Usages of ما
ما سرقت المحفظة.mâ saraqtu al-mahfazata
I did not steal the wallet.
هو ما سرق محفظتي أبدا.huwa mâ saraqa mahfazatî abadan
He did not steal my wallet at all.
ما أخذت المال أبدا.mâ akhadhtu al-mâla abadan
I did not take the money at all.
ما كذبت على الشرطة.mâ kadhabtu 'alâ ash-shurtati
I did not lie to the police.
ما كذب الرجل، عرف الحقيقة.mâ kadhaba ar-rajulu, arafa al-haqîqata
The man did not lie, he knew the truth.
من ضربك؟ هو ما ضربني.man darabaka? huwa mâ darabanî.
Who hit you? He did not hit me.
الشرطة ما ضربته، وما أخذت المال.ash-shurtatu mâ darabat-hu, wa mâ akhadhati l-mâla.
The police did not hit him, and they did not take the money.
أنا ما كسرت الزجاج!ana mâ kasartu z-zujâj
I did not break the glass!
ما كسر الولد النافذة، وما هرب.mâ kasara alwaladu annâfidhata, wa mâ haraba.
The boy did not break the window, and he did not escape.
ما هرب السائق من الشرطة.mâ haraba s-sâ'iqu mina sh-shurtati
The driver did not escape from the police.
عرفت الحقيقة، ما كذبت.'araftu l-haqîqata, mâ kadhabtu.
I knew the truth, I did not lie.
ما أرسلت الرسالة لأن الاتصال انقطع.mâ arsaltu ar-risâlata li-anna al-ittiṣâla inqaṭa'a.
I did not send the message because the connection disconnected.
ما قرأت المقال لأن الشبكة ضعيفة.mâ qara'tu al-maqâla li'anna ash-shabakata da'îfatun
I did not read the article because the network is weak.
ما وجدت الحذاءين.mâ wajadtu al-hidhâ'ayni
I did not find the two shoes.
ما فهمت الخيارين.mâ fahimtu al-khiyârayn
I did not understand the two options.
ما كنا نحصد المحصول في الشتاء.mâ kunnâ nahsudu al-mahsûla fi ash-shitâ'i
We did not use to harvest the crop in the winter.
ما فهمت سبب الخلاف الذي بدأ اليوم.mâ fahimtu sababa l-khilâfi lladhî bada'a l-yawma
I did not understand the reason for the disagreement that started today.
ما تجاهل المدير سؤالي يا أستاذ.mâ tajâhala al-mudîru su'âlî yâ ustâdh
The manager did not ignore my question, professor.
ما تركنا المدينة خوفا من الحرب.mâ taraknâ al-madînata khawfan mina al-harb.
We did not leave the city for fear of the war.
ما زرنا هذا المجمع من قبل.mâ zurnâ hâdhâ al-mujamma'a min qablu
We have not visited this complex before.
في البداية ما فهمت الدرس، ثم فهمته.fī al-bidâyati mâ fahimtu ad-darsa, thumma fahimtuhu.
At first I didn't understand the lesson, then I understood it.
خطفت الوزيرة لكننا ما عرفنا العصابة.khutifati l-wazîratu lâkinnanâ mâ 'arafnâ l-'isâbata
The minister was kidnapped, but we did not know the gang.
ما كشف مصدر الخبر حتى الآن.mâ kushifa masdaru al-khabari hattâ al-âna
The source of the news was not revealed until now.
العصابة سرقت البنك وما نهب شيء آخر.al'isâbatu saraqati l-banka wa mâ nuhiba shay'un âkhar
The gang stole the bank, and nothing else was looted.
الجسر هدم وما استطعنا أن نصل.al-jisru hudima wa maa istata'naa an nasila
The bridge was demolished, and we were not able to arrive.
ما حظر استخدام الإنترنت.mâ huzira istikhdâmu l-'interniti.
The use of the internet was not banned.
لولا تشجيعك، لما تجاوزنا هذا المأزق.lawlâ tashjî‘uka, lamâ tajâwaznâ hâdhâ al-ma'ziqa.
If not for your encouragement, we would not have overcome this predicament.
لولا المأزق، لما رددت على رسالتي.lawlâ al-ma'ziqu, lamâ radadta alâ risâlatî.
If not for the predicament, you would not have replied to my message.
لولا الصبر، لفشلنا ولما تجاوزنا المشكلة.lawlâ as-sabru, lafashilnâ walamâ tajâwaznâ al-mushkilata.
If not for patience, we would have failed and not overcome the problem.
لولا الخميرة، ما انتفخ العجين.lawlâ al-khamîratu, mâ intafakha al-ajînu
If it were not for the yeast, the dough would not have risen.
ما أودع الرجل شيكا في البنك.mâ awda'a ar-rajulu sheekan fi al-banki
The man did not deposit a check in the bank.
ما زاد الرصيد لأن البنك رفض الإيداع.maa zaada r-raseedu li'anna l-banka rafada l-eedaa'a
The balance did not increase because the bank rejected the deposit.
ما كان الرصيد كبيرا، فرفض البنك التحويل.mâ kâna r-rasîdu kabîran, farafada l-banku t-tahwîla.
The balance was not large, so the bank refused the transfer.
ما سددت المرأة دينها بالشيك.mâ saddadati l-mar'atu daynahâ bish-shîki.
The woman did not pay off her debt with the check.
ما طلبت الزوجة قرضا من الصراف.mâ talabati az-zawjatu qardan mina as-sarrâfi
The wife did not request a loan from the teller.
لو كان الوجود مطلقا، لما رأينا هذا الصراع.law kâna al-wujûdu mutlaqan, lamâ ra'aynâ hâdhâ as-sirâ'a
If existence were absolute, we would not have seen this conflict.
لولا الطبيب، لما عرفت أن عندي ضعفا في النظر.lawlâ at-tabîbu, lamâ 'araftu anna 'indî da'fan fî an-nazari.
If not for the doctor, I wouldn't have known that I have a weakness in vision.
ما حدث زلزال بسبب ثوران هذا البركان.mâ hadatha zilzâlun bisababi thawarâni hâdhâ al-burkân.
An earthquake did not occur because of the eruption of this volcano.
لو واظبنا على الحضور، ما زاد الغياب.law wâzabnâ ala alhudûri, mâ zâda alghiyâbu
If we had attended regularly, the absence would not have increased.
ما انصرف المشاركون من الندوة إلا مشاركين.mâ insarafa al-mushârikûna mina an-nadwati illâ mushârikayni
The participants did not leave the seminar except two participants.
ما انصرف المهندسون من النشاط إلا مهندسان.mâ insarafa al-muhandisûna min an-nashâti illâ muhandisân
The engineers did not leave the activity except two engineers.
ما برر المديرون غيابهم إلا مديرا واحدا.mâ barrara al-mudiruna ghiyâbahum illâ mudiran wâhidan
The managers did not justify their absence except one manager.
ما برر الموظفون غيابهم إلا موظف واحد.mâ barrara al-muwazzafûna ghiyâbahum illâ muwazzafun wâhid
The employees did not justify their absence except one employee.
ما الجار المتطفل بجاهل بالنميمة.mâ al-jâru al-mutaṭaffilu bijâhilin bin-namîmati
The nosy neighbor is not ignorant of the gossip.
ما هذه النميمة الخبيثة بافتراء.mâ hâdhihi an-namiimatu al-khabiithatu biftirâ'in
This malicious gossip is not slander.
ما الكاذب بمتطفل.mâ al-kâdhibu bimutataffilin
The liar is not nosy.
ما نحن بجاهلين بهذا الافتراء.mâ nahnu bijâhilîna bihâdhâ al-iftirâ'i
We are not ignorant of this slander.
ما النميمة بمبالغة.maa an-namiimatu bimubaalaghatin
The gossip is not an exaggeration.
ما هذا بمبالغة، بل حقيقة.mâ hâdhâ bimubâlaghatin, bal haqîqatun.
This is not an exaggeration, but rather the truth.
تالله لو عرفت الحقيقة ما كتمتها.tallâhi law 'araftu l-haqîqata mâ katamtuhâ
By God, if I had known the truth, I would not have concealed it.
تالله ما غدرت بصديقي أبدا.tallâhi mâ ghadartu bisadîqî abadan
By God, I have never betrayed my friend.
لولا الترحال ما عرف البدوي الصحراء.lawlâ at-tarhâlu mâ 'arafa al-badawiyyu as-sahrâ'a
If it were not for the wandering, the Bedouin would not have known the desert.
وجدت الباحثة وثيقة تحتوي على غموض، وما كانت لتفسرها بدون سياق.wajadati al-bâhithatu wathîqatan tahtawî 'alâ ghumûdin, wa mâ kânat litufassirahâ bidûni siyâqin.
The researcher (f.) found a document containing ambiguity, and she would not have interpreted it without context.
لم تكن الوثيقة أصلية بل مزيفة، وما كان الخبير ليوافق على هذا التزوير.lam takuni l-wathîqatu asliyyatan bal muzayyafatan, wa mâ kâna l-khabîru liyuwâfiqa alâ hâdhâ t-tazwîri
The document was not original but rather fake, and the expert would never approve of this forgery.
لم يكن المعنى ليفهم، وما كنا لنستنبط أي دلالة من هذا الهامش الممزق.lam yakuni al-ma'nâ liyufhama, wamâ kunnâ linastanbiṭa ayya dalâlatin min hâdhâ al-hâmishi al-mumazzaqi.
The meaning would never be understood, and we would not deduce any significance from this torn margin.
لا أحد استطاع قراءة النص، وما كان المترجم ليفسر غموضه.lâ ahada istatâ'a qirâ'ata an-nassi, wa mâ kâna al-mutarjimu liyufassira ghumuudahu
No one was able to read the text, and the translator would never interpret its ambiguity.
توجد كلمات لا تقرأ، وما كان هذا التزوير ليكتشف لولا السياق التاريخي.tûjadu kalimâtun lâ tuqra'u, wa mâ kâna hâdhâ at-tazwîru liyuktashafa lawlâ as-siyâqu at-târîkhiyyu.
There are words that are not read, and this forgery would never be discovered without the historical context.
المخطوطة تحتوي على لغز، وما كانت المترجمة لتتجاهل غموضه أبدا.al-makhtutatu tahtawi ala lughzin, wa ma kanati l-mutarjimatu litatajahala ghumudahu abadan.
The manuscript contains a puzzle, and the female translator would never ignore its mystery.
ما الغرفة الصغرى بسيئة.ma al-ghurfatu as-sughra bisayyi'atin
The smallest room is not bad.
ما شراء العقار الأغلى بمستحيل.ma shira'u al-'aqari al-aghla bi-mustaheel.
Buying the most expensive property is not impossible.
ما شرب المريض الخمر قط.mâ shariba al-marîdu al-khamra qatt
The patient never drank alcohol.
ما ارتشت المديرة قط.mâ irtashati l-mudîratu qattu.
The manager never took a bribe.
ما دفعت رشوة قط.mâ dafa'tu rishwatan qatt
I never paid a bribe.
ما قاطعتني قط.mâ qâṭa'atnî qaṭṭu
She never interrupted me.
ما أجبر أحدا قط.mâ ajbara ahadan qatt
He never forced anyone.
ما نسينا خرير النهر أبدا.maa nasiinaa khariira an-nahri abadan
We never forgot the murmuring of the river.
لولا الغرفة المتاحة، لما سافرنا.lawlâ al-ghurfatu al-mutâhatu, lamâ sâfarnâ
If it weren't for the available room, we wouldn't have traveled.
لولا تذكرة الإياب، لما سافرنا معا.lawlâ tadhkiratu l-iyâbi, lamâ sâfarnâ ma'an
If it weren't for the return ticket, we wouldn't have traveled together.
لولا خطأ الموظف، لما طلبنا استرداد المال.lawlâ khata'u l-muwazzafi, lamâ talabnâ istirdâda l-mâl
If it weren't for the employee's mistake, we wouldn't have requested a refund of the money.
ما أخفى الوصي الحقيقة عن شركائها.mâ akhfâ al-waṣiyyu al-haqîqata an shurakâ'ihâ
The executor did not hide the truth from her partners.
ما وجدت نصيبي في الوثيقة.mâ wajadtu naṣîbî fil wathîqah.
I did not find my share in the document.
ما ورثت شيئا بسبب طمعها.mâ warithat shay'an bisababi tama'ihâ
She did not inherit anything because of her greed.
قلت الحقيقة، لذا ما من جدوى في التبرير.qultu al-haqîqata, lidhâ mâ min jadwâ fî at-tabrîri.
I told the truth, so there is no point in justifying it.
هل من شبهة حوله؟ لا، ما من ريب في براءته.hal min shubhatin hawlahu? lâ, mâ min raybin fî barâ'atihi.
Is there any suspicion about him? No, there is no doubt about his innocence.
ما من حاجة إلى التبرير، فهمت السبب من نظرة واحدة.mâ min hâjatin ilâ at-tabrîri, fahimtu as-sababa min nazratin wâhidatin.
There is no need for justification, I understood the reason from a single glance.
ما من مانع، ولكن ليس هناك من حاجة إلى السرعة.mâ min mâni'in, wa lâkin laysa hunâka min hâjatin ilâ s-sur'ati
There is no objection, but there is no need for speed.
تعطلت الآلة، فما من جدوى أو نفع منها.ta'attalati l-âlatu, famâ min jadwâ aw naf'in minhâ
The machine broke down, so there is no use or benefit from it.
فتشنا المنزل، وما من شبهة أو ريب حول هذا الرجل.fattashnâ al-manzila, wa mâ min shubhatin aw raybin hawla hâdhâ ar-rajuli.
We searched the house, and there is no suspicion or doubt about this man.
لن أسامحه، لأنه ما من عذر لهذه الخطيئة.lan usâmiḥahu, li'annahu mâ min 'udhrin lihâdhihi l-khatî'ah
I will not forgive him, because there is no excuse for this sin.
ما سمعت جارتي أي ضجة في المبنى أمس.mâ sami'at jârati ayya dajjatin fil mabnâ ams
My neighbor did not hear any commotion in the building yesterday.
ما شاركت في شجار مع جاري أبدا.mâ shârak'tu fî shijârin ma'a jârî abadan
I did not participate in a quarrel with my neighbor at all.
ما المضيف بمتعب اليوم.mā al-muḍīfu bimutabin al-yawma
The host is not tired today.
ما إبريق العصير بفارغ الآن.mâ ibrîqu al-'aṣîri bifârighin al-âna.
The juice pitcher is not empty now.
ما الإطراء بغريب منه.mâ al-'iṭrâ'u bigharîbin minhu
The compliment is not strange from him.
ما الحاوية بمغلقة تماما.mâ al-hâwiyatu bimughlaqatin tamâman
The container is not completely closed.
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