Language/Standard-arabic/Grammar/Present-tense-conjugation

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Standard Arabic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs and conjugation in Arabic → Present tense conjugation

In the previous lesson, we learned about nouns and gender in Arabic, including the usage of definite and indefinite articles, as well as the rules of gender in Arabic. Now, we will delve into the world of verbs and conjugation in Arabic, starting with the present tense conjugation.

Introduction to Present Tense Conjugation

The present tense is used to describe actions that are happening at the current moment or regularly occur in the present. In Arabic, the present tense is expressed through a process called conjugation, where the verb changes according to the subject pronoun. This allows us to indicate who is performing the action.

In this lesson, we will learn how to conjugate verbs in the present tense for all subject pronouns. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently express yourself in Arabic using the present tense.

Conjugating Verbs in the Present Tense

To conjugate verbs in the present tense, we need to consider the subject pronouns and the root letters of the verb. Arabic verbs are composed of three root letters, which give the verb its basic meaning. These root letters remain constant throughout the conjugation process, while the prefixes and suffixes change according to the subject pronoun.

Let's take the verb "to write" (كَتَبَ) as an example. Its root letters are ك ت ب. We will conjugate this verb for all subject pronouns in the present tense:

• أَنَا (I) - أَكْتُبُ (aktubu)
• أَنْتَ (you, masculine singular) - تَكْتُبُ (taktubu)
• أَنْتِ (you, feminine singular) - تَكْتُبِينَ (taktubīna)
• هُوَ (he) - يَكْتُبُ (yaktubu)
• هِيَ (she) - تَكْتُبُ (taktubu)
• نَحْنُ (we) - نَكْتُبُ (naktubu)
• أَنْتُمْ (you all, masculine plural) - تَكْتُبُونَ (taktubūna)
• أَنْتُنَّ (you all, feminine plural) - تَكْتُبْنَ (taktubna)
• هُمْ (they) - يَكْتُبُونَ (yaktubūna)

As you can see, the verb "to write" is conjugated differently for each subject pronoun. The prefixes and suffixes change to match the pronoun, while the root letters (ك ت ب) remain constant. This is a crucial aspect of Arabic grammar and will be applicable to all verbs in the present tense.

Interesting Fact: Dual Pronoun in Arabic

Arabic is one of the few languages that has a dual pronoun, which is used to refer to two people or objects. This is important to note because the verb conjugation also changes when using the dual pronoun.

For example, let's take the verb "to eat" (أَكَلَ) as an example. Its root letters are أ ك ل. We will conjugate this verb for the dual pronoun in the present tense:

• أَنْتُمَا (you both) - تَأْكُلَانِ (ta'kulāni)

In this case, the verb "to eat" is conjugated differently for the dual pronoun أَنْتُمَا (you both). The prefix تَ (ta) is added to the verb, and the suffix ـَانِ (āni) is attached to indicate the dual form.

Exceptions in Present Tense Conjugation

While most verbs follow a regular pattern in the present tense conjugation, there are some exceptions that require additional attention. These exceptions are known as irregular verbs, and they have unique conjugation patterns that deviate from the norm.

One of the most common irregular verbs in Arabic is the verb "to be" (كَانَ). Its conjugation in the present tense is as follows:

• أَنَا (I) - أَكُونُ (akūnu)
• أَنْتَ (you, masculine singular) - تَكُونُ (takūnu)
• أَنْتِ (you, feminine singular) - تَكُونِينَ (takūnīna)
• هُوَ (he) - يَكُونُ (yakūnu)
• هِيَ (she) - تَكُونُ (takūnu)
• نَحْنُ (we) - نَكُونُ (nakūnu)
• أَنْتُمْ (you all, masculine plural) - تَكُونُونَ (takūnūna)
• أَنْتُنَّ (you all, feminine plural) - تَكُونْنَ (takunnan)
• هُمْ (they) - يَكُونُونَ (yakūnūna)

As you can see, the irregular verb "to be" has its own unique conjugation pattern in the present tense. It is important to memorize these irregular verbs and their conjugations as they are commonly used in everyday conversations.

Practice Exercise

Now that we have learned how to conjugate verbs in the present tense, let's put our knowledge into practice. Below are some sentences with missing verb forms in the present tense. Your task is to fill in the correct verb form based on the subject pronoun provided.

1. أَنَا (I) __________ (to read). 2. هُوَ (he) __________ (to speak). 3. أَنْتِ (you, feminine singular) __________ (to sing). 4. نَحْنُ (we) __________ (to learn). 5. هُمْ (they) __________ (to play).

Once you have filled in the blanks, compare your answers with the correct verb forms below:

1. أَنَا (I) أَقْرَأُ (aqra'u). 2. هُوَ (he) يَتَكَلَّمُ (yatakallamu). 3. أَنْتِ (you, feminine singular) تَغْنِينَ (taghnīna). 4. نَحْنُ (we) نَتَعَلَّمُ (nata'allamu). 5. هُمْ (they) يَلْعَبُونَ (yal'abūna).

Great job! Practice is key to mastering Arabic verb conjugation, so keep practicing to reinforce your understanding.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we learned about the present tense conjugation of verbs in Arabic. We explored how verbs change according to the subject pronouns and the root letters of the verb. We also discussed exceptions and irregular verbs in the present tense.

By mastering the present tense conjugation, you can confidently express yourself in Arabic and describe actions happening in the present. In the next lesson, we will delve into the past tense conjugation of Arabic verbs. Stay tuned!

Table of Contents - Standard Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Arabic script

• Arabic vowels
• Arabic consonants
• Basic Arabic phrases

  ---

Nouns and gender in Arabic

• Definite and indefinite articles
• Masculine and feminine nouns

  ---

Verbs and conjugation in Arabic

• Present tense conjugation
• Past tense conjugation
• Future tense conjugation

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Numbers and counting in Arabic

• Cardinal numbers 1-100
• Ordinal numbers

  ---

Everyday Arabic vocabulary

• Greetings and farewells
• Colors
• Days of the week
• Months of the year

  ---

Food and drink vocabulary

• Basic food vocabulary
• Drinks

  ---

Arabic customs and traditions

• Islam and Arabic culture
• Arabic hospitality

  ---

Arabic music and entertainment

• Arabic music genres
• Arabic dance

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Adjectives in Arabic

• Adjective agreement and placement
• Comparative and superlative

  ---

Pronouns in Arabic

• Personal pronouns
• Possessive pronouns

  ---

Prepositions in Arabic

• Basic prepositions
• Prepositions of time and place

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Interrogatives in Arabic

• Question words
• Question formation

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Adverbs in Arabic

• Formation and placement
• Negation

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Transportation vocabulary

• Public transportation
• Asking for directions

  ---

Shopping and money vocabulary

• Money vocabulary
• Shopping vocabulary

  ---

Arabic literature and poetry

• Classical Arabic literature
• Arabic poetry

  ---

Arabic calligraphy and art

• History of Arabic calligraphy
• Arabic art and architecture

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Weather vocabulary

• Basic weather vocabulary
• Talking about the weather

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Conditional sentences in Arabic

• First and second conditional
• Third conditional and mixed conditionals

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Passive voice in Arabic

• Formation and usage
• Differences from the active voice

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Relative clauses in Arabic

• Formation and usage
• Differences from English relative clauses

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Arabic adjectives and nouns

• Common Arabic adjectives
• Compound nouns in Arabic

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Arabic cinema and TV

• Arabic cinema
• Arabic TV

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Arabic fashion and beauty

• Traditional Arabic dress
• Arabic beauty and cosmetics

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Sports and leisure vocabulary

• Popular Arabic sports
• Leisure activities

Sources

• Arabic grammar
• Arabic verbs

Other Lessons

• Read the Vowels
• Comparative and superlative
• Prepositions
• Arabic consonants
• The definite and indefinite articles
• How to Use be
• THE CASES OR DECLENSION OF NOUNS (Subjet, Direct and Indirec objects)
• Question formation
• Adjectives
• THE PERFECT

◀️ Masculine and feminine nouns — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Past tense conjugation ▶️