Negating past events (ما)

QuestionAnswer
not (negating a past verb or a sentence)
ماmâ
to steal
سرقsaraqa
wallet
محفظةmihfaza
I did not steal the wallet.
ما سرقت المحفظة.mâ saraqtu al-mahfazata
never / (not) at all
أبداabadan
He did not steal my wallet at all.
هو ما سرق محفظتي أبدا.huwa mâ saraqa mahfazatî abadan
to take
أخذakhadha
I did not take the money at all.
ما أخذت المال أبدا.mâ akhadhtu al-mâla abadan
to lie
كذبkadhaba
police
شرطةshurta
I did not lie to the police.
ما كذبت على الشرطة.mâ kadhabtu 'alâ ash-shurtati
truth
حقيقةhaqîqa
The man did not lie, he knew the truth.
ما كذب الرجل، عرف الحقيقة.mâ kadhaba ar-rajulu, arafa al-haqîqata
to hit / to beat (eggs)
ضربdaraba
Who hit you? He did not hit me.
من ضربك؟ هو ما ضربني.man darabaka? huwa mâ darabanî.
The police did not hit him, and they did not take the money.
الشرطة ما ضربته، وما أخذت المال.ash-shurtatu mâ darabat-hu, wa mâ akhadhati l-mâla.
to break
كسرkasara
I did not break the glass!
أنا ما كسرت الزجاج!ana mâ kasartu z-zujâj
to escape
هربharaba
The boy did not break the window, and he did not escape.
ما كسر الولد النافذة، وما هرب.mâ kasara alwaladu annâfidhata, wa mâ haraba.
The driver did not escape from the police.
ما هرب السائق من الشرطة.mâ haraba s-sâ'iqu mina sh-shurtati
I knew the truth, I did not lie.
عرفت الحقيقة، ما كذبت.'araftu l-haqîqata, mâ kadhabtu.

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