The Verbal Noun as a Direct Object
In previous lessons, you learned to express desires or intentions using a clause with أن (that) followed by a subjunctive verb, such as "I want that I achieve."
In formal written Arabic, it is very common to substitute this entire "that" clause with an explicit verbal noun (المصدر الصريح). In this structure, the verbal noun acts as the direct object of the main verb.
| achieving | تحقيقtahqîq |
Instead of saying أريد أن أحقق (I want that I achieve), you can use the verbal noun تحقيق directly after the main verb.
| I want to achieve the goal today. | أريد تحقيق الهدف اليوم.ureedu tahqeeqa alhadafi alyawma |
| She prefers arranging the priorities in the morning. | هي تفضل ترتيب الأولويات صباحا.hiya tufaddilu tartîba al-awlawiyyâti sabâhan |
The Idafa Connection
Notice how the verbal noun connects to the word that follows it. Because the verbal noun is grammatically a noun, the target of the action is attached using an Idafa (genitive construct). For example, "achieving the goal" is literally phrased as "the achieving of the goal."
This concise structure is heavily used in professional contexts, such as discussing time management and productivity.
| I hate postponing work to the next day. | أكره تأجيل العمل إلى اليوم القادم.akrahu ta'jîla l-'amali ilâ l-yawmi l-qâdim |
| I do not like wasting time on the internet. | أنا لا أحب تضييع الوقت على الإنترنت.ana lâ uhibbu tadyîa al-waqti ala al-internet. |
Expanding Your Productivity Vocabulary
This syntactic substitution works seamlessly with any verb that can take an action as a direct object, such as verbs for trying, deciding, refusing, or focusing.
| The manager wants to focus on the current task. | المدير يريد التركيز على المهمة الحالية.al-mudîru yurîdu at-tarkîza 'alâ al-mahammati al-hâliyyati. |
| He decided to complete his university studies. | هو قرر إكمال دراسته الجامعية.huwa qarrara ikmâla dirâsatihi l-jâmi'iyyati. |
| I love utilizing the early morning for reading. | أحب استغلال الصباح المبكر للقراءة.uhibbu istighlâla ssabâhi lmubakkiri lilqirâ'ah |
You can also chain multiple verbal nouns together using conjunctions to describe complex habits or systems.
| I prefer organizing time and setting priorities. | أفضل تنظيم الوقت وتحديد الأولويات.ufaddilu tanzima l-waqti wa-tahdida l-awlawiyyati |
| He preferred using an effective system. | هو فضل استخدام نظام فعال.huwa faddala istikhdâma nizâmin fa''âlin |
