo7 You (2) write clearly | |
أَنْتُنَّ تَكْتُبْنَ جَيِّداً antunna taktubna jayyidan You (f) write well | أَنْتُم تَكتُبُون بِسُرْعَة antum taktuboon bi-sur3ah You (3m) write fast |
Verbs الأفعال
مَاذَا تَكْتُبُون؟ maadhaa taktuboon? What are you (3m) writing? | |
نَحْنُ نَكْتُب مَقَالَات na7nu naktub maqaalaat We are writing articles | أَنَا أكتُب قِصَّة anaa aktub qiSSah I am writing a story |
يَاسِين يَكْتُب عَن التُكنُولُوجيا Yaseen yaktub 3an at-tuknuloojiaa Yaseen is writing about technology | لارا تَكتُب عَن الاِنْتِخَابَات Lara taktub 3an al-intikhaabaat Lara is writing about elections |
Verbs الأفعال
مَاذَا يَكْتُبُون؟ maadhaa yaktuboon? What are they writing? | |
أَحْمَد وعُمَر يَكْتُبَان رِسَالَة Ahmed wa Omar yaktubban risaalat-an Ahmed and Omar are writing a message | سَلْمَى ودِينَا تَكتُبَان تَقْريرَاً Salma wa Dina taktubaan taqreer-an Salma and Dina are writing a report |
بَاقِي الطَّالِبَات يَكْتُبْنَ عَن العُلُوم baaqee aT-Taalibaat yaktubna 3an al-3uloom The rest of the students (f) are writing about science | بَاقِي الطُلََاب يَكْتُبُون عَن القَانُون baaqee aT-Tullaab yaktuboon 3an al-qanoon The rest of the students are writing about law |
Verbs الأفعال
اُكتُبِي بتَفَاصِيل uktubee bi-tafaSeel Write (f) with details | اُكْتُب بِوُضُوح uktub bi-wuDoo7 Write (m) clearly |
اُكْتُبا بِسُرْعَة uktubaa bi-sur3ah Write (2) fast | |
اُكْتُبْنَ تَعْلِيقَات uktubna ta3leeqaat Write (3f) Comments | اُكْتُبُوا الإِجَابَة uktuboo al-ijaabah Write (3m) the answer |
Imperative forms
al-fi3l w-al-faa3il w-al-maf3ool bihi
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
المَفعُول بِهِ Object ③ | الفَاعِل Subject ② | الفِعل Verb ① |
الفِيلم al-film the movie | الوَلَدُ al-walad the boy | شَاهَدَ shaahada saw |
المَفعُول بِهِ Object ③ | الفِعل Verb ② | الفَاعِل Subject ① |
كِتَابَاً kitaaban a book | أَكتُب aktub write | أَنَا anaa I |
Verbs in Arabic come usually before the subject, but sometimes after it
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Verb Types أنواع الفِعل | |
فَازَ الفَرِيقُ faaza al-fareequ The team won | فِعْل لَازِم Intransitive verb |
شَرَحَ المُعَلِّمُ الدَّرْسَ shara7a al-mu3allimu ad-darsa The teacher explained the lesson | فِعْل مُتَعَدِّي transitive verb |
أعْطَى الرَجُلُ الوَلَدَ تُفَّاحَةً a3taa ar-rajulu al-walada tuffaa7atan The man gave the boy an apple | فِعْل مُتَعَدِّي لمَفعْولَين di-transitive verb |
or one object (transitive فعل متعدي) or two objects (ditransitive فعل متعدي لمفعولين).
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Pronoun Subjects | |
أنَا رَأَيْتُ الحَادِثَة anaa ra2aytu al-7aadithah I saw the accident | (أنَا) أَكْتُب رِساَلَة (anaa) aktub risaalah I am writing a message |
If the subject is a pronoun, it can be omitted.
If not omitted, it may indicate emphasis on the subject.
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Grammatical Word Endings | |
سَاعَدَت البِنْتُ الوَلَدَ saa3adat al-bintu al-walada The girl helped the boy | سَاعَدَ الوَلَدُ البِنْتَ saa3ada al-waladu al-binta The boy helped the girl |
For most words, subject is marked by dammah ـُ / -u at the end of the word
and object is marked by fat7ah ـَ / -a at the end of the word.
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Grammatical Endings for definite and indefinite | |
قَابَلْتُ وَلَدَاً qaabaltu waladan I met a boy | قَابَلْتُ الوَلَدَ qaabaltu al-walada I met the boy |
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ jaa2a rajulun A man came | جَاءَ الرَّجُلُ jaa2a ar-rajulu The man came |
If the word is indefinite, tanween is used instead of fat7ah or dammah:
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Object Nouns and Pronouns | |
قَابَلْتُهُ qaabaltuhu I met him | قَابَلْتُ الوَلَدَ qaabaltu al-walada I met the boy |
If the object is a pronoun, we use object pronouns,
that attach to the end of the verb
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Object Pronouns
Plural الجَمْع | Dual المُثَنَّى | Singular المُفْرَد | |||
ـنا -naa our | ـني -nee me | المُتَكَلِّم First person | |||
ـكُم -kum your (plural) | ـكُنَّ -kunna your (plural -f) | ـكُما -kumaa your (dual) | ـكَ -ka your (m) | ـكِ -ki your (f) | المُخَاطَب Second person |
ـهُمْ -hum their (m) | ـهُنَّ -hunna their (f) | ـهُمَا -humaa their (dual) | ـه -hu his | ـها -haa her | الغَائِب Third person |
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Object Pronouns
قَابَلَنِي qaabalanee He met me | قَابَلْتُهُ qaabaltuhu I met him |
سَاعَدُونِا saa3adoonaa They helped us | سَاعَدْنَاهُم saa3adnaahum We helped them |
تُحِبُّهُ tu7ibbuhu She loves him | يُحِبُّهَا yu7ibbuhaa He loves her |
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Object Pronouns
أُحِبُّكِ u7ibbuki I love you (f) | أُحِبُّكَ u7ibbuka I love you (m) |
أُحِبُّهُمَا u7ibbuhumaa I love them (2) | أُحِبُّكُمَا u7ibbukumaa I love you (2) |
أُحِبُّكُنَّ u7ibbukunna I love you (3f) | أُحِبُّكُم u7ibbukum I love you (3m) |
Verb, Subject and Object الفِعل والفَاعِل والمَفعُول به
Object Pronouns
قَابَلْناهُنَّ qaabalnaahunna We met them (f) (past) | قَابَِلوهُنَّ qaabiloohunna Meet (3m) them (f) (imperative) |
نُقَابِلْهُنَّ nuqaabilhunna We meet them (f) (present) | سَنُقَابِلْهُنَّ sanuqaabilhunna We will meet them (f) (future) |
Object pronouns can be attached to verbs of any tense/moo
al-asmaa2 al-mawSoolah
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Female | Male | |
Singular | الَّتِي al-latee | الَّذِي al-ladhee |
Dual | الَّلتَان al-lataan | الَّلذَان al-ladhaan |
Plural | الَّلاتِي al-laatee | الَّذِينَ al-ladheena |
Relative pronouns are words that are used to make relative clauses, similar to “who”, “which”, “that” in English.
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Structure
③ جُملَة الصِّلَة jumlat as-silah Relative Clause | ② اِسْم مَوْصُول ism mawsool Relative Pronoun | ① اِسم ism Noun |
يُغَنِّي yughannee sings | الَّذِي al-ladhee who | الوَلَد al-walad The boy |
الولد الذي يُغَنِّي al-walad al-ladhee yughannee The boy who sings | ||
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Subject (al-ladhee / al-latee)
الوَلَد الَّذِي يُغَنِّي 🎤👦 al-walad al-ladhee yughannee The boy who sings |
البِنْت الَّتِي تُغَنِّي 🎤👧 al-bint al-latee tughannee The girl who sings |
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Object (al-ladhee / al-latee)
الكُرْسي الَّذِي اِشتَرَيْتُه al-kursee al-ladhee ishtaraytuh The chair that I bought (it) |
الأُغْنِيَة الَّتِي أُحِبُّهَا al-ughniyah al-latee u7ibbuhaa The song that I like (it) |
If the noun that the relative clause refers to is the object of the verb in the relative clause,
an object pronoun (highlighted) is used with the verb
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Question (al-ladhee / al-latee)
مَن الَّذِي فَعَلَ هَذَا؟ man al-ladhee fa3ala haadhaa? Who (is the one that) did this? |
مَن الَّتِي تُغَنِّي الأُغْنِيَة؟ man al-latee tughannee al-ughniyah? Who (is the one that) sings the song? |
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Dual Subject (al-ladhaan / al-lataan)
الرَّجُلَان الَّلَذَان يَمْشِيَان هُنَاك ar-rajulaan al-ladhaan yamshiyaan hunaak The two men who are walking over there |
المَرْأَتَان الَّلتَان تَمْشِيَان هُنَاك al-mar2ataan al-lataan tamshiyaan hunaak The two women who are walking over there |
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Dual Object (al-ladhayn / al-latayn)
قَابَلْتُ الوَلَدَيْن الَّلَذَيْن يُغَنِّيَان qaabaltu al-waladayn al-ladhayn yughnayaan I met the two boys who sing | الوَلَدَان الَّلَذَان يُغَنِّيَان al-waladaan al-ladhaan yughnayaan The two boys who sing |
قَابَلْتُ البِنتَيْن الَّلَتَيْن تُغَنِّيَان qaabaltu al-bintayn al-latayn tughnayaan I met the two girls who sing | البِنتَان الِّلَتَان تُغَنِّيَان al-bintaan al-lataan tughnayaan The two girls who sing |
Similar to nouns in the dual form, we use al-ladhayn الَّلَذَين instead of al-ladhaan الَّذان
and al-latayn الَّلتَين instead of al-lataan الَّتَان
when the phrase with the relative clause is not in subject position
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Plural (al-ladheena / al-laatee)
الطُّلَّاب الَّذِيْنَ نَجَحُوا فِيْ الاِمْتِحَان aT-Tullaab al-ladheena naja7oo fee al-imti7aan The students (m) who succeeded in the exam |
الطَّالِبَات اللَّاتِي نَجَحْنَ فِي الاِمْتِحَان aT-Taalibaat al-laatee na7ahna fee al-imti7aan The students (f) who succeeded in the exam |
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Female Plural
اللَّاتِي al-laatee |
اللَّواتِي al-lawaatee |
اللَّائِي al-laa2ee |
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Other Relative Pronouns
For human beings | |
فَازَ مَن يَسْتَحِقّ faaza man yastahiqq The one who deserves won | مَن man |
For non-humans | |
هَذَا مَا حَدَث haadhaa maa 7adath This is what happened | مَا maa |
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Using (al-latee) for non-human plurals
الكُتُب الَّتِي قَرَأتُهَا al-kutub al-latee qara2tu-haa The books that I read |
الأَفْلَام الَّتِي شَاهَدْنَاهَا al-aflaam al-latee shaahadnaa-haa The films that we watched |
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
No relative pronouns for indefinite nouns
وَلَد يُسَافِر بِمُفْرَدِه walad yusaafir bi-mufradih A boy who travels alone |
بِنْت تَتَكَلَّم الفِرِنْسِيَّة bint tatakallam al-firinsiyyah A girl who speaks French |
كُرْسِي اِشْتَرَينَاه مِن السُوق kursee ishtaraynaah min as-souq A chair (that) we bought from the market |
Relative Pronouns الأَسْمَاء المَوْصُولَة
Pronunciation Difference
Plural (m) | الَّذِينَ al-ladheena |
Dual (m) in non-subject Position
| الَّلذَيْن al-ladhayn |
Singular Female | الَّتِي al-latee |
Plural Female | اللَّاتِي al-laatee |
adawaat al-istifhaam
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
مَن؟ man? Who? | أيْنَ؟ ayna? Where? | هَل؟ hal? ...? Yes/No |
كَيْفَ؟ kayfa? How? | مَا؟ maa? What? | مَتَى؟ mataa? When? |
لِمَاذَا؟ limaadhaa? Why? | مَاذَا؟ maadhaa? What? | كَم؟ kam? How many? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
Yes/No Question - hal
لا laa no | هَلْ؟ hal? | نَعَم na3am yes |
هَل تُرِيد أَنْ تَأكُل؟ hal tureed an ta2kul? Do you want to eat? | هَل نِمْتَ جَيِّداً؟ hal nimta jayyidan? Did you sleep well? |
هَل وَصَلَ الضُّيُوف؟ hal waSala aD-Duyoof? Did the guests arrive? | هَل أنْت مِصْرِيّ؟ hal anta miSriyy? Are you Egyptian? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
Where - ayna
أيْنَ تَسْكُن؟ ayna taskun? Where do you live? | أيْنَ الحَقِيبَة؟ ayna al-haqeebah? Where is the bag? |
أيْنَ أَنْت؟ ayna anta? Where are you? | أيْنَ المُدِير؟ ayna al-mudeer? Where is the manager? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
Who - man
مَن هُوَ مُخْتَرِع الهَاتِف؟ man huwa mukhtari3 al-haatif? Who is the inventor of the phone? | مَن هُوَ؟ man huwa? Who is he? |
مَن هُوَ مُؤَلِّف الكِتَاب؟ man huwa mu2allif al-kitaab? Who is the author of the book? | مَن قَالَ لَكَ هَذَا؟ man qaala laka haadhaa? Who told you so? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
When - mataa
مَتَى وُلِدْت؟ mataa wulidt? When were you born? | مَتَى وَصَلْتُم؟ mataa waSaltum? When did you (pl-m) arrive? |
مَتَى سَافَرُوا؟ mataa saafaroo? When did they travel? | مَتَى حَدَث هَذَا؟ mataa 7adatha haadhaa? When did this happen? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
What - maa
مَا هَذَا؟ maa haadhaa? What is this? | مَا مَعْنَى هَذِهِ الكَلِمَة؟ maa ma3naa haadhihi al-kalimah? What is the meaning of this word? |
مَا هِيَ المُشْكِلَة؟ maa hiya al-mushkilah? What is the problem? | مَا هِيَ عَاصِمَة فَرَنْسَا؟ maa hiya 3aaSimat faransaa? What is the capital of France? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
How - kayfa
كَيْفَ عَرَفْت؟ kayfa 3araft? How did you know? | كَيْفَ حَالُك؟ kayfa 7aaluk? How are you? (Literally: How is your condition) |
كَيْفَ نُصْلِح الهَاتِف؟ kayfa nuSli7 al-haatif? How do we fix the phone? | كَيْفَ يُمْكِن أَنْ أُسَاعِدَك؟ kayfa yumkin an usaa3idak? How can I help you? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
How many/much - kam - كَم
كَم تَكَلَّفَت الرِّحْلَة؟ kam takallafat ar-ri7lah? How much did the trip cost? | كَم عُمْرُك؟ kam 3umruk? How old are you? (Literally: how much is your age) |
كَم تُرِيد؟ kam tureed? How much do you want? | كَم شَخْصَاً قَابَلْت؟ kam shakhSan qaabalt? How many people did you meet? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
What - maadhaa - مَاذَا
مَاذَا فَعَلُوا؟ maadhaa fa3aloo? What did they do? | مَاذَا حَدَث؟ maadhaa 7adath? What happened? |
مَاذَا تُرِيد؟ maadhaa tureed? What do you want? | مَاذَا قُلْت؟ maadhaa qult? What did you say? |
Question Words أدَوات الاسْتِفْهَام
Why- limaadhaa - لِمَاذا
لِمَاذا تَأَخَّرْوا؟ limaadhaa ta2akhkharoo? Why are they late? | لِمَاذا تَبْكِي؟ limaadhaa tabkee? Why are you crying? |
لِمَاذا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِك؟ limaadhaa fa3alta dhaalik? Why did you do so? | لِمَاذا وَقَعَت الحَادِثَة؟ limaadhaa waqa3at al-7aadithah? Why did the accident happen? |
al-nafy
Negation النَفْيْ
مَا maa | لَم lam | Past |
لا laa | Present / Imperative | |
لَن lan | Future | |
لَيسَ laysa | Verb to be/have | |
Negation النَفْيْ
Past Negation - lam - لَم
Structure lam + Verb (present form) | |
➖ | ➕ |
لَم يَكتُب lam yaktub He didn’t write | كَتَبَ kataba He wrote |
لَم أقْرَأ lam aqra2 I didn’t read | قَرَأتُ qara2tu I read (past) |
لَم نُسَافِر lam nusaafir We didn’t travel | سَافَرنَا saafarnaa We travelled |
Negation النَفْيْ
Past Negation - maa - ما
Structure maa + Verb (past form) | |
➖ | ➕ |
مَا رَأى maa ra2aa He didn’t see | رَأى ra2aa He saw |
ما قُلتُ maa qultu I didn’t say | قُلتُ qultu I said |
ما بَدأنا maa bada2naa We didn’t start | بَدأنَا bada2naa We started |
Less common, but used in dialects
Negation النَفْيْ
Present Negation - laa - لا
Structure laa + Verb (present form) | |
➖ | ➕ |
لَا يَكتُب laa yaktub He doesn’t write | يكَتُبَ yaktub He writes |
لَا تَعْمَل laa ta3mal She doesn’t work | تَعْمَل ta3mal She works |
لَا نأكُل laa na2kul We don’t eat | نأكُل na2kul We eat |
Negation النَفْيْ
Imperative Negation - laa - لا
Structure laa + Verb (present form - second person) | |
➖ | ➕ |
لَا تَكتُب laa taktub don’t write (1m) | اُكتُب uktub Write (1m) |
لَا تَذهَبِي laa tadh-habee don’t go (1f) | اِذهَبي idh-habee Go (1f) |
لَا تَسمَعوا laa tasma3oo don’t listen (3m) | اِسمَعُوا isma3oo Listen (3m) |
Negation النَفْيْ
Future Negation - lan - لَن
Structure laa + Verb (present form) | |
➖ | ➕ |
لَن يَكتُب lan yaktub He will not write | سَيَكتُب sa-yaktub He will write |
لَن تَذهَب lan tadh-hab She will not go | سَتَذهَب sa-tadh-hab She will go |
لَن يَقُولُوا lan yaqooloo They will not say | سَيَقُولُون sa-yaqooloon They will say |
Negation النَفْيْ
Negation in different tenses
Present (2nd Person) | Present (1st Person) | |
(أنْتَ) تُسَافِر (anta) tusaafir You (1m) travel | أُسَافِر usaafir I travel | ➕ |
(أنْتَ) لَا تُسَافِر (anta) laa tusaafir You (1m) don’t travel | لا أُسَافِر laa usaafir I don’t travel | ➖ |
Imperative | Future | Past | |
سَافِر saafir travel (1m) | سَأُسَافِر sa-usaafir I will travel | سافَرتُ saafartu I travelled | ➕ |
لَا تُسَافِر laa tusaafir don’t travel (1m) | لَن أُسَافِر lan usaafir I will not travel | لَم أُسَافِر lam usaafir I didn’t travel | ➖ |
Negation النَفْيْ
Imperative Negation
Imperative ➕ | 2nd Person ➕ | Imperative Negation ➖ |
شَاهِد shaahid Watch (1m) | تُشَاهِد tushaahid You (1m) watch | لا تُشَاهِد laa tushaahid Don’t watch (1m) |
اِشرَب ishrab Drink (1m) | تَشرَب tashrab You (1m) drink | لا تَشرَب laa tashrab Don’t drink (1m) |
Imperative Negation uses the second person present form
Negation النَفْيْ
Feminine 2nd Person Negation
تُسافِرين tusaafireen You (1f) travel | |||
Imperative | Future | Present | Past |
لا تُسافِري laa tusaafiree Don’t (1f) travel | لَن تُسَافِرِي lan tusaafiree You (1f) will not travel | لا تُسافِرين laa tusafireen You (1f) don’t travel | لَم تُسَافِرِي lam tusaafiree You didn’t travel |
In non-present negation, the noon (ن) at the end of the feminine second person form is removed
Negation النَفْيْ
Dual Negation
تُسَافِران tusaafiraan You (2) travel | يُسافِران yusaafiraan They (2) travel | ||
Imperative | Future | Present | Past |
لا تُسافِرا laa tusaafiraa Don’t (2) travel | لَن يُسافِرا lan yusaafiraa They (2) will not travel | لا يُسافِران laa yusaafiraan They (2) don’t travel | لَم يُسافِرا lam yusaafiraa They (2) didn’t travel |
In non-present negation, there is no noon (ن) at the end of dual forms
Negation النَفْيْ
Plural Negation
تُسَافِرون tusaafiroon You (3m) travel | يُسافِرون yusaafiroon They (m) travel | ||
Imperative | Future | Present | Past |
لا تُسافِروا laa tusaafiroo Don’t (3m) travel | لَن يُسافِروا lan yusaafiroo They (3m) will not travel | لا يُسافِرون laa yusaafiroon They (3m) don’t travel | لَم يُسافِروا lam yusaafiroo They (3m) didn’t travel |
In non-present negation, there is also no noon (ن) at the end of plural forms.
In plural, there is a silent alif at the end.
Negation النَفْيْ
Verb to be negation - laysa - لَيسَ
لَيسَ laysa He is not | لَيسَت laysat She is not | لَيسا laysaa They (2) are not | لَيسوا laysoo They are not | لَسنَ lasna They (f) are not |
لَستُ lastu I am not | لَسنا lasnaa We are not | |||
لَستَ lasta You (m) are not | لَستِ lasti You (f) are not | لَستُما lastumaa You (2) are not | لَستُم lastum You (3m) are not | لَستُنَّ lastunna You (3f) are not |
To negate verb to be, we use the negation word “laysa”
The word “laysa” has different conjugations for each pronoun
Negation النَفْيْ
Verb to be negation - laysa - لَيسَ
Structure laysa + (noun/adjective) | |
➖ | ➕ |
ـ (هُوَ) لَيسَ سَعِيداً (huwa) laysa sa3eedan He isn’t happy | هُوَ سَعِيد huwa sa3eed He is happy |
ـ (أَنا) لَستُ طَبِيباً (anaa) lastu Tabeeban I am not a doctor | أَنا طَبِيب anaa Tabeeb I am a doctor |
ـ (هِيَ) لَيسَت مِصرِيَّة (hiya) laysat miSriyyah She isn’t Egyptian | هِيَ مِصرِيَّة hiya miSriyyah She is Egyptian |
If laysa is followed by an indefinite noun or adjective, it takes a grammatical position of an object, and gets alif with tanween
Negation النَفْيْ
Verb to be negation - laysa - لَيسَ
Structure laysa + preposition + noun | |
➖ | ➕ |
لَسنَا فِي المَنزِل lasnaa fee al-manzil We are not at home | نَحنُ فِي المَنزِل na7nu fee al-manzil We are at home |
لَستَ مِن ألمانيا lasta min almaanyaa You (m) are not from Germany | أَنتَ مِن ألمانيا anta min almaanyaa You (m) are from Germany |
لَيسُوا فِي الحَدِيقَة laysoo fee al-7adeeqah They are not in the garden | هُم فِي الحَدِيقَة hum fee al-7adeeqah They are in the garden |
We can also use laysa to negate prepositions
Negation النَفْيْ
Verb to be negation - laysa - لَيسَ
Structure laysa + 3inda/ladaa …+ noun | |
➖ | ➕ |
لَيسَ عِندِي قِطَّة laysa 3indee qiTTah I don’t have a cat | عِندِي قِطَّة 3indee qiTTah I have a cat |
لَيسَ لَدَيهِ مُشكِلَة laysa ladayhi mushkilah He doesn’t have a problem | لَدَيهِ مُشكِلَة ladayhi mushkilah He has a problem |
لَيسَ عِندَنا سَيَّارَة laysa 3indanaa sayyaarah We don’t have a car | عِندَنا سَيَّارَة 3indanaa sayyaarah We have a car |
We can also use laysa to negate verb to have
al-3aTf
Coordination العَطف
and | وَ wa- |
or | أَو aw |
or (question) | أَم am |
but | لَكِن laakin |
Coordination العَطف
أو aw or | وَ wa- and |
كَلب أو قِطَّة kalb aw qiTTah A dog or a cat | وَلَد وَبِنت walad wa-bint A boy and a girl |
الكَلب أو القِطَّة al-kalb aw al-qiTTah The dog or the cat | الوَلَد والبِنت al-walad w-al-bint The boy and the girl |
Coordination works with both definite and indefinite nouns
Coordination العَطف
أو aw or | وَ wa- and |
كَبِير أو صَغِير kabeer aw Sagheer Big or small | قَوِيّ وذَكِيّ qaweyy wa-dhakeyy Strong and smart |
أَبيَض أو أَسوَد abyaD aw aswad White or black | جَمِيلَة وكَرِيمَة jameelah wa-kareemah Pretty and generous |
Coordination works with adjectives
Coordination العَطف
أو aw or | وَ wa- and |
فِي المَنزِل وفي الفُندُق fee al-manzil wa-fee al-funduq At home and at the hotel | |
عَلَى الكُرسي أو عَلَى المَائِدَة 3alaa al-kursee aw 3alaa al-maa2idah On the chair or on the table | |
Coordination works with prepositions
Coordination العَطف
أو aw or | وَ wa- and |
أَكتُب وأَقرَأ aktub wa-aqra2 I read and I write | |
يَعرِف أو يَفهَم ya3rif aw yafham He knows or he understands | |
Coordination works with verbs
Coordination العَطف
أَم am OR (Question) | |
هَل تَأكُل اللَحم أَم الخُبز؟ hal ta2kul al-la7m am al-khubz? Do you eat meat or bread? | |
هَل تُحِبِّينَ الرَّسم أَم الموسِيقَى؟ hal tu7ibbeen al-rasm am al-mooseeqaa? Do you like (f) drawing or music? |
For questions asking about options with “or”, we use “am” instead of “aw”
Coordination العَطف
أو aw or | وَ wa- and |
الكَلب يَلعَب والقِطَّة تَأكُل al-kalb yal3ab w-al-qiTTah ta2kul The dog plays and the cat eats | |
سَأقرَأ الكِتاب أَو سَأُشاهِد الفيلم sa-aqra2 al-kitaab aw sa-ushaahid al-film I will read the book or watch the film | |
Coordination works with full sentences
Coordination العَطف
لَكن laakin but | وَ wa- and |
هُوَ يَقرَأ وَلَكِن لا يَكتُب huwa yaqra2 wa-laakin laa yaktub He reads but he doesn’t write | |
أنا قابَلتُهُم لَكِن لا أعرِفهُم anaa qabaltuhum laakin laa a3rifhum I met them but I don’t know them | |
The word for “but” is laakin, which can be combined with “wa-”
Tips To Learn Better:
Click on the link to go to the interactive lesson
For the Interactive lesson, go to:
http://champolu.com/ebooks/arabic-cheat-sheet-msa
