Language/Saidi-arabic/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have

Saidi Arabic Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Saidi Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the word "have" in Saidi Arabic. This is an extremely useful word that we use all the time in different contexts. I will explain how it works and give you some examples to help you understand. As always, if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section below.

Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Questions & Negation.

Basic Structure

In Saidi Arabic, we have two words for "have": "عندي" (ʿandi) and "عند" (ʿand). We use these words in different ways depending on the context.

The basic structure for using "have" is as follows:

Subject + "عندي/عند" + Object

For example:

Saidi Arabic	Pronunciation	English
عندي عملية	ʿandi ʿamliyya	I have an operation
عنده كتاب	ʿando kitab	He has a book
عندك دراجة	ʿandak daraja	You have a bike (male)
عندكي شنطة	ʿandeki shanta	You have a bag (female)

Here we see the pattern: "عندي/عند" followed by the object you have. The subject can be any noun or pronoun.

Using "Have" with Possession

One of the most common uses of "have" is to indicate possession.

For example:

• Person 1: عندك سيارة؟ (ʿandak sayyara?) (Do you have a car?)
• Person 2: عندي سيارة. (ʿandi sayyara.) (I have a car.)

In this example, Person 1 is asking if Person 2 has a car, and Person 2 responds that they do have a car using "عندي."

"عند" can also be used for possession in the same way, as in:

• Person 1: عنده قطة. (ʿandu qitta.) (He has a cat.)
• Person 2: عندنا كلب. (ʿandna kalb.) (We have a dog.)

Here, Person 1 says that someone else (he) has a cat, and Person 2 responds that their own family (we) has a dog, using "عندنا" (ʿandna).

Using "Have" with Actions

We can also use "have" to talk about actions that someone has done or will do.

For example:

• Person 1: عندك شوفة؟ (ʿandak shufa?) (Have you seen it?)
• Person 2: عندي شوفة. (ʿandi shufa.) (I have seen it.)

In this example, Person 1 is asking if Person 2 has seen something, and Person 2 responds that they have seen it, using "عندي."

"عند" can also be used for actions in the same way, as in:

• Person 1: عنده سفرة. (ʿandu safra.) (He has traveled.)
• Person 2: عنا مشروع كبير. (ʿana mashruuʿ kabiir.) (We have a big project.)

Here, Person 1 says that someone else (he) has traveled, and Person 2 responds that their own group (we) has a big project, using "عنا" (ʿana).

Using "Have" in the Future Tense

We can use "have" to talk about things that we will have in the future.

For example:

• Person 1: عندك مشروع جديد؟ (ʿandak mashruuʿ jadiid?) (Do you have a new project?)
• Person 2: عندي مشروع جديد بإذن الله. (ʿandi mashruuʿ jadiid bi-idhn Allah.) (I will have a new project, God willing.)

In this example, Person 1 is asking if Person 2 has a new project, and Person 2 responds that they will have one in the future, using "عندي."

"عند" can also be used for the future tense in the same way, as in:

• Person 1: عنده موعد الساعة عشرة؟ (ʿandu mawʿid as-saaʿa ʿashra?) (Does he have an appointment at 10 o'clock?)
• Person 2: عندنا موعد معه بعد ساعتين. (ʿandna mawʿid maʿu baʿd saaʿtayn.) (We have an appointment with him in two hours.)

Here, Person 1 asks if someone else (he) has an appointment at a certain time, and Person 2 responds that their own group (we) has an appointment with him in two hours, using "عندنا" (ʿandna).

Dialogue

• Person 1: عندك تلفون جديد؟ (ʿandak talfuun jadiid?) (Do you have a new phone?)
• Person 2: عندي تلفون، لكن مش جديد. (ʿandi talfuun, lakin mish jadiid.) (I have a phone, but it's not new.)
• Person 1: عندك مكيف في بيتك؟ (ʿandak makayif fii baytak?) (Do you have an air conditioner in your house?)
• Person 2: عندنا مراوح، ما عندناش مكيف. (ʿandna marawwah, ma ʿandnash makayif.) (We have fans, we don't have an air conditioner.)
• Person 1: عندهم فلوس كتير. (ʿandhum fuluus ktiir.) (They have a lot of money.)
• Person 2: عندنا كتير شغل، بس ما عندناش فلوس كتير. (ʿandna ktiir shughl, bas ma ʿandnash fuluus ktiir.) (We have a lot of work, but we don't have a lot of money.)

Conclusion

Using "have" in Saidi Arabic can seem tricky at first, but with some practice, you'll soon get the hang of it. Remember that "عندي" and "عند" can both be used for possession, actions, and future tense. To improve your Saidi Arabic Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

---

➡ 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. 😎

Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: Give your Opinion & Conditional Mood.

Other Lessons

• Conditional Mood
• Adjectives
• Questions
• Pronouns
• Plurals
• Give your Opinion
• Negation
• How to Use Be
• Gender

Template:Saidi-arabic-Page-Bottom