Questions & Answers about أنا مشغول جدا الآن.
Why does the word for 'very' (جدا) have an extra Alif at the end?
This relates to our current lesson! The word جداً (jiddan) is an adverb. In Arabic, adverbs are often formed by taking a base word and applying the indefinite accusative case. For most words, this visible ending is written as an extra Alif with a double-dash on top (called Tanween Fath), which produces the 'an' sound at the end of the word.
If a female speaker is saying this, does the sentence change?
Yes! The adjective مشغول (busy) is masculine. A woman would add a Taa Marbuta at the end to make it feminine, saying أنا مشغولة جدا الآن. Notice that the words جدا (very) and الآن (now) stay exactly the same, because adverbs do not change to match gender.
Where is the word for 'am' in this sentence?
Arabic does not use the verb 'to be' (am, is, are) in the present tense. You simply place the subject أنا (I) directly next to the describing word مشغول (busy) to create a complete sentence meaning 'I am busy'.
What is the wavy symbol on top of the Alif in الآن (now)?
That wavy line is called a Madda. It tells you to stretch out the 'a' sound, making it a long vowel. Instead of a short 'al-an', you pronounce it 'al-aaan'. It is used here to represent two Alifs that have merged into one stretched sound.