Got some unfinished business to talk about in Arabic? You’re in the right place! Today, Kaleela is going to simplify the present tense in Arabic, helping you express ongoing and habitual actions with confidence.
Let’s dive into today’s lesson so you can confidently express your thoughts and continue your Arabic language learning journey!
What is the Present Tense in Arabic?
In Arabic, the present tense (known as الفِعْل المُضارِع / al-fi‘l al-muḍāri‘) is incredibly versatile. It’s used for actions happening right now and for actions that happen regularly (habits).
For instance, if you’re currently learning Arabic, that’s an ongoing action. You’d use the present in Arabic to say:
- أَنا أَتَعَلَّمُ العَرَبِيَّةَ /’anaa ’ata‘allamu il‘arabiyyah/ (I learn Arabic / I am learning Arabic.)
How to Form the Present Tense in Arabic
Just like the past tense, the present tense in Arabic relies on verb conjugation. Don’t let the term scare you! It simply means adding specific letters (prefixes and sometimes suffixes) to the root verb to make it agree with the subject of your sentence.
The basic formula is: Prefix + Root Verb + Suffix (if needed)
For example, to say “We go,” you add the prefix نَـ (na-) to the root verb.
- نَحْنُ نَذهَبُ /naHnu nadhhabu/ (We go.)
A Simple Guide to Arabic Present Tense Conjugation
First Person (I/We)
- For the 1st person singular (I), you’ll use the prefix أ (’a):
- أَنا أفْعَلُ /’anaa ’af‘alu/ (I do.)
- أَنا أفْعَلُ /’anaa ’af‘alu/ (I do.)
- In the 1st person plural (We), the prefix نـ (na-) is used:
- نَحْنُ نَفْعَلُ /naHnu naf‘alu/ (We do.)
Second Person (You)
When conjugating for “You,” you need to pay attention to gender.
- For a masculine singular “You,” the verb takes the prefix تـ (ta):
- أَنْتَ تَفْعَلُ /’anta taf‘alu/ (You do.) (m. singular)
- أَنْتَ تَفْعَلُ /’anta taf‘alu/ (You do.) (m. singular)
- For a feminine singular “You,” the verb starts with the same prefix تـ (ta-) but also gets the suffix ـين (-eena) at the end:
- أَنْتِ تَفْعَلينَ /’anti taf‘aleena/ (You do.) (f. singular)
Third Person (He/She)
Finally, let’s look at the conjugation for “He” and “She.”
- For the masculine 3rd person singular (He), the verb takes the prefix يـ (ya):
- هُوَ يَفْعَلُ /huwa yaf‘alu/ (He does.)
- هُوَ يَفْعَلُ /huwa yaf‘alu/ (He does.)
- For the feminine 3rd person singular (She), the verb takes the prefix تـ (ta):
- هِيَ تَفْعَلُ /hiya taf‘alu/ (She does.)
Present Tense in Arabic Examples
Here are more present tense in Arabic examples to see the patterns in action:
- To Learn (يتعلم):
- أَنا أتَعَلَّمُ /’anaa ’ata‘allamu/ (I learn.)
- نَحْنُ نَتَعَلَّمُ /naHnu nata‘allamu/ (We learn.)
- To Speak (يتكلم):
- أنتَ تَتَكَلَّمُ /’anta tatakallamu/ (You speak.) (m. singular)
- أَنْتِ تَتَكَلَّمينَ /’anti tatakallameena/ (You speak.) (f. singular)
- هوَ يتَكَلَّمُ /huwa yatakallamu/ (He speaks.)
- هِيَ تَتَكَلَّمُ /hiya tatakallamu/ (She speaks.)
- To Drink (يشرب):
- أَنْتَ تَشْرَبُ /’anta tashrabu/ (You drink.) (m. singular)
- أنتِ تَشْربينَ /’anti tashrabeena/ (You drink.) (f. singular)
- هُوَ يَشْرَبُ /huwa yashrabu/ (He drinks.)
- هِيَ تَشْرَبُ /hiya tashrabu/ (She drinks.)
Master Arabic Grammar with Kaleela!
The Kaleela app is perfect for learners at any stage, from complete beginners to advanced students. Ultimately, it provides everything you need to master Arabic grammar and speak fluently. From understanding basic sentences to confidently using complex verb tenses, we guide you every step of the way.
See for yourself why learners love our method. Download the Kaleela app and advance your Arabic skills today!
