Questions & Answers about متى تتكلم مع المدير؟
Why is there no word for 'do' in the Arabic sentence?
English uses 'do' to make a question (like 'When do you speak?'), but Arabic doesn't need a helper verb for this. The question word متى (when) is simply placed right before the main verb تتكلم (you speak).
Where is the word for 'you' in this sentence?
It is built directly into the verb! The prefix تـ (ta-) at the beginning of تتكلم (tatakallam) indicates that the subject is 'you' (masculine singular). You don't need to add the separate pronoun أنت (anta) unless you want to add special emphasis.
How would I ask this exact question to a woman?
To ask a female 'when do you speak', you must change the verb to the feminine form by adding the suffix ـين (-een). The verb becomes تتكلمين (tatakallameen), making the full sentence متى تتكلمين مع المدير؟.
Can I use متى (when) to ask about the past or future as well?
Yes! Unlike some question words that change based on context, متى is very versatile. You can use it before past, present, or future tense verbs. Here, it is used with the present tense verb تتكلم to ask about a routine or upcoming action.
Is المدير only used for a business manager?
المدير (al-mudeer) is a very common word that can mean 'manager', 'director', 'boss', or even a school 'principal'. If the manager you are talking about is a woman, you would add the feminine ending to make it المديرة (al-mudeerah).
Learn متى تتكلم مع المدير؟ and more in Arabic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free