When troubleshooting a system, you often observe a problem and draw a logical conclusion. In Arabic, to express "therefore," "in that case," or "then" as a logical result, use the particle إذن (sometimes written as إذًا).
The Subjunctive Mood with إذن
The particle إذن is placed at the beginning of the concluding clause. When it is followed directly by a present-tense verb, it triggers the Subjunctive mood.
Here is how the subjunctive changes the end of the verb:
- For standard singular forms (I, you masculine, he, she) and "we", the final vowel changes from a damma (ـُ) to a fatha (ـَ).
- For forms ending in the letter nuun (ن) — such as you (feminine singular), all dual forms, and masculine plurals — the nuun is dropped.
- When dropping the nuun from a masculine plural verb (which normally ends in ـون), you must add a silent alif (ا) at the end, resulting in (ـوا).
| This is a compatible new setting, therefore you all will sync devices. | هذا إعداد جديد متوافق، إذن تزامنوا أجهزة.hâdhâ i'dâdun jadîdun mutawâfiqun, idhan tuzâminû ajhizatan. |
Notice in the example above how the verb for "you all sync" normally ends in a nuun (تزامنون), but loses it to become (تزامنوا) after إذن.
Using إذن with the Negative لا
If your logical conclusion is a negative action ("therefore, you will not..."), place the negative particle لا immediately after إذن. The verb that follows still takes the subjunctive mood.
| Fatima, this is a weak wireless network, therefore you will not sync sensors. | يا فاطمة، هذه شبكة لاسلكية ضعيفة، إذن لا تزامني مستشعرات.yā fâṭimatu, hâdhihi shabakatun lâsilkiyyatun ḍa'îfatun, idhan lâ tuzâmini mustash'irâtin. |
When an object pronoun is attached to a plural verb that has dropped its nuun, the silent alif is omitted, and the pronoun attaches directly to the waw (و).
| There is a device that is not compatible, therefore you all will not turn it on. | هناك جهاز ليس متوافقا، إذن لا تشغلوه.hunâka jihâzun laysa mutawâfiqan, idhan lâ tushaghghilûhu. |
Dual Forms
The dual forms (for two people) also drop their final nuun in the subjunctive. For instance, a present-tense verb like (تفحصان) becomes (تفحصا).
| A red light blinked, therefore the two of you will check sensors. | ومض ضوء أحمر، إذن تفحصا مستشعرات.wamada daw'un ahmaru, idhan tafhasâ mustashirâtin |