Language/Moroccan-arabic/Grammar/Negation

Moroccan Arabic Grammar - Negation

Hi Moroccan Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn how to negate sentences in Moroccan Arabic. Negation is an essential part of mastering a language, as it allows us to express negative statements and convey the opposite meaning of positive statements. We will provide examples and cultural information to help you better understand the grammar rules. Remember, practice makes perfect! Don't be afraid to make mistakes and ask for help. Let's get started!

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Alphabet and Pronunciation in ..., How to use “can” in Moroccan Arabic, Affirmative Imperative & The Genitive Case in Moroccan Arabic.

Basic Negation

To negate a sentence in Moroccan Arabic, we use the word "ma" (ما) before the verb. "Ma" is equivalent to "not" in English. For example:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
ما كنش ندير	ma kanš ndir	I am not doing

Notice that in this example, we used the verb "kandir" (doing) and "ma" came before it. This is the basic structure of negation in Moroccan Arabic. Here are some more examples:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
ما كتوجدهاش	ma ktojdhahš	He/She doesn't find it.
ما تزادش	ma tzedš	It didn't increase.
ما كتعجبنيش	ma kta’jebniš	I don't like it.

Remember that negation affects both the present and past tenses in Moroccan Arabic. Here is an example in the past tense:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
ما كنتش مغادي نقرا	ma kentš mghadi nqra	I wasn't going to study.

Notice that in this example, we used the verb "mghadi" (going to) and conjugated it in the past tense "kent" (was). Again, "ma" came before the verb "mghadi" to form a negative sentence.

Here's a dialogue example to illustrate:

• Person 1: ما كنتش نلعب الكرة ديال القدم. (ma kentš nla’ab lkrat dial lqdām) (I wasn't playing soccer.)
• Person 2: ليش؟ (liš?) (Why?)
• Person 1: الطقس كان بارد جدا. (ltaqs kan barid jiddan) (The weather was too cold.)

Negating Adjectives and Adverbs

In Moroccan Arabic, we can also negate adjectives and adverbs. To do so, we add "ma" before the word. For example:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
ما باش تاليف	ma baš talif	It's not easy.
ما كنحبش الزيتون	ma nħebbš zzitun	I don't like olives.
ما كتفهموش جيدا	ma ktfhmwš jayda	They don't understand well.

Notice in the last example, "jayda" is an adverb, and "ma" comes before it to negate it.

Here's another dialogue example to illustrate:

• Person 1: شفت ذاك الفيلم الجديد؟ كيفاه كان؟ (šeft dāk lfīlm ljdīd? Kifāh kan?) (Did you see that new movie? How was it?)
• Person 2: ما كان حلو. (ma kan ḥlū) (It wasn't good.)
• Person 1: ليش؟ (liš?) (Why?)
• Person 2: كان ممل جدا ولا كان فيه عمل جديد ما بقاش. (kan mmal jiddan wla kan fih ‘aml jdīd ma bqaš) (It was very boring and there wasn't any new action.)

Double Negation

In Moroccan Arabic, it is possible to use double negation for emphasis. To do so, we use "ma" twice:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
ما كنحبوش جديدا	ma nħebbwš jdidan	I don't really like it (lit. I don't not like it)
ما شفتش حد هنا	ma šeftš hd hna	I haven't seen anyone here (lit. I don't see no one here)

Here's another dialogue example to illustrate:

• Person 1: شنو رايك في هاد المسلسل الجديد؟ (šnū rāyik fī hād almslsal ljdid?) (What do you think about this new TV show?)
• Person 2: ما كنحبوش جيدا جدا. (ma nħebbwš jayda jiddan) (I don't really like it.)
• Person 1: ليش؟ (liš?) (Why?)
• Person 2: القصة كانت ماشي مثيرة والأداء كان بعضو كيملل. (lqşa kanet māši mṯyra wal’dda’a kan b’ḍuh kaymll.) (The plot wasn't exciting and the acting was inconsistent.)

Conclusion

Negation is a crucial aspect of Moroccan Arabic grammar, as it allows us to convey negative statements and express the opposite meaning of positive statements. Remember that to form a negative sentence, we use "ma" before the verb, adjective, or adverb. Practice with the examples we've provided and create your own sentences. To improve your Moroccan Arabic Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources

• Moroccan Arabic Wikipedia
• Negation Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• How to use “to be” with adjectives in Moroccan Arabic
• Definite Articles in Moroccan Arabic
• Present Continuous in Moroccan Arabic
• Interrogative words in Moroccan Arabic
• Pronouns
• Adjectives
• The verb "to Get up"
• How to use “can” in Moroccan Arabic
• How to use “to speak” in Moroccan Arabic
• How to use “there to be” in Moroccan Arabic