Introduction to the Present Tense
In Arabic, verbs in the present tense are formed by adding specific prefixes to the verb's root. For singular subjects, you simply attach a single letter to the beginning of the verb.
Here is a summary of the present tense prefixes for singular subjects, using the verb "to drink" (شرب):
| Pronoun | Meaning | Prefix | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| أنا | I | أ | أشرب |
| هو | He / It (masc.) | ي | يشرب |
| أنت | You (masc.) | ت | تشرب |
| هي | She / It (fem.) | ت | تشرب |
Notice that the conjugation for "she" and "you" (masculine singular) is exactly the same! You will always be able to tell who is performing the action based on the context of the sentence.
Conjugating for "I", "He", and "You"
When talking about yourself, the verb starts with أ (alif with a hamza). When talking about a male, the verb starts with ي (ya'). When addressing a male directly, the verb starts with ت (ta').
| I drink coffee in the morning. | أنا أشرب القهوة صباحا.ana ashrabu al-qahwata sabâhan |
| He drinks tea in the office. | هو يشرب الشاي في المكتب.huwa yashrabu ash-shâya fî al-maktabi |
| Do you drink water? | هل تشرب الماء؟hal tashrabu al-mâ'a? |
Asking "What" with Verbs
When asking "what" an action is, you must use the question word ماذا. Remember that the word ما also means "what," but it is strictly used with nouns and pronouns. When a verb is involved, you switch to ماذا.
| What are you writing? | ماذا تكتب؟mâdhâ taktubu? |
Conjugating for "She"
When talking about a female or a feminine noun, the verb starts with ت — taking the exact same form as the masculine "you."
| She eats bread in the restaurant. | هي تأكل الخبز في المطعم.hiya ta'kulu al-khubza fi al-mat'ami. |
| The intelligent girl writes a story. | البنت الذكية تكتب قصة.al-bintu adh-dhakiyyatu taktubu qissatan |
Combining Actions
You can use the conjunction و (and) to connect two present tense verbs. When doing so, both verbs must be properly conjugated to match the subject.
| He reads the book and drinks coffee. | هو يقرأ الكتاب ويشرب القهوة.huwa yaqra'u alkitâba wa yashrabu alqahwata. |
| The girl eats bread and drinks tea. | البنت تأكل الخبز وتشرب الشاي.al-bintu ta'kulu al-khubza wa-tashrabu ash-shâya. |
