Language/Mesopotamian-arabic/Grammar/Negation
Hi Mesopotamian Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about negation in Mesopotamian Arabic. This is an intermediate level lesson, so we expect that you already have some knowledge of the language, including basic grammar rules. Did you know that Mesopotamian Arabic is spoken mainly in Iraq and that it is one of the oldest Arabic dialects? Speaking Mesopotamian Arabic can give you an edge if you are planning to visit or work in Iraq. So let's get started! 😎
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Questions, Adjectives & Give your Opinion.
Negation with لا[edit | edit source]
In Mesopotamian Arabic, you can use the word لا (la) as a negation particle. لا directly negates the verb it precedes.
Examples:
| Mesopotamian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| لا قريت | la qarayt | I didn't read |
| لا جيت | la jeet | I didn't come |
| لا بيعتها | la baye3tha | I didn't sell it |
Notice that the negation word لا precedes the verb in all cases.
You can also use لا with nouns and adjectives by adding "ما" (ma) in between. In this case, لا ما has the same meaning as "not."
Examples:
| Mesopotamian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| لا ما فهمت | la ma fhemet | I didn't understand |
| لا ما كولونيال | la ma kolunyal | It's not colonial |
Notice that with nouns and adjectives, لا ما comes between them.
Negation with ما[edit | edit source]
Mesopotamian Arabic also uses ما (ma) as a negation particle. You use ما before the verb in this case.
Examples:
| Mesopotamian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ما بقدر | ma ba'adar | I can't |
| ما بعرف | ma ba3ref | I don't know |
Notice that ما comes before the verb.
You can also use ما with nouns and adjectives by adding "لا" (la) in between. In this case, ما لا has the same meaning as "not."
Examples:
| Mesopotamian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ما لا بابلية | ma la babiliya | It's not Babylonian |
| ما لا خير | ma la khayr | It's not good |
Notice that with nouns and adjectives, ما لا also comes between them.
Double negation[edit | edit source]
In Mesopotamian Arabic, it is possible to use double negation. This means using both ما and لا in the same sentence.
Examples:
| Mesopotamian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ما لا قريت | ma la qarayt | I didn't read (double negation) |
| ما لا بعرف | ma la ba3ref | I don't know (double negation) |
Notice that the word لا still comes before the verb, and ما comes in between لا and the verb.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have learned about negation in Mesopotamian Arabic. Negation in Mesopotamian Arabic is straightforward and is expressed using either لا or ما. Don't forget to use our writing tips from the start of the lesson to help you remember the material. 😊
Let's practice a dialogue to help you remember some of the vocabulary we learned in the lesson.
Dialogue:
- Person 1: مرحبا، شلونك؟ (marhaba, shlonak?) - Hello, how are you?
- Person 2: ما بخير، ما بعرف شو أعمل. (ma bkhayr, ma ba3ref shu a3mel) - I'm not good, I don't know what to do.
- Person 1: بتعرف شو وقت الاختبار؟ (bta3ref shu wa2t il-ikhtibar?) - Do you know when is the test?
- Person 2: لا ما بعرف، بس ما في خبر رسمي لغاية الأن. (la ma ba3ref, bas ma fi khbar rasmi laghyaya alan) - No, I don't know, but there is no official news yet.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Use the Find native speakers and ask them any questions to improve your Mesopotamian Arabic. You can also check out the Mesopotamian Arabic Grammar page on the Polyglot Club website for more resources. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Say Hello and Greetings in Mesopotamian Arabic, Pronouns & Conditional Mood.