Language/Moroccan-arabic/Grammar/Uses-of-the-Conditional

Moroccan Arabic Grammar → Conditional Mood → Uses of the Conditional

As you continue to learn Moroccan Arabic, you will eventually come across the conditional mood. This mood allows you to talk about hypothetical or imagined situations, and is often used to express wishes or polite requests. In this lesson, we will focus on the uses of the conditional mood in Moroccan Arabic.

Formation of the Conditional

The conditional mood is formed in Moroccan Arabic by adding the particle "ghir" before the verb in the present tense. For example:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English Translation
غادي نقرا	ghadī naqra	I will read
غادي غير نقرا	ghadī ghir naqra	I would read

Note that "ghir" is not used with the present tense verb "kayn" (to be), which is irregular in the conditional.

In addition to the present tense, the conditional mood can also be formed in the past and future tenses by using the particles "kan ghir" and "ghat ghir" respectively. For example:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English Translation
كنت نقرا	kenti naqra	I used to read
كنت غير نقرا	kenti ghir naqra	I would read

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English Translation
غدي نقرا	ghadi naqra	I will read
غدي غير نقرا	ghadi ghir naqra	I would read

Uses of the Conditional

The conditional mood is used in Moroccan Arabic to express a wide range of hypothetical or imagined situations. Here are some common uses:

1. Wishes and Desires

The conditional mood is often used to express wishes or desires that are hypothetical or unlikely to come true. For example:

• مرحبا، كنت غادي غير نخدم اليوم. (marḥba, kenti ghadī ghir nkhdem lyōm) - Hi, I would work today but I can't.
• كنت غادي غير كنتش في داري. (kenti ghadī ghir kanīsh fī dārī) - I wish I were at home.

Note: The word "ghir" can also mean "except" or "but" in certain contexts, so be aware of the context in which it is used.

2. Polite Requests

The conditional mood can be used to make polite requests in Moroccan Arabic. For example:

• ممكن غير ندير هاد الصفحة. (mumkin ghir ndīr hād ṣ-ṣafḥa) - Could (would) I open this page?
• كنت غير كنتمشي كيفاش؟ (kenti ghir knitmshee kifāsh?) - Would you tell me how to go?

Note that in English, these questions would generally be phrased as "Could you..." or "Would you..." rather than "Would I..." or "Could I..."

3. Hypothetical Situations

The conditional mood can also be used to describe hypothetical or imagined situations in Moroccan Arabic. For example:

• لو كنت غير مريض، كنت داري زور (law kenti ghir mriḍ, kenti dārī zūr) - If I weren't sick, I would visit you
• لو كان لي فلوس، كنت شريت هاد الدار. (law kān lī flōs, kenti shrit hād d-dār) - If I had the money, I would buy this house.

These types of sentences often use the word "law" (if) to introduce the hypothetical situation.

As you continue to study Moroccan Arabic, don't be afraid to experiment with the conditional mood to express your own wishes or hypothetical situations. By using this mood, you can add nuance and depth to your conversations in the language.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have covered the formation and uses of the conditional mood in Moroccan Arabic. By understanding how to use this mood, you can express your wishes, make polite requests, and describe hypothetical situations in the language.

Sources

• <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_Arabic">Moroccan Arabic</a>
• <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditional_mood">Conditional Mood</a>

Table of Contents - Moroccan Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction

• Alphabet and Writing
• Pronunciation

  ---

Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Asking for Directions
• Numbers and Counting

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Plurals
• Demonstratives
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Food and Drink

• Ordering Food in a Restaurant
• Describing Food
• Beverages and Ordering Drinks

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

House and Home

• Rooms and Furniture
• Household Chores
• Renting an Apartment

  ---

Adjectives

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

  ---

Traditions and Customs

• Weddings and Celebrations
• Greetings and Etiquette

  ---

Prepositions

• Directional Prepositions
• Temporal Prepositions

  ---

Transportation

• Taking a Taxi
• Public Transportation

  ---

Imperative Mood

• Affirmative Imperative
• Negative Imperative

  ---

Shopping and Bargaining

• Shopping for Clothes
• At the Market
• Bargaining and Haggling

  ---

Historical Sites and Landmarks

• The Medina
• Kasbahs

  ---

Relative Clauses

• Direct and Indirect Object Clauses
• Relative Pronouns

  ---

Health and Emergencies

• At the Hospital
• Emergencies and First Aid

  ---

Passive Voice

• Formation of Passive Constructions
• Uses of the Passive

  ---

Leisure and Entertainment

• Music and Dance
• Sports and Activities

  ---

Holidays and Festivals

• Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha
• Ramadan

  ---

Conditional Mood

• Formation of the Conditional
• Uses of the Conditional

  ---

Regional Dialects

• Darija and Other Dialects
• Language Use and Social Context

  ---

Indirect Speech

• Reported Speech
• Indirect Questions

  ---

Weather and Climate

• Describing the Weather
• Seasons and Climate

Related Lessons

• Possessive Pronouns
• The verb "To Come"
• The Ablative Case in Moroccan Arabic
• Possessive Case in Moroccan Arabic
• Conditional Mood
• Negation
• Demonstrative Adjectives
• Past Tense
• The verb "To eat"
• Alphabet and Writing