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### 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').

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### 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**.

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### 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."

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### 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.

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Present tense singular verbs

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

interrogative

noun

numeral

particle

prefix

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The definite article and locatives (الـ)

Basic noun gender (ة)

Sun and moon letters

Singular subject pronouns (أنا، أنت، هو، هي)

Indefinite nouns and nominal sentences (ـٌ)

Demonstrative pronouns for 'this' (هذا / هذه)

Separate prepositions (في، من، إلى، على)

Attributive adjectives

Predicative adjectives

Yes/No questions (هل، أ)

Basic questions (من، ما، أين)

Singular possessive pronouns (ـي، ـك، ـه، ـها)

Plural subject pronouns (نحن، أنتم، هم)

Plural possessive pronouns (ـنا، ـكم، ـهم)

Noun possession

Attached prepositions (بـ، لـ، كـ)

Pronouns with prepositions

Having and possessing (عند، لـ، مع)

Regular plural nouns (ـون، ـين، ـات)

Broken plurals

Dual nouns (ـان / ـين)

Plural and distant demonstratives (هؤلاء، ذلك، تلك)

Non-human plural agreement

Verbal sentences (VSO)

Present tense plural verbs

Topicalized sentences (SVO)

The indefinite accusative case (ـاً)

Verb object pronouns (-ني، -ك، -ه)

Present tense negation (لا)

Question words with verbs (متى، كيف...)

Adverbs of time and place

The future tense (سـ / سوف)

Intentions and desires (أن)

Negating states and possession (ليس)

Past tense singular suffixes

Past tense plural suffixes

Negating past events (ما)

Singular commands

Numbers 1 to 10

Number agreement for 1 and 2 (واحد، اثنان)

Asking how many (كم)

Numbers 3 to 10 (ثلاثة إلى عشرة)

Ordinal numbers 1 to 10 (الأول، الثاني)

Basic conjunctions (فـ، أو، لكن)

Ordering at a café (واحد، اثنان)

Food and drink with conjunctions (و، ف، أو، لكن)

There is and there are (هناك / ليس هناك)

Direct address (يا)

Giving reasons (لأنّ)

Relative pronouns (الذي / التي)

Quantifiers (كل / بعض)

The past tense of 'to be' (كان)

Past possession

Numbers 11 to 19 and tens to 80

Telling time (الساعة)

This book vs this is a book (هذا الكتاب، هذا كتاب)

Greetings (مرحبا، السلام عليكم)

How are you? and goodbye (كيف حالك، مع السلامة)

Nationalities (مصري، مصرية)

Roots and patterns (كتب، كتاب، مكتب)

Politeness (من فضلك، آسف)

Complex possession chains

Colors and traits (أفعل / فعلاء)

Plural colors and traits (فُعْل)

Comparative adjectives (أفعل من)

Superlative adjectives (أفعل)

Adverbs of manner (ـاً)

The nominative case (ـُ)

The genitive case (ـِ)

The accusative case (ـَ)

Dual noun cases (ـان / ـين)

Masculine plurals and 'the best of' (أفضل النجارين)

Emphasizing sentences (إنّ)

Connecting clauses (أنّ)

Reporting speech (قال إنّ)

Expressing contrast (لكنّ)

Comparison and probability (كأنّ, لعلّ)

Distant plural pointing (أولئك)

Plural relative pronouns (الذين, اللواتي)

Past habits (كان + present)

Ongoing actions (ما زال)

Masculine plurals online (مبرمجون، مؤثرون)

Perfective past (قد)

Probability (قد)

The subjunctive mood (أن)

Expressing purpose (لـ)

Question	Answer
to drink	شربshariba
coffee	قهوةqahwa
in the morning	صباحاsabâhan
I drink coffee in the morning.	أنا أشرب القهوة صباحا.ana ashrabu al-qahwata sabâhan
tea	شايshây
He drinks tea in the office.	هو يشرب الشاي في المكتب.huwa yashrabu ash-shâya fî al-maktabi
water	ماءmaa'
Do you drink water?	هل تشرب الماء؟hal tashrabu al-mâ'a?
what (with verbs)	ماذاmâdhâ
to write	كتبkataba
What are you writing?	ماذا تكتب؟mâdhâ taktubu?
to study	درسdarasa
The student studies in the school.	الطالب يدرس في المدرسة.at-tâlibu yadrusu fil-madrasah
I study in the school in the morning.	أنا أدرس في المدرسة صباحا.ana adrusu fi al-madrasati sabâhan
to eat	أكلakala
bread	خبزkhubz
She eats bread in the restaurant.	هي تأكل الخبز في المطعم.hiya ta'kulu al-khubza fi al-mat'ami.
What does the man eat?	ماذا يأكل الرجل؟mâdhâ ya'kulu ar-rajulu?
I write a message to the manager.	أنا أكتب رسالة إلى المدير.ana aktubu risâlatan ilâ al-mudîr.
The intelligent girl writes a story.	البنت الذكية تكتب قصة.al-bintu adh-dhakiyyatu taktubu qissatan
to sit	جلسjalasa
Does the doctor sit in the hospital?	هل يجلس الطبيب في المستشفى؟hal yajlisu attabîbu fî almustashfâ?
I sit on the chair.	أنا أجلس على الكرسي.ana ajlisu 'alâ al-kursiyyi
She goes to the market in the morning.	هي تذهب إلى السوق صباحا.hiya tadh-habu ilâ as-sûqi sabâhan
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.
Does the dog drink water?	هل الكلب يشرب الماء؟hal alkalbu yashrabu almâ'a?
to work	عمل'amila
I work at the hospital.	أنا أعمل في المستشفى.ana a'malu fi-l-mustashfâ
She works in the office in the morning.	هي تعمل في المكتب صباحا.hiya tamalu fi al-maktabi sabâhan

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