Browse Tag
future tense
10 posts
Future Tense (زمن المستقبل): In Arabic, the future tense is typically formed by adding the prefix سـ (sa-) or سوف (sawfa) before the present tense verb. This indicates that the action will take place in the future.
US Air Disaster, AI Stock Impact & Syria’s Economic Future | MAB 01/25
In this issue, we break down how Arabic newspapers report on a US plane crash, an AI startup hitting the stock market, and the return of powerful businessmen to Syria. Learn the specific Arabic terms you need to discuss disaster reporting, tech finance, and political negotiations.
Decoding the Fall of Assad and Hamas’s Political Pivot | MAB 12/24
In this issue, we break down Arabic media coverage of Bashar al-Assad's fall in Syria. Learn the key vocabulary used to report on the end of a regime and the complex political maneuvering of groups like Hamas.
Learning Hebrew as an Arabic Speaker: A Practical Guide to Grammar, Vocabulary, and the Alphabet
Learning Hebrew is much easier if you already know Arabic. This article reveals the strong connections between these Semitic languages, from shared roots and grammatical structures to alphabet similarities. It also uncovers a fascinating mistranslation in the Old Testament concerning Moses and the "Red Sea."
Can You Pass the Al-Jazeera Arabic Grammar Test? A Nerd’s Guide to the Toughest Questions
Al-Jazeera's online quiz tests Arabic grammar (صرف and نحو). This article breaks down challenging questions on demonstratives, relative pronouns, verb conjugations, and various accusative types to help you master the test.
English Tenses In Arabic: A Guide to Expressing Time And Aspect
Unlike many languages, Arabic has only two basic verb forms for tense. This article explains how to convey complex English tenses, such as perfect, progressive, and conditional, using Arabic's unique aspect and mood system.
Tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah: Meaning and Context in the EgyptAir 990 Crash
The EgyptAir 990 crash remains unsolved. This article examines the pilot's controversial final words, "Tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah" (I put my trust in Allah), exploring their cultural context and the debated accident cause.
A Guide to Compound Tenses in Egyptian Arabic: “Should Have” and “Will Have”
Arabic verbs have only two morphological forms, making compound tenses tricky. This article details "should have" and "will have done" constructions in Egyptian Arabic, with clear examples for learners.
Meanings & Usage of بقى (ba2a) in Egyptian Arabic
The Egyptian Arabic word بقى (ba2a or ba'a) is highly versatile, carrying multiple meanings such as "to be," "to become," "no longer," or "to begin." This article explores its various functions in past and present tenses, its use in negation, as a modal verb, and as an adverb, providing clear examples for each context in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic.
Never Make This Mistake in Arabic: How to Use أَبَدًا (abadan) vs. قَطُّ (qattu)
Even native Arabic speakers sometimes struggle with "never" (أَبَدًا and قَطُّ). This article clarifies a common mistake, explaining that أَبَدًا is for future continuity in negative sentences (e.g., "I will never..."), while قَطُّ is exclusively for past tense negative sentences (e.g., "I have never...").
A Grammar Guide to Arabic Particles: When to Use إذا, إذْ, and إذًا
The Arabic words إذا, إذْ, and إذًا look similar but have distinct uses. This guide clarifies إذا as a conditional conjunction for possible events, إذْ as a causal or temporal conjunction for past events, and إذًا (or إذَن) as a conversational "then" or "therefore." Understand their grammatical roles and avoid confusion.
