In English, expressing that an action started in the past and is still ongoing requires a complex tense (like "I have been doing"). Arabic makes this much simpler!
To express an ongoing action, pair a standard present tense verb with the preposition منذ. Depending on the word that follows it, منذ translates to either "for" or "since".
Using منذ to mean "For"
When منذ is followed by a duration or period of time, it means "for".
| I have been smelling this perfume for an hour. | أشم هذا العطر منذ ساعة.ashummu hâdhâ al-'itra mundhu sâ'atin |
| The seller has been blending the rose perfume for a month. | يمزج البائع عطر الورد منذ شهر.yamzuju al-bâ'i'u 'itra al-wardi mundhu shahrin |
Using منذ to mean "Since"
When منذ is followed by a specific starting point in time, it means "since".
| Your brother has been testing the perfume since yesterday. | يجرب أخوك العطر منذ أمس.yujarribu akhûka al-'itra mundhu amsi. |
| They have been smelling a strong scent since dawn. | يشمون رائحة قوية منذ الفجر.yashummûna râ'iḥatan qawiyyatan mundhu al-fajri |
More Examples
Use this straightforward present tense structure to describe how long you have been testing and blending perfumes.
| I have been blending it with musk for a year. | أمزجه بالمسك منذ عام.amzujuhu bil-miski mundhu 'âmin |
| The apothecary has been blending perfumes for a long time. | يمزج العطار العطور منذ وقت طويل.yamzuju al-attâru al-utûra mundhu waqtin tawîl |
For a while, during: لمدة، خلال
منذ measures time up to now. For a period that is closed — in the past or the future — use لمدة (for a period of). خلال means during or within.
| Arabic | meaning |
|---|---|
| أجرب العطر منذ يومين | I have been testing the perfume for two days (and still am) |
| جربت العطر لمدة يومين | I tested the perfume for two days |
| سأجرب العطر خلال الأسبوع | I will test the perfume during the week |
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