Language/Egyptian-arabic/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

Egyptian Arabic Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Egyptian Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "be" in Egyptian Arabic. "Be" is a very important verb in English and it is no different in Egyptian Arabic. It is used to describe the state of being or existence of something or someone. "Be" can be translated to "كان" (kan) in past tense, "يكون" (yekoon) in present tense, and "هيكون" (h-ye-koon) in future tense. Let's dive into the lesson and learn more about how to use "be" in Egyptian Arabic.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Egyptian-arabic Grammar, Adjectives, 0 to A1 Course & Past Tense.

Simple Present

In Egyptian Arabic, the simple present tense is used to describe something that is currently happening. Let's take a look at the examples below:

Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation	English
كمانجو بتبيع كتير	kamango betba'e' ketir	Kamango sells a lot.
الاعب ده بيجيد في كورة القدم	el-a'ab da bygīd fel-kūra el-ʕadīma	This player is very good at football.
السلطة بتكون صحية بدون زيت	el-selṭa batkūn saḥya bdon zeet	The salad is healthy without oil.

These examples show the use of "be" in the present tense. "Betba'e'" is the present tense form of "be" and is used to describe the action of selling. "Bygīd" is also the present tense form of "be" and is used to describe the state of being good at football. Finally, "batkūn" is the present tense form of "be" and is used to describe the state or condition of the salad.

Let's see an example of a conversation using the simple present tense:

• Person 1: انتي بتشتغلي فين؟ (Enti beteshteghali fein?) (Where do you work?)
• Person 2: انا بشتغل في شركة كمبيوتر. (Ana beshteghal fi sharkat computer.) (I work at a computer company.)

In this example, "be" is used in the present tense form "beteshteghali" which means "do you work".

Simple Past

In Egyptian Arabic, the simple past tense is used to describe something that has happened in the past. Let's take a look at some examples:

Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation	English
الطقس كان حار في الصيف	el-ṭaʔs kan ḥār fel-ṣeyf	The weather was hot in the summer.
امبارح كنت بالمول مع صحابي	embār7 kōnt bel-mawl maʕ seḥābi	Yesterday, I was at the mall with my friends.
د النجم كان مسافر لأمريكا	d-en-nagm kan mesafar le-Amrika	The singer was traveling to America.

In these examples, the verb "be" is used in the past tense form "kan" to describe something that has already happened. "Kan" is used in all of these examples regardless of the gender of the noun or pronoun being described.

Now let's have a conversation using the simple past tense:

• Person 1: امبارح ايه عملت؟ (Embār7 eh ʕamalt?) (What did you do yesterday?)
• Person 2: امبارح كنت بره مع صحابي. (Embār7 kōnt barra maʕ saḥābi.) (Yesterday, I was outside with my friends.)

In this example, "kan" is used in the past tense to describe what Person 2 was doing yesterday.

Future Tense

In Egyptian Arabic, the future tense is used to describe something that will happen in the future. Let's take a look at some examples:

Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation	English
بكرا هنسافر للساحل الشمالي	bokra hansefar l-es-sāḥel el-shamāli	Tomorrow, we will travel to the North Coast.
بعد ساعتين هيجيلي ضيف	baʕd saʕten hegyli ḍeef	In two hours, I will have a guest.
هيكون في حفلة كبيرة الشهر الجاي	h-ye-koon fel-ḥelfa kabīra el-shahr el-jāy	There will be a big party next month.

In these examples, "be" is used in the future tense form "h-ye-koon" to describe something that will happen in the future. "H-ye-koon" is used in all of these examples regardless of the gender of the noun or pronoun being described.

Let's have a conversation using the future tense:

• Person 1: انتي هتروحي للجيم امتى؟ (Enti hetro7i l-el-geym emta?) (When are you going to the gym?)
• Person 2: انا هروح النهاردة بعد ساعتين. (Ana hāro7 el-naharda baʕd saʕten.) (I will go today in two hours.)

In this example, "hāro7" is a verb in the future tense which means "will go".

Emphatic Form

In Egyptian Arabic, "be" can also be used in an emphatic form or to intensify the meaning of a sentence. Let's take a look at some examples:

Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation	English
أنا بكره دخلت الإمتحان	ana bokra dokhel-et el-emte7an	I will definitely take the exam tomorrow.
انتو بتهربو من الشغل كل يوم	ento bethorbo men el-shoghl kol youm	You guys always try to escape from work.
عمر حيبقى رئيس لمصر	ʕomar ḥayebʔa raʔēs le-Miṣr	Omar will become the president of Egypt for sure.

In these examples, the verb "be" is used in an emphatic form to intensify the meaning of the sentence. The word "هيبقى" (hayebʔa) is an emphatic form of the future tense verb "be" and is used to emphasize that Omar will definitely become the president of Egypt.

Let's see an example of a dialogue using the emphatic form:

• Person 1: عامل ايه؟ (ʕamel eh?) (What are you doing?)
• Person 2: انا بشتغل ف يوميات كتابية طول الليل. (Ana beshteghal fel-youmeyat ketebeya tool el-layl.) (I am definitely working on my journal all night long.)

In this example, "be" is used in the emphatic form to emphasize that Person 2 is definitely working on their journal all night long.

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