Learn Hardcore Arabic (Modern Standard): في الصباح أقرأ الخبر في الصحيفة قبل الاجتماع. - In the morning I read the news in the newspaper before the meeting.

Breakdown of في الصباح أقرأ الخبر في الصحيفة قبل الاجتماع.

Why does the sentence start with في الصباح instead of the verb?

Arabic word order is flexible. Starting with في الصباح puts the time first and sets the scene: in the morning.

So this sentence is not strange at all. It is similar to saying in English:

You could also say:

but that version puts less emphasis on the time at the beginning.

Why is there no separate word for I?

Because أقرأ already tells you the subject is I.

In the present/imperfect tense, Arabic verbs include person information. The أـ at the beginning of أقرأ marks first person singular.

So:

You can add أنا if you want emphasis or contrast:

But in normal Arabic, أنا is not necessary here.

What tense is أقرأ? Does it mean I read, I am reading, or I will read?

أقرأ is the imperfect form. In Arabic, this form can cover several English meanings depending on context, including: