Mastering the command form is vital for practical communication. Whether you want to politely ask someone to “listen” or urgently tell a group to “stop,” you need to conquer the imperative in arabic. Therefore, this comprehensive guide will break down the grammar behind the arabic imperative and show you how to give commands correctly in both formal and spoken contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The imperative verb form is an order, a request, or a piece of advice directed only at the second person (you). Crucially, unlike English, the imperative in arabic changes its form dramatically based on the gender and number of the person you are speaking to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The process of creating the imperative (\u0641\u0650\u0639\u0652\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0623\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0631 – fi’l al-amr) always starts with the present tense (\u0627\u0644\u0645\u064f\u0636\u064e\u0627\u0631\u0650\u0639 – al-mu\u1e0d\u0101ri\u2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The core rule for forming a positive command (or Direct Imperative) involves dropping the present tense prefix and adding an alif (\u0623) if needed. For clarity, we will use the common root \u0641\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e (fa\u2018ala – to do\/act), specifically the verb to write: \u0643\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0628\u064e (kataba).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The complexity of the Direct Imperative lies in addressing the correct person. Consequently, the verb form changes significantly for the singular female, dual, and plural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
| Person Being Addressed<\/th> | Pronoun<\/th> | Present Tense<\/th> | Imperative Form<\/strong><\/th>| English Meaning<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> | You (m. sing.)<\/td> | \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652\u062a\u064e (anta)<\/td> | \u062a\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u064f<\/td> | \u0627\u064f\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u0652 (uktub)<\/td> | Write! (to 1 male)<\/td><\/tr> | You (f. sing.)<\/td> | \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652\u062a\u0650 (anti)<\/td> | \u062a\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e<\/td> | \u0627\u064f\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u0650\u064a (uktub\u012b)<\/td> | Write! (to 1 female)<\/td><\/tr> | You (dual m.\/f.)<\/td> | \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0627 (antum\u0101)<\/td> | \u062a\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u064e\u0627\u0646\u0650<\/td> | \u0627\u064f\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u064e\u0627 (uktub\u0101)<\/td> | Write! (to 2 people)<\/td><\/tr> | You (pl. m.)<\/td> | \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0645\u0652 (antum)<\/td> | \u062a\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u064f\u0648\u0646\u064e<\/td> | \u0627\u064f\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u064f\u0648\u0627 (uktub\u016b)<\/td> | Write! (to group of males)<\/td><\/tr> | You (pl. f.)<\/td> | \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0646\u064e\u0651 (antunna)<\/td> | \u062a\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u0652\u0646\u064e<\/td> | \u0627\u064f\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u0652\u0646\u064e (uktubna)<\/td> | Write! (to group of females)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n | <\/div>\n\n\n\n Forming Direct Negative Commands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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