Expressing Intentions with أن
In English, when you want to link two verbs together—such as "I want to study" or "he hopes to travel"—you connect them with the word "to". Arabic does the exact same thing using the particle أن.
When using verbs of intention or desire, simply place أن between the two verbs. The second verb will always be in the present tense, and it must be conjugated to match the same subject as the first verb (literally: I want to I study, or He wishes to He becomes).
| I want to study in the school. | أريد أن أدرس في المدرسة.urîdu an adrusa fî al-madrasah. |
| He wishes to become an engineer. | يتمنى أن يصبح مهندسا.yatamannâ an yusbiha muhandisan |
Other Common Connecting Verbs
Besides wanting and wishing, you will use أن frequently with verbs like فضل (to prefer), حاول (to try), and استطاع (to be able to).
Notice that even though English says "I can read" (without "to"), Arabic phrasing translates closer to "I am able to read" and still requires the connecting أن.
| We prefer to play football. | نحن نفضل أن نلعب كرة القدم.nahnu nufaddilu an nal'aba kurata al-qadam |
| The student tries to read the book. | يحاول الطالب أن يقرأ الكتاب.yuhâwilu attâlibu an yaqra'a alkitâba |
| I can read this newspaper. | أستطيع أن أقرأ هذه الصحيفة.astatî'u an aqra'a hâdhihi as-sahîfah |
Future Goals and Negation
When talking about future intentions or things you cannot do, future markers (like سـ or سوف) and negative particles (like لا) are only attached to the first verb. The second verb after أن remains a regular present tense verb.
| I will try to help you tomorrow. | سأحاول أن أساعدك غدا.sa'uhâwilu an usâ'idaka ghadan |
| I cannot understand this political article. | لا أستطيع أن أفهم هذا المقال السياسي.lâ astatî'u an afhama hâdha al-maqâla as-siyâsiyya |
Combine these structures with vocabulary like وظيفة (job) and شركة (company) to share your personal ambitions and goals!
| I want to get a job in a big company. | أريد أن أحصل على وظيفة في شركة كبيرة.urîdu an ahsula 'alâ wazîfatin fî sharikatin kabîratin |
