Language/Algerian-arabic/Grammar/Negation

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Algerian Arabic Grammar - Negation

Hi Algerian Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we are going to focus on negation in Algerian Arabic grammar. To understand negation, it's important first to understand two types of sentences in Arabic: affirmative and negative sentences.

Affirmative Sentences

In affirmative sentences, we affirm a fact or an action. Here are some examples:

Algerian Arabic Pronunciation English
نَديرو nādīro We do
تَحيا الجَزاير taḥyā l-jazāir Long live Algeria
طِلعَة بيرْ ṭilʿa bīr A trip to Bir
سَلَام salām Hello

In Algerian Arabic, affirmative sentences generally have a positive particle called "nāʿam" (yes) or its synonym "aywa" (also pronounced "iwa"). For instance:

Algerian Arabic Pronunciation English
نَديرو نَعَم nādīro naʿam Yes, we do
تَحيا الجَزاير آيوة taḥyā l-jazāir aywa Yes, Long live Algeria
هَو طِلعَة بيرْ آيوة huwa ṭilʿa bīr aywa Yes, He / She is going for a trip to Bir
إِيوة سَلَام īwa salām Yes, Hello


Negative Sentences

In negative sentences, we negate a fact or an action. The negative particle used in Algerian Arabic is "مَا" (ma). Here are some examples:

Algerian Arabic Pronunciation English
ما نَديروش mā nādīrūš We don't do
ما تَحياش الجَزاير mā taḥyāš l-jazāir Don't live Algeria
ما ياشطح بيرْش mā yāšṭaḥḥa bīrš Don't Make fun of Bir
ما تُوليش mā tūlīš Don't turn away

To negate a sentence in Algerian Arabic, we generally start the sentence with the negative particle "ma" followed by the verb. For instance:

Algerian Arabic Pronunciation English
ما نَديروش mā nādīrūš We don't


Using "ما" as a Negation Particle

In Algerian Arabic, "ما" (ma) is often used to negate verbs in the present tense. It is placed before the verb, which is then conjugated in the imperfect form. Here is an example:

Algerian Arabic Pronunciation English
ما تِشْرا mā tišra Don't buy

Using "ماشي" as a Negation Particle

Algerian Arabic also uses "ماشي" (māshī) as a negation particle, It is more commonly used as an alternative to "ما" (ma) in certain cases. Here is an example:

Algerian Arabic Pronunciation English
مَاشي يَشرِي māshī yašri Not buying

Using "الا" as a Negation Particle

"الا" (illā) is used to negate verbs and nouns in the present and past. It is used as an alternative to "ما" (ma) in some cases. Here's an example:

Algerian Arabic Pronunciation English
الا نتَكَلَموا خَطُوم illā nta kalāmu khaṭum Not all of us are fluent in dialect


Negation with Pronouns

In Algerian Arabic, negation with pronouns is also common. It is used to negate pronouns such as "everyone," "something," "anything," and "nothing". Here are some examples:

Algerian Arabic Pronunciation English
والو ما يَعرِفُوش wallū mā yaʿrifuš They don't know anything [lit. and If they don't know]
مايَكول لا شيئ mayakūl lā shayʾ He doesn't say anything
ما بَان شيء mā bāne shīʾ Nothing appears


Dialogue

Here's a dialogue that includes negation:

  • Person 1: مَا نَصوميش بُكرا (mā naṣūmīš bukra) (We are not fasting tomorrow)
  • Person 2: علاش ما تَصومُوش ؟ (ʿlāš mā tnaṣūmūš?) (Why aren't you fasting?)


Practice

Here are some exercises to practice negation in Algerian Arabic:

1. Translate these sentences to Algerian Arabic: a. I don't want to eat. b. They don't understand anything. c. She doesn't like spicy food.

2. Translate these sentences to English: a. ماشي نَشريوش؟ (māshī našrīwūš?) b. تَوا ما تَكلَمْش؟ (tawwa mā taklamš?) c. ما ياكُلُوش لَحم بُقر (mā yākuluš laḥm buqr)

➡ 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. 😎

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