Questions & Answers about أنا لست جاهزا الآن.
Why does this sentence use لست instead of just the basic word ليس for not?
Even though ليس is used to negate sentences without a main verb, it behaves like a past-tense verb and changes its ending to match the subject. Because the subject is I (أنا), it takes the 'tu' ending, becoming لست.
Why does جاهزا (ready) have an extra alif at the end?
This is a special rule for ليس. The predicate (the word describing the subject) in a ليس sentence must take the accusative case. For a singular indefinite word like جاهز, we show this by adding the 'an' sound (tanween fatha), which is usually written with an extra alif as جاهزا.
Do I have to include أنا at the beginning if لست already means 'I am not'?
You do not have to! You can drop أنا and simply say لست جاهزا الآن and it is perfectly correct. Including أنا just adds a bit of emphasis, like saying 'As for me, I am not ready.'
If a woman is speaking, does the word لست change?
The word لست stays exactly the same because the 'I' form is identical for both men and women. However, the adjective must match her gender. A woman would add a taa marbuta to the adjective, making the sentence أنا لست جاهزة الآن.
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