To express that a situation or action continues "as long as" a specific condition is met, Arabic uses the verb ما دام.
Because ما دام belongs to the grammatical family known as the "sisters of Kaana" (أخوات كان), it affects the sentence structure that follows it. Specifically, while the subject remains in the nominative case, the predicate (the word describing the subject) changes to the accusative case (منصوب).
For indefinite masculine nouns and adjectives, this accusative case is typically marked by adding an extra alif at the end of the word.
| The show is excellent as long as the team is harmonious. | العرض ممتاز ما دام الفريق منسجما.al-'ardu mumtâzun mâ dâma al-fariiqu munsajiman. |
Notice how the predicate "harmonious" becomes منسجما instead of منسجم.
Gender Agreement
Just like a regular past-tense verb, ما دام must agree with the gender of its subject. If the noun immediately following it is feminine, you must add the feminine marker ت to make it ما دامت.
| The rehearsal is ongoing as long as the orchestra is ready for collective playing. | البروفة مستمرة ما دامت الأوركسترا جاهزة للعزف الجماعي.al-burûfatu mustamirratun mâ dâmati l-'urkistrâ jâhizatan lil-'azfi l-jamâ'iyyi |
Linking Outcomes to Conditions
You will frequently see ما دام used in the middle of a sentence to link an ongoing result to its required condition. The first half of the sentence establishes a fact or an expectation, and ما دام introduces the condition keeping it true.
| The orchestra is quiet as long as the maestro is silent. | الأوركسترا هادئة ما دام المايسترو صامتا.al-'urkistrâ hâdi'atun mâ dâma al-mâyistrû sâmitan |
| We will not hear any dissonance as long as the playing is harmonious. | لن نسمع أي نشاز ما دام العزف منسجما.lan nasma'a ayya nashâzin mâ dâma al-'azfu munsajiman |
| Collective work is enjoyable as long as the team is interested in the musical note. | العمل الجماعي ممتع ما دام الفريق مهتما بالنوتة.al-'amalu al-jamâ'iyyu mumti'un mâ dâma al-farîqu muhtamman bi-n-nûtati. |