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يَسْتَطِيع

A2 verb #1,200 am häufigsten 10 Min. Lesezeit

يَسْتَطِيع

yastati' Top 1,200

At the A1 level, learners are introduced to the concept of expressing basic abilities. While يَسْتَطِيع is technically an A2 word due to its grammatical complexity (requiring a following verb or verbal noun), A1 learners encounter it in fixed, memorized phrases. You learn to say 'I can' (أَسْتَطِيعُ) and 'I cannot' (لا أَسْتَطِيعُ) as simple chunks of vocabulary. At this stage, the focus is on basic survival communication: stating what you are physically able to do or what you need help with. You might use it with simple nouns if you haven't mastered the subjunctive verb structure yet, though this is grammatically incomplete, it communicates the point. The primary goal is to recognize the sound of the word and associate it with capability. Teachers often introduce it alongside basic action verbs like 'read', 'write', or 'speak'. For example, a student might say 'أَسْتَطِيعُ عَرَبِي' (I can Arabic) before learning the correct 'أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ العَرَبِيَّةَ' (I can speak Arabic).

At the A2 level, يَسْتَطِيع becomes a core component of your active vocabulary. This is where you formally learn the grammatical structure required to use it correctly: يَسْتَطِيع + أَنْ + present tense verb. You learn to conjugate the verb for all common pronouns (I, you, he, she, we, they) and understand how to align the auxiliary verb with the main verb. You use it to discuss routine abilities, hobbies, and everyday tasks. For example, 'Can you help me?' (هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُسَاعِدَنِي؟) or 'I cannot go to work today' (لا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ إِلَى العَمَلِ اليَوْمَ). You also begin to distinguish between physical ability and permission, though you might still use يَسْتَطِيع for both. The focus is on building compound sentences and expressing limitations clearly, which is essential for navigating daily life in an Arabic-speaking environment.

At the B1 level, your use of يَسْتَطِيع becomes much more nuanced and fluid. You start using it in conditional sentences and hypothetical situations. For example, 'If I have time, I can visit you' (إِذَا كَانَ لَدَيَّ وَقْتٌ، أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَزُورَكَ). You also become comfortable using the verbal noun (المصدر) instead of the أَنْ + verb structure, which elevates the formality of your speech (e.g., أَسْتَطِيعُ الزِّيَارَةَ). At this stage, you are expected to handle the irregular conjugations flawlessly, such as the feminine plural يَسْتَطِعْنَ. You use the verb to negotiate, make plans, and discuss abstract capabilities, such as a company's ability to succeed or a team's ability to win. You also start differentiating it more clearly from synonyms like يُمْكِنُ (it is possible) and يَقْدِرُ (he is capable).

At the B2 level, يَسْتَطِيع is used to articulate complex arguments, express nuanced opinions, and discuss abstract concepts fluently. You use it in passive constructions and complex clauses. You can discuss the capabilities of systems, governments, and technologies. For example, 'The new policy can reduce unemployment' (تَسْتَطِيعُ السِّيَاسَةُ الجَدِيدَةُ أَنْ تُقَلِّلَ مِنَ البَطَالَةِ). You are highly aware of register and choose يَسْتَطِيع over dialectal alternatives when speaking in professional or academic settings. You also use the past tense (اسْتَطَاعَ) and future tense (سَيَسْتَطِيعُ) effortlessly to narrate past achievements or predict future outcomes. Your understanding of the root ط-و-ع allows you to grasp related vocabulary, enriching your overall comprehension of Arabic morphology.

At the C1 level, your command of يَسْتَطِيع is near-native. You use it effortlessly in highly formal, academic, and literary contexts. You understand the subtle rhetorical effects of choosing يَسْتَطِيع over يَقْدِرُ, recognizing that the former often implies overcoming a circumstantial barrier, while the latter implies inherent power. You use it in complex conditional structures, idiomatic expressions, and sophisticated debates. You can read classic literature and modern editorials where the verb is used to discuss philosophical capabilities, moral agency, and systemic limitations. You are also adept at using its derivatives, such as the noun مُسْتَطَاع (that which is possible) or the phrase قَدْرَ المُسْتَطَاعِ (as much as possible), integrating them naturally into your sophisticated discourse.

At the C2 level, يَسْتَطِيع is a tool for precise, eloquent, and persuasive communication. You master its use in classical texts, poetry, and advanced rhetoric. You appreciate the historical evolution of the word and its exact semantic boundaries. You can play with its structure for stylistic effect, perhaps deliberately choosing the verbal noun over the subjunctive verb to create a specific rhythm in a speech or essay. You understand the profound theological and philosophical discussions in Arabic literature surrounding 'Istita'ah' (capacity/ability) and free will. At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item; it is a gateway to understanding deep cultural and intellectual traditions in the Arab world, used flawlessly in the most demanding linguistic environments.

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يَسْتَطِيع in 30 Sekunden

Means 'to be able to' or 'can'.
Followed by أَنْ (an) + verb.
Used for physical ability and permission.
Changes form based on who is doing the action.

The Arabic verb يَسْتَطِيع (yastatee') is one of the most fundamental and frequently used verbs in the Arabic language. It translates directly to 'he is able to' or 'he can'. As a Form X verb derived from the root letters ط-و-ع (Ta-Waw-Ayn), which fundamentally relate to obedience, compliance, and yielding, the verb carries the underlying linguistic nuance of 'seeking the compliance of a situation' or 'having the capacity to make something yield to one's will'. In everyday communication, it is the standard way to express physical ability, acquired skills, permission, and circumstantial possibility. When learning Arabic, mastering this verb early is crucial because it acts as an auxiliary verb that opens up the ability to express a vast array of actions and intentions.

Physical Ability: Used to describe innate or physical capabilities, such as lifting a heavy object, running a certain distance, or seeing without glasses. For example, expressing that someone has the physical strength to complete a task.
Acquired Skills: Used to indicate that someone has learned how to do something, such as speaking a foreign language, playing a musical instrument, or swimming. It shows cognitive or trained capability.
Circumstantial Possibility: Employed when external factors allow or prevent an action. For instance, being able to attend a meeting because the schedule is clear, or not being able to travel due to weather conditions.

In modern standard Arabic (MSA) and various dialects, the usage of this verb bridges the gap between simple vocabulary and complex sentence structures. It is almost always followed by the particle أَنْ (an) and a verb in the subjunctive mood (المنصوب), or by a verbal noun (المصدر). This structural requirement is a key milestone for learners transitioning from A1 to A2 proficiency.

Sentence يَسْتَطِيع الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يَحْمِلَ الصُّنْدُوقَ. (The man can carry the box.)

Sentence هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ التَّحَدُّثَ بِاللُّغَةِ العَرَبِيَّةِ؟ (Can you speak the Arabic language?)

Understanding the cultural context of expressing ability in Arabic is also fascinating. Often, expressions of ability are coupled with phrases like إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ (Insha'Allah - if God wills), reflecting a cultural humility regarding one's own capabilities and the ultimate control of divine will over future events. Even if someone is perfectly capable of doing something, they might say 'I can do it, Insha'Allah'.

Sentence نَحْنُ نَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ نُسَاعِدَكَ غَداً. (We can help you tomorrow.)

Sentence هِيَ لا تَسْتَطِيعُ الحُضُورَ اليَوْمَ. (She cannot attend today.)

Sentence الطِّفْلُ يَسْتَطِيعُ المَشْيَ الآنَ. (The child can walk now.)

Using يَسْتَطِيع in a sentence requires a solid understanding of Arabic sentence structure, particularly the relationship between auxiliary verbs and main verbs. In English, we say 'I can go', where 'can' is followed immediately by the bare infinitive 'go'. In Arabic, the structure is slightly more complex but highly logical. You have two primary pathways when constructing a sentence with this verb: using the particle أَنْ (an) followed by a present tense verb in the subjunctive mood, or using the verbal noun (المصدر - al-masdar). Both are grammatically correct and widely used, though the first method is often easier for beginners to grasp.

Method 1: Using أَنْ (an) + Subjunctive Verb: This is the most common construction. The particle أَنْ acts similarly to the English 'to' in 'to be able to'. The verb that follows must be in the present tense and take the subjunctive ending (usually a fatha on the last letter). Example: أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ (I can read / I am able to read).
Method 2: Using the Verbal Noun (المصدر): Instead of a second verb, you use the noun form of the action. This is often more elegant in formal writing. The verbal noun acts as the direct object of يَسْتَطِيع and takes the accusative case (mansub). Example: أَسْتَطِيعُ القِرَاءَةَ (I can read / I am capable of reading).
Negation: To say 'cannot', simply place the negative particle لا (laa) before the present tense verb. Example: لا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَنَامَ (I cannot sleep).

Let us look at how the verb conjugates across different pronouns. This is a Form X hollow verb, meaning its middle root letter is a weak letter (waw), which transforms into a yaa in the present tense. The conjugation pattern is: أنا أَسْتَطِيعُ (I can), نحن نَسْتَطِيعُ (We can), أنتَ تَسْتَطِيعُ (You m. can), أنتِ تَسْتَطِيعِينَ (You f. can), هو يَسْتَطِيعُ (He can), هي تَسْتَطِيعُ (She can), هم يَسْتَطِيعُونَ (They m. can), and هن يَسْتَطِعْنَ (They f. can). Notice the critical change in the feminine plural (هن), where the long vowel 'yaa' is dropped to prevent two vowelless consonants from meeting (إلتقاء الساكنين).

Sentence أَنَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَكْتُبَ رِسَالَةً. (I can write a letter.)

Sentence هُمْ لا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ السَّفَرَ غَداً. (They cannot travel tomorrow.)

Sentence هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعِينَ رُؤْيَةَ الشَّاشَةِ؟ (Can you [fem.] see the screen?)

Sentence نَحْنُ نَسْتَطِيعُ الفَوْزَ فِي المُبَارَاةِ. (We can win the match.)

Sentence الطَّالِبَاتُ يَسْتَطِعْنَ حَلَّ المُشْكِلَةِ. (The female students can solve the problem.)

The verb يَسْتَطِيع is ubiquitous in the Arab world, bridging the gap between highly formal literature and everyday practical communication. Because it expresses the fundamental human concept of capability, you will encounter it in virtually every domain of life. From news broadcasts discussing the capabilities of nations to a doctor asking a patient about their physical mobility, this verb is indispensable. Understanding its contexts will greatly enhance your listening comprehension and speaking confidence.

News and Media: In journalism, it is frequently used to discuss political, economic, or military capabilities. You might hear phrases like 'The government can control inflation' (تَسْتَطِيعُ الحُكُومَةُ السَّيْطَرَةَ عَلَى التَّضَخُّمِ) or 'The rescue team was able to reach the survivors'.
Professional and Academic Settings: In offices and universities, it is used to discuss skills, project feasibility, and deadlines. A manager might ask, 'Can you finish the report by tomorrow?' (هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ إِنْهَاءَ التَّقْرِيرِ غَداً؟). It sets a polite and professional tone compared to more colloquial alternatives.
Medical and Healthcare: Doctors frequently use this verb to assess a patient's condition. 'Can you move your arm?' (هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ تَحْرِيكَ ذِرَاعِكَ؟) or 'The patient cannot breathe well' (المَرِيضُ لا يَسْتَطِيعُ التَّنَفُّسَ جَيِّداً).

While dialects have their own words for 'can' (like 'biqdar' in Levantine, 'yigdar' in Gulf, or 'mumkin' used loosely in Egyptian), يَسْتَطِيع is the anchor of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). You will hear it in all dubbed movies, cartoons, documentaries, and formal speeches. Interestingly, even in casual conversations among educated speakers, يَسْتَطِيع often slips in when discussing complex or abstract abilities, proving its enduring relevance.

Sentence فِي الأَخْبَارِ: الشَّرِكَةُ تَسْتَطِيعُ تَجَاوُزَ الأَزْمَةِ. (In the news: The company can overcome the crisis.)

Sentence فِي العِيَادَةِ: هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ الوُقُوفَ عَلَى قَدَمَيْكَ؟ (In the clinic: Can you stand on your feet?)

Sentence فِي المَدْرَسَةِ: مَنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ الإِجَابَةَ عَنْ هَذَا السُّؤَالِ؟ (In school: Who can answer this question?)

Sentence فِي المَطَارِ: المُسَافِرُ لا يَسْتَطِيعُ حَمْلَ هَذِهِ الحَقِيبَةِ. (At the airport: The passenger cannot carry this bag.)

Sentence فِي المُقَابَلَةِ: أَنَا أَسْتَطِيعُ العَمَلَ تَحْتَ الضَّغْطِ. (In an interview: I can work under pressure.)

Learning to use يَسْتَطِيع correctly is a major milestone, but English speakers often fall into specific grammatical traps due to direct translation habits. Arabic syntax requires precise alignment between auxiliary verbs, particles, and main verbs. By identifying these common pitfalls early, you can significantly improve the natural flow and grammatical accuracy of your Arabic sentences.

Forgetting the Particle أَنْ (an): In English, we say 'I can go'. Beginners often translate this directly as أَسْتَطِيعُ أَذْهَبُ. This is incorrect in Arabic. You must connect the two verbs with the particle أَنْ, making it أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ. Without أَنْ, the sentence sounds broken and grammatically invalid.
Mismatched Conjugations: When using the أَنْ + verb structure, both verbs must be conjugated for the same subject. A common mistake is saying هو يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ (He can that I go). It must be هو يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ (He can that he goes). The pronouns must align perfectly.
Incorrect Subjunctive Endings: The particle أَنْ forces the following present tense verb into the subjunctive mood (المنصوب). For singular verbs, this usually means changing the final damma (u) to a fatha (a). For plural verbs ending in ون (uuna), the 'nuun' is dropped, becoming وا (uu). A mistake is saying يَسْتَطِيعُونَ أَنْ يَذْهَبُونَ instead of the correct يَسْتَطِيعُونَ أَنْ يَذْهَبُوا.

Another frequent error involves the feminine plural conjugation. The verb يَسْتَطِيع has a long vowel (yaa) before the final consonant. When conjugated for 'they (feminine)' - هُنَّ, the final consonant takes a sukoon. In Arabic phonology, two vowelless letters cannot sit together (إلتقاء الساكنين). Therefore, the long 'yaa' must be dropped. Learners often mistakenly write يَسْتَطِيعْنَ instead of the correct يَسْتَطِعْنَ (yastati'na).

Sentence خَطَأ: أَنَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَقْرَأُ. / صَحِيح: أَنَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ. (Wrong: I can read [no an]. / Right: I can read.)

Sentence خَطَأ: هُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ أَنْ يَكْتُبُونَ. / صَحِيح: هُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ أَنْ يَكْتُبُوا. (Wrong: They can write [kept the nuun]. / Right: They can write.)

Sentence خَطَأ: هُنَّ يَسْتَطِيعْنَ العَمَلَ. / صَحِيح: هُنَّ يَسْتَطِعْنَ العَمَلَ. (Wrong: They [fem.] can work [kept the yaa]. / Right: They [fem.] can work.)

Sentence خَطَأ: هِيَ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَطْبُخَ. / صَحِيح: هِيَ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَطْبُخَ. (Wrong: She can that he cooks. / Right: She can cook.)

Sentence خَطَأ: نَحْنُ لا نَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرُ. / صَحِيح: نَحْنُ لا نَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرَ. (Wrong: We cannot travel [wrong case on masdar]. / Right: We cannot travel [accusative case].)

While يَسْتَطِيع is the most standard and versatile word for 'can' or 'to be able to' in Modern Standard Arabic, the language offers a rich tapestry of synonyms and alternatives. Choosing the right alternative depends on the exact nuance you wish to convey—whether it is raw physical power, permission, possibility, or dialectal preference. Understanding these distinctions elevates your Arabic from basic comprehension to advanced fluency.

يَقْدِرُ (Yaqdiru): This verb comes from the root ق-د-ر, which relates to power, destiny, and measure. While highly synonymous with يَسْتَطِيع, يَقْدِرُ often emphasizes inherent power, physical strength, or divine capability. It is also the root for the word 'Qadar' (destiny). In many spoken dialects, a variation of this verb (يِقْدَر) is the primary way to say 'can'.
يُمْكِنُ (Yumkinu): This translates more closely to 'it is possible'. It is used impersonally. Instead of saying 'I can', you say 'It is possible for me' (يُمْكِنُنِي). It is excellent for expressing situational possibility or asking for permission rather than stating a physical ability. For example, هَلْ يُمْكِنُنِي الدُّخُولُ؟ (Is it possible for me to enter? / May I enter?).
بِإِمْكَانِهِ (Bi-imkaanihi): This is a prepositional phrase meaning 'in his capacity' or 'within his means'. It functions similarly to يُمْكِنُ but is attached to a pronoun suffix. بِإِمْكَانِي أَنْ أُسَاعِدَكَ means 'It is within my capacity to help you'. It sounds very formal and polite.

In colloquial Arabic, the alternatives multiply. In the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine), you will hear فِينِي (feeni) for 'I can'. In Egypt, مُمْكِن (mumkin) is used extensively, alongside أَقْدَر (aqdar). However, regardless of the dialect spoken, every educated Arab understands يَسْتَطِيع perfectly, making it the safest and most universally applicable choice for learners.

Sentence المُرَادِف: هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى حَمْلِ الأَثْقَالِ. (Synonym: He is capable of lifting weights.)

Sentence البَدِيل: هَلْ يُمْكِنُنِي اسْتِخْدَامُ هَاتِفِكَ؟ (Alternative: Is it possible for me [May I] use your phone?)

Sentence عِبَارَة أُخْرَى: بِإِمْكَانِنَا الوُصُولُ مُبَكِّراً. (Another phrase: It is within our capacity to arrive early.)

Sentence العَكْس: هُوَ يَعْجِزُ عَنِ الكَلامِ. (Antonym: He is incapable of speaking.)

Sentence فِي العَامِّيَّةِ: أَنَا بَقْدَر أَسَاوِيهَا. (In dialect [Levantine]: I can do it.)

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"يَسْتَطِيعُ المَجْلِسُ اتِّخَاذَ القَرَارَاتِ المُنَاسِبَةِ."

Neutral

"هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُرْسِلَ لِي الرِّسَالَةَ؟"

Informell

"بْتِقْدَر تِيجِي بُكْرَة؟ (Dialectal alternative often used instead)"

Child friendly

"أَنَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَرْسُمَ قِطَّةً!"

Umgangssprache

"فِيك تْخَلِّصْهَا؟ (Levantine slang)"

Wusstest du?

In Islamic theology, the noun form 'Istita'ah' (استطاعة) sparked centuries of intense philosophical debate among early Muslim scholars (like the Mu'tazilites and Ash'arites) regarding human free will versus divine predestination—specifically, whether human 'ability' exists before an action or only at the exact moment of the action.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /jæs.tæˈtˤiːʕ/

US /jæs.tæˈtˤiːʕ/

yas-ta-TEE' (Stress is on the final long syllable 'tī')

Reimt sich auf

يَبِيع (yabee' - he sells) يُطِيع (yutee' - he obeys) يُذِيع (yudhee' - he broadcasts) رَبِيع (rabee' - spring) سَرِيع (saree' - fast) قَطِيع (qatee' - herd) شَفِيع (shafee' - intercessor) فَظِيع (fadhee' - terrible)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the emphatic 'Taa' (ط) as a regular 't' (ت), making it sound like 'yastatee' instead of 'yastatī''.
Dropping or softening the final 'Ayn' (ع), making it sound like a glottal stop (ء) or ignoring it completely.
Misplacing the stress on the second syllable instead of the long third syllable.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 4/5

Recognizing the Form X structure and the middle weak letter (waw/yaa) requires intermediate morphological knowledge.

Schreiben 6/5

Spelling the feminine plural (يَسْتَطِعْنَ) correctly by dropping the long vowel is a common stumbling block.

Sprechen 5/5

Pronouncing the emphatic 'Taa' followed by the long 'ee' and the guttural 'Ayn' requires practice.

Hören 3/5

It is a very distinct and common word, making it relatively easy to pick out in spoken sentences.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

أَنْ (that/to) فَعَلَ (to do) أَنَا (I) هُوَ (he) لا (no/not)

Als Nächstes lernen

يَقْدِرُ (to be capable) يُمْكِنُ (it is possible) يَجِبُ (must/it is necessary) يُرِيدُ (to want) يَحْتَاجُ (to need)

Fortgeschritten

اسْتِطَاعَة (capability) عَجْز (inability) صَلاحِيَّة (authority/competence) مُؤَهَّلات (qualifications) كِفَايَة (sufficiency)

Wichtige Grammatik

The Subjunctive Mood (المضارع المنصوب)

يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ (The verb 'yadhhaba' takes a fatha because of 'an').

Negating the Present Tense (نفي المضارع)

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ (Use 'laa' to negate present tense verbs).

Negating the Past Tense with Lam (النفي بـ لم)

لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ (Use 'lam' + jussive mood to say 'could not'. Note the dropped 'yaa').

Dropping the Weak Letter in Feminine Plural (إلتقاء الساكنين)

هُنَّ يَسْتَطِعْنَ (The long 'yaa' is dropped to prevent two vowelless letters from meeting).

Using the Verbal Noun as an Object (المصدر مفعول به)

يَسْتَطِيعُ القِرَاءَةَ (The verbal noun 'al-qiraa'ata' takes the accusative case).

Beispiele nach Niveau

أَنَا أَسْتَطِيعُ.

I can.

Basic first-person singular conjugation.

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ.

I cannot.

Negation using 'laa'.

هُوَ يَسْتَطِيعُ.

He can.

Third-person masculine singular.

هِيَ تَسْتَطِيعُ.

She can.

Third-person feminine singular.

هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ؟

Can you? (m)

Question format for second-person masculine.

أَسْتَطِيعُ القِرَاءَةَ.

I can read.

Using the verbal noun (masdar) directly.

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ النَّوْمَ.

I cannot sleep.

Negation with a verbal noun.

نَحْنُ نَسْتَطِيعُ.

We can.

First-person plural conjugation.

أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ العَرَبِيَّةَ.

I can speak Arabic.

Using 'an' + subjunctive verb (first person).

هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُسَاعِدَنِي؟

Can you help me?

Question with 'an' + subjunctive verb.

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ اليَوْمَ.

He cannot go today.

Negation with 'an' + subjunctive.

تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَأْكُلَ هُنَا.

You can eat here.

Expressing permission/ability.

هُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ السَّفَرَ غَداً.

They can travel tomorrow.

Third-person masculine plural with verbal noun.

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ هَذَا.

I cannot understand this.

Expressing cognitive inability.

هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعِينَ الطَّبْخَ؟

Can you (f) cook?

Second-person feminine singular question.

نَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ نَلْعَبَ كُرَةَ القَدَمِ.

We can play football.

First-person plural with 'an' + subjunctive.

إِذَا دَرَسْتَ جَيِّداً، تَسْتَطِيعُ النَّجَاحَ.

If you study well, you can succeed.

Used in a conditional sentence.

لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ أَتَّصِلَ بِكَ أَمْسِ.

I could not call you yesterday.

Past tense negation using 'lam' + jussive (majazoom).

سَأَسْتَطِيعُ إِنْهَاءَ العَمَلِ قَرِيباً.

I will be able to finish the work soon.

Future tense using the prefix 'sa-'.

هَلْ تَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّنَا نَسْتَطِيعُ الفَوْزَ؟

Do you think that we can win?

Embedded clause after 'anna'.

الرِّجَالُ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ، وَالنِّسَاءُ يَسْتَطِعْنَ أَيْضاً.

Men can, and women can too.

Contrasting masculine and feminine plural conjugations.

رَغْمَ المَرَضِ، يَسْتَطِيعُ المَشْيَ.

Despite the illness, he can walk.

Expressing ability despite an obstacle.

كُنْتُ أَسْتَطِيعُ السِّبَاحَةَ عِنْدَمَا كُنْتُ صَغِيراً.

I used to be able to swim when I was young.

Past continuous ability using 'kaana' + present verb.

لا أَحَدَ يَسْتَطِيعُ التَّنَبُّؤَ بِالمُسْتَقْبَلِ.

No one can predict the future.

Used with an absolute negative subject.

تَسْتَطِيعُ التِّكْنُولُوجْيَا الحَدِيثَةُ حَلَّ الكَثِيرِ مِنَ المَشَاكِلِ.

Modern technology can solve many problems.

Abstract non-human subject.

يَجِبُ أَنْ نُثْبِتَ أَنَّنَا نَسْتَطِيعُ تَحَمُّلَ المَسْؤُولِيَّةِ.

We must prove that we can bear the responsibility.

Complex sentence with multiple clauses.

بِفَضْلِ التَّدْرِيبِ، أَصْبَحَ يَسْتَطِيعُ التَّحَدُّثَ بِطَلاقَةٍ.

Thanks to training, he became able to speak fluently.

Used after the verb 'asbaha' (became).

هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ الاِقْتِصَادُ التَّعَافِيَ هَذَا العَامَ؟

Can the economy recover this year?

Economic/journalistic context.

لا نَسْتَطِيعُ تَجَاهُلَ هَذِهِ الحَقَائِقِ العِلْمِيَّةِ.

We cannot ignore these scientific facts.

Formal academic phrasing.

يَسْتَطِيعُ المُدِيرُ اتِّخَاذَ القَرَارَاتِ الصَّعْبَةِ.

The manager can make difficult decisions.

Professional context using a complex verbal noun (ittikhaadh).

لَوْ كُنْتُ غَنِيّاً، لاسْتَطَعْتُ مُسَاعَدَةَ الجَمِيعِ.

If I were rich, I would have been able to help everyone.

Hypothetical past conditional (law... la-astata'tu).

مِنَ المُهِمِّ أَنْ يَسْتَطِيعَ الطَّالِبُ التَّفْكِيرَ النَّقْدِيَّ.

It is important that the student can think critically.

Subjunctive mood after 'min al-muhimmi an'.

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ المَرْءُ أَنْ يَعِيشَ بِمَعْزِلٍ عَنِ المُجْتَمَعِ.

One cannot live in isolation from society.

Philosophical/sociological statement using 'al-mar'u' (one/a person).

تِلْكَ الدَّوْلَةُ تَسْتَطِيعُ فَرْضَ عُقُوبَاتٍ اقْتِصَادِيَّةٍ.

That state can impose economic sanctions.

Geopolitical terminology.

إِنَّهُ يَسْتَطِيعُ اسْتِنْبَاطَ المَعَانِي الخَفِيَّةِ مِنَ النَّصِّ.

He can deduce hidden meanings from the text.

Advanced vocabulary (istinbaat - deduction).

مَهْمَا حَاوَلُوا، لَنْ يَسْتَطِيعُوا طَمْسَ الحَقِيقَةِ.

No matter how hard they try, they will not be able to obscure the truth.

Future negation with 'lan' + subjunctive.

يَسْتَطِيعُ الكَاتِبُ أَنْ يَتَلَاعَبَ بِعَوَاطِفِ القَارِئِ بِبَرَاعَةٍ.

The writer can manipulate the reader's emotions skillfully.

Literary critique phrasing.

لا نَسْتَطِيعُ الجَزْمَ بِصِحَّةِ هَذِهِ الاِدِّعَاءَاتِ حَالِيّاً.

We cannot assert the validity of these claims currently.

Formal legal/journalistic expression.

هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ العَقْلُ البَشَرِيُّ اسْتِيعَابَ لانِهَايَةِ الكَوْنِ؟

Can the human mind comprehend the infinity of the universe?

Deep philosophical inquiry.

يَسْتَطِيعُ الفَنَّانُ تَجْسِيدَ الأَلَمِ فِي لَوْحَةٍ صَامِتَةٍ.

The artist can embody pain in a silent painting.

Artistic and abstract expression.

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ القَلَمُ أَنْ يَخُطَّ مَدَى حُزْنِي فِي هَذَا المَقَامِ.

The pen cannot write the extent of my sorrow in this situation.

Highly poetic and literary phrasing.

إِنَّ مَنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ قَهْرَ نَفْسِهِ هُوَ الأَقْوَى عَلَى الإِطْلاقِ.

Indeed, he who can conquer himself is the strongest of all.

Aphoristic/proverbial structure.

تَسْتَطِيعُ الأُمَمُ الحَيَّةُ أَنْ تَنْبَعِثَ مِنْ رَمَادِهَا كَطَائِرِ الفِينِيقِ.

Living nations can rise from their ashes like the phoenix.

Epic, historical rhetoric.

هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ المَنْطِقُ الصُّورِيُّ أَنْ يُحِيطَ بِكُلِّ تَعْقِيدَاتِ الوُجُودِ؟

Can formal logic encompass all the complexities of existence?

Advanced philosophical discourse.

مَا كَانَ لِيَسْتَطِيعَ بُلُوغَ المَجْدِ لَوْلا مُكَابَدَةُ الصِّعَابِ.

He would not have been able to reach glory were it not for enduring hardships.

Classical complex negation (maa kaana li-yastatee'a).

يَسْتَطِيعُ الشَّاعِرُ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ كَوْناً مُوَازِياً بِكَلِمَاتِهِ فَقَطْ.

The poet can create a parallel universe with his words alone.

Literary analysis.

لا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَيُّ قُوَّةٍ غَاشِمَةٍ أَنْ تَسْلُبَ الإِنْسَانَ حُرِّيَّتَهُ الدَّاخِلِيَّةَ.

No brute force can strip a human of his internal freedom.

Political philosophy.

بَلَغَ مِنَ العِلْمِ مَبْلَغاً يَسْتَطِيعُ مَعَهُ تَفْكِيكَ أَعْقَدِ النَّظَرِيَّاتِ.

He reached a level of knowledge with which he can dismantle the most complex theories.

Highly sophisticated descriptive clause.

Häufige Kollokationen

يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ

بِقَدْرِ مَا يَسْتَطِيعُ

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ الاِسْتِغْنَاءَ عَنْ

يَسْتَطِيعُ التَّعَامُلَ مَعَ

يَسْتَطِيعُ السَّيْطَرَةَ عَلَى

يَسْتَطِيعُ الوُصُولَ إِلَى

يَسْتَطِيعُ التَّمْيِيزَ بَيْنَ

يَسْتَطِيعُ التَّأْثِيرَ فِي

يَسْتَطِيعُ حَلَّ

يَسْتَطِيعُ تَحَمُّلَ

Häufige Phrasen

عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا أَسْتَطِيعُ

إِنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ الاِنْتِظَارَ

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ التَّصْدِيقَ

بِأَسْرَعِ مَا يَسْتَطِيعُ

هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُرِيَنِي؟

مَنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ؟

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ مُسَاعَدَتَكَ

كَمَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَرَى

يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ مَا يَشَاءُ

Wird oft verwechselt mit

يَسْتَطِيع vs يُطِيعُ (yutee')

Means 'he obeys'. It shares the same root (ط-و-ع) but is Form IV, not Form X. 'He obeys the law' vs 'He can break the law'.

يَسْتَطِيع vs يَقْدِرُ (yaqdiru)

Means 'he is capable'. Often used interchangeably, but يَقْدِرُ focuses more on raw power or destiny, while يَسْتَطِيعُ focuses on situational or acquired ability.

يَسْتَطِيع vs يَعْرِفُ (ya'rifu)

Means 'he knows'. In English, we say 'I can speak Arabic' (ability) or 'I know how to speak Arabic' (knowledge). In Arabic, you can use either, but يَسْتَطِيع is strictly for the ability aspect.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَهُشَّ وَلا يَنُشَّ"

He cannot shoo away a fly. Means someone is completely powerless, weak, or useless.

هَذَا الرَّجُلُ ضَعِيفٌ، لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَهُشَّ وَلا يَنُشَّ.

informal

"يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَبِيعَ المَاءَ فِي حَارَةِ السَّقَّايِينَ"

He can sell water in the water-carriers' neighborhood. Means someone is extremely persuasive or a smooth talker.

إِنَّهُ تَاجِرٌ مَاهِرٌ، يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَبِيعَ المَاءَ فِي حَارَةِ السَّقَّايِينَ.

idiomatic

"لا يَسْتَطِيعُ رُؤْيَةَ أَبْعَدَ مِنْ أَنْفِهِ"

He cannot see further than his nose. Means someone is short-sighted or lacks vision for the future.

المُدِيرُ لا يَسْتَطِيعُ رُؤْيَةَ أَبْعَدَ مِنْ أَنْفِهِ.

idiomatic

"يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مِنَ الحَبَّةِ قُبَّةً"

He can make a dome out of a grain. Equivalent to 'making a mountain out of a molehill' (exaggerating).

لا تَسْتَمِعْ إِلَيْهِ، فَهُوَ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مِنَ الحَبَّةِ قُبَّةً.

idiomatic

"لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَمْسِكَ لِسَانَهُ"

He cannot hold his tongue. Means someone cannot keep a secret or talks too much.

أَخْبَرْتُهُ بِالسِّرِّ لَكِنَّهُ لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَمْسِكَ لِسَانَهُ.

neutral

"يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ مَا بَيْنَ السُّطُورِ"

He can read between the lines. Means someone can understand hidden meanings.

هُوَ ذَكِيٌّ وَيَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ مَا بَيْنَ السُّطُورِ.

formal

"لا يَسْتَطِيعُ حَرَاكاً"

He cannot make a movement. Means someone is completely paralyzed by fear, shock, or injury.

مِنْ شِدَّةِ الخَوْفِ، أَصْبَحَ لا يَسْتَطِيعُ حَرَاكاً.

literary

"يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ الحَجَرَ"

He can eat stone. Means someone has very strong teeth or a very strong stomach/digestion.

شَبَابُهُ قَوِيٌّ، يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ الحَجَرَ.

informal

"لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ عُصْفُورَيْنِ بِحَجَرٍ"

He cannot hit two birds with one stone. Means someone is incapable of multitasking or achieving two goals at once.

يَجِبُ أَنْ تَخْتَارَ، لا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَضْرِبَ عُصْفُورَيْنِ بِحَجَرٍ وَاحِدٍ.

neutral

"يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُحَرِّكَ الجِبَالَ"

He can move mountains. Means someone is incredibly strong, determined, or influential.

بِإِيمَانِهِ، يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُحَرِّكَ الجِبَالَ.

literary

Leicht verwechselbar

يَسْتَطِيع vs يَسْتَطِيعُ vs يُطِيعُ

They look and sound very similar and share the same root.

يَسْتَطِيعُ (Form X) means 'to be able to'. يُطِيعُ (Form IV) means 'to obey'. One is about capability, the other is about following orders.

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُطِيعَ الأَوَامِرَ. (He cannot obey the orders.)

يَسْتَطِيع vs يَسْتَطِيعُ vs يُمْكِنُ

Both are translated as 'can' or 'possible' in English.

يَسْتَطِيعُ is a personal ability (I can, you can). يُمْكِنُ is impersonal (It is possible). You conjugate يَسْتَطِيعُ for the person. For يُمْكِنُ, you attach a pronoun suffix (يُمْكِنُنِي - it is possible for me).

أَسْتَطِيعُ الذَّهَابَ (I can go) vs يُمْكِنُنِي الذَّهَابُ (It is possible for me to go).

يَسْتَطِيع vs يَسْتَطِيعُ vs يَقْدِرُ

Both mean 'to be able to'.

Very subtle. يَسْتَطِيعُ often implies overcoming a circumstantial barrier or having the means. يَقْدِرُ implies inherent strength or divine power. In daily MSA, they are mostly synonymous.

يَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرَ (He has the means/time to travel) vs يَقْدِرُ عَلَى حَمْلِ الصَّخْرَةِ (He has the strength to lift the rock).

يَسْتَطِيع vs يَسْتَطِيعُونَ vs يَسْتَطِعْنَ

Masculine plural vs Feminine plural conjugations.

The masculine plural keeps the long 'yaa' (يَسْتَطِيعُونَ). The feminine plural drops the long 'yaa' due to Arabic phonetic rules preventing two vowelless letters together (يَسْتَطِعْنَ).

الرِّجَالُ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ، وَالنِّسَاءُ يَسْتَطِعْنَ.

يَسْتَطِيع vs لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ vs لا يَسْتَطِيعُ

Both are negative forms.

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ is present tense ('He cannot'). لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ is past tense ('He could not'). Notice the past tense with 'lam' drops the long 'yaa' to become jussive (majazoom).

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ الآنَ (He cannot now) vs لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَمْسِ (He could not yesterday).

Satzmuster

[Pronoun] + يَسْتَطِيعُ + أَنْ + [Present Verb]

هُوَ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ. (He can read.)

لا + يَسْتَطِيعُ + أَنْ + [Present Verb]

لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَنَامَ. (He cannot sleep.)

هَلْ + يَسْتَطِيعُ + [Verbal Noun]?

هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرَ؟ (Can he travel?)

لَمْ + يَسْتَطِعْ + أَنْ + [Present Verb]

لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ. (He could not come.)

سَيَسْتَطِيعُ + أَنْ + [Present Verb]

سَيَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَنْجَحَ. (He will be able to succeed.)

إِذَا [Past Verb]، سَيَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ [Present Verb]

إِذَا دَرَسَ، سَيَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَنْجَحَ. (If he studies, he will be able to succeed.)

بِقَدْرِ مَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ [Present Verb]

يَعْمَلُ بِقَدْرِ مَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُنْتِجَ. (He works as much as he can produce.)

مَا كَانَ لِيَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ [Present Verb] لَوْلا [Noun]

مَا كَانَ لِيَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ يَفُوزَ لَوْلا دَعْمُكَ. (He would not have been able to win were it not for your support.)

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

So verwendest du es

frequency

Top 100 most used verbs in Modern Standard Arabic.

Häufige Fehler

أَسْتَطِيعُ أَذْهَبُ (I can go) → أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ
You cannot place two present tense verbs next to each other without a connecting particle. You must use أَنْ (an) to link them, which also changes the final vowel of the second verb to a fatha.
هُوَ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ (He can go) → هُوَ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ
The pronouns must match. You cannot say 'He is able that I go'. It must be 'He is able that HE goes' (يَذْهَبَ).
لَمْ يَسْتَطِيعْ (He could not) → لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ
When using the negative particle لَمْ (lam), the verb enters the jussive mood (majazoom). Because the final letter takes a sukoon, the preceding long vowel (yaa) must be dropped to avoid two vowelless letters.
هُنَّ يَسْتَطِيعْنَ (They [fem.] can) → هُنَّ يَسْتَطِعْنَ
Similar to the jussive rule, the feminine plural ending forces a sukoon on the final root letter (Ayn). Therefore, the long 'yaa' must be dropped.
أَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرُ (I can travel) → أَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرَ
When using the verbal noun (المصدر) directly after يَسْتَطِيع, it acts as the direct object (مفعول به) and must take the accusative case (mansub), ending with a fatha, not a damma.

Tipps

The Golden Rule of 'An'

Whenever you use يَسْتَطِيع followed by another action, always insert أَنْ (an) between them. Think of it as the English 'to' in 'able to'. Without it, the sentence collapses.

Master the Emphatic 'Taa'

The letter ط (Taa) in يَسْتَطِيع is emphatic. It is not a light English 't'. Press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth to produce a deep, heavy sound. This distinguishes it from ت (taa).

Watch the Feminine Plural

Remember the spelling change for 'they (feminine)'. It is يَسْتَطِعْنَ (yastati'na). The long 'yaa' is deleted. This is a classic test question in Arabic exams!

Permission vs. Ability

Reserve يَسْتَطِيع for true physical or circumstantial ability. If you are asking for permission (May I?), switch to هَلْ يُمْكِنُنِي (Hal yumkinunee). It sounds much more polite and native.

Learn the Masdar

Instead of always using أَنْ + verb, practice using the verbal noun (المصدر). Saying أَسْتَطِيعُ القِرَاءَةَ (I can read) instead of أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ makes your Arabic sound more advanced and formal.

Present vs. Past Negation

To say 'cannot' right now, use لا (laa) -> لا أَسْتَطِيعُ. To say 'could not' in the past, use لَمْ (lam) and drop the yaa -> لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ. Never say لا اسْتَطَعْتُ.

Add Insha'Allah

When declaring that you can do something in the future (e.g., 'I can finish it tomorrow'), it is culturally appropriate and expected to add إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ (If God wills) at the end of the sentence.

Listen for the Prefix

In fast speech, focus on the very first letter of the verb. أَ (a) means I, نَ (na) means We, تَ (ta) means You/She, يَ (ya) means He/They. This instantly tells you who has the ability.

Matching Subjects

When writing complex sentences, ensure both verbs match. أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ (I can I go). يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ (He can he goes). Don't mix the pronouns!

Explore the Root

Look up other words from the root ط-و-ع, such as مُطِيع (obedient) or تَطَوُّع (volunteering). Understanding that 'ability' in Arabic comes from the concept of 'compliance' gives you a deep linguistic insight.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you are saying 'YES, TA-TEA is what I CAN make!' (YAS-TA-TEE'). You are confidently stating your ability to brew tea.

Visuelle Assoziation

Picture a strong weightlifter wearing a shirt that says 'YES' lifting a giant cup of 'TEA'. YES-TA-TEE = I CAN lift it.

Word Web

يَسْتَطِيع (Can) اسْتِطَاعَة (Ability) أَنْ (To/That) يَقْدِر (Is capable) مُمْكِن (Possible) طَاعَة (Obedience) قُوَّة (Strength) فِعْل (Action)

Herausforderung

Try to write three sentences about things you CAN do right now using the structure: أنا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ [verb]. For example: أنا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ (I can read).

Wortherkunft

The verb يَسْتَطِيع derives from the triconsonantal root ط-و-ع (Ta-Waw-Ayn). In classical Arabic, this root revolves around the concepts of obedience, compliance, and yielding. The Form X verb pattern (اسْتَفْعَلَ - istaf'ala) often implies seeking, asking for, or acquiring the quality of the root. Therefore, اسْتَطَاعَ originally carried the nuance of 'seeking compliance' from a situation or an object, which evolved into the meaning of 'having the capacity or power' to make something happen.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To find something compliant or yielding to one's will; hence, to be capable of doing it.

Afroasiatic > Semitic > Central Semitic > Arabic

Kultureller Kontext

When asking someone with a visible disability if they 'can' do something, using يَسْتَطِيع might sound blunt. It is often more polite to offer help directly ('May I help you?') rather than questioning their capability.

English speakers use 'can' for both ability ('I can swim') and permission ('Can I go to the bathroom?'). In formal Arabic, يَسْتَطِيع is primarily for ability. For permission, it is better to use يُمْكِن (Is it possible / May I).

The Quranic verse: 'لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا' (God does not burden a soul beyond its capacity), which conceptually aligns with human 'istita'ah' (ability). The famous poem by Abu al-Qasim al-Shabbi: 'إِذَا الشَّعْبُ يَوْماً أَرَادَ الحَيَاةَ... فَلا بُدَّ أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ القَدَر' (If the people one day will to live... destiny must comply), which plays on the roots of capability and compliance.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Asking for help or favors

هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ مُسَاعَدَتِي؟ (Can you help me?)
هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُعْطِيَنِي...؟ (Can you give me...?)
إِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْتَطِيعُ (If you can)
لا أَسْتَطِيعُ وَحْدِي (I cannot alone)

Discussing skills in a job interview

أَسْتَطِيعُ التَّحَدُّثَ بِـ... (I can speak...)
أَسْتَطِيعُ اسْتِخْدَامَ... (I can use...)
أَسْتَطِيعُ العَمَلَ تَحْتَ الضَّغْطِ (I can work under pressure)
بِإِمْكَانِي أَنْ... (It is within my capacity to...)

Medical appointments

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ التَّنَفُّسَ (I cannot breathe)
هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ المَشْيَ؟ (Can you walk?)
لا أَسْتَطِيعُ النَّوْمَ (I cannot sleep)
أَسْتَطِيعُ تَحْرِيكَ يَدِي (I can move my hand)

Making plans and scheduling

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ الحُضُورَ (I cannot attend)
مَتَى تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ نَلْتَقِيَ؟ (When can we meet?)
أَسْتَطِيعُ غَداً (I can tomorrow)
هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ التَّأْجِيلَ؟ (Can you postpone?)

Expressing emotional or mental states

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ التَّرْكِيزَ (I cannot focus)
لا أَسْتَطِيعُ تَحَمُّلَ هَذَا (I cannot bear this)
أَسْتَطِيعُ فَهْمَ مَشَاعِرِكَ (I can understand your feelings)
لا أَسْتَطِيعُ نِسْيَانَ ذَلِكَ (I cannot forget that)

Gesprächseinstiege

"مَا هُوَ الشَّيْءُ الَّذِي لا تَسْتَطِيعُ العَيْشَ بِدُونِهِ؟ (What is the thing you cannot live without?)"

"هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ التَّحَدُّثَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ لُغَتَيْنِ؟ (Can you speak more than two languages?)"

"مَا هِيَ المَهَارَةُ الَّتِي تَتَمَنَّى لَوْ كُنْتَ تَسْتَطِيعُ فِعْلَهَا؟ (What is a skill you wish you could do?)"

"هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَصِفَ نَفْسَكَ فِي ثَلاثِ كَلِمَاتٍ؟ (Can you describe yourself in three words?)"

"مَا هُوَ أَصْعَبُ شَيْءٍ تَسْتَطِيعُ القِيَامَ بِهِ؟ (What is the hardest thing you can do?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

اكْتُبْ عَنْ مَوْقِفٍ شَعَرْتَ فِيهِ أَنَّكَ لا تَسْتَطِيعُ الاِسْتِمْرَارَ، وَكَيْفَ تَجَاوَزْتَهُ. (Write about a situation where you felt you couldn't continue, and how you overcame it.)

قَائِمَةٌ بِخَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ تَسْتَطِيعُ فِعْلَهَا الآنَ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَسْتَطِيعُ فِعْلَهَا قَبْلَ عَامٍ. (A list of five things you can do now that you couldn't do a year ago.)

لَوْ كُنْتَ تَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرَ عَبْرَ الزَّمَنِ، إِلَى أَيْنَ سَتَذْهَبُ؟ (If you could travel through time, where would you go?)

صِفْ شَيْئاً تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ بِبَرَاعَةٍ وَيُمَيِّزُكَ عَنِ الآخَرِينَ. (Describe something you can do brilliantly that distinguishes you from others.)

مَا هِيَ العَادَةُ السَّيِّئَةُ الَّتِي لا تَسْتَطِيعُ التَّخَلُّصَ مِنْهَا؟ (What is the bad habit you cannot get rid of?)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Not always. You have two choices. You can use أَنْ followed by a present tense verb (e.g., أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ - I can read). Or, you can use the verbal noun (المصدر) directly as an object without أَنْ (e.g., أَسْتَطِيعُ القِرَاءَةَ). Both are perfectly correct, but beginners usually find the أَنْ structure easier to learn first.

You use the past tense form of the verb, which is اسْتَطَاعَ (astataa'a). For 'I could', it is اسْتَطَعْتُ (astata'tu). For example, اسْتَطَعْتُ أَنْ أَنَامَ (I was able to sleep). Alternatively, you can use كَانَ يَسْتَطِيعُ (He used to be able to).

The most common and formal way is to use the particle لَمْ (lam) with the jussive present tense: لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ (lam astatī'). Notice the long 'yaa' is dropped. You can also say مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ (maa astata'tu) using the past tense.

This is due to a fundamental Arabic phonology rule called 'Iltiqa' al-Sakinayn' (the meeting of two vowelless letters). In the feminine plural, the final 'Ayn' takes a sukoon (no vowel). The preceding 'yaa' is a long vowel (also considered vowelless). Arabic does not allow two vowelless letters in a row, so the weaker letter (the yaa) is dropped.

While grammatically understandable, it sounds a bit unnatural in Arabic, similar to a teacher saying 'I don't know, *can* you?' It is much more polite and natural to use يُمْكِن (Is it possible) for permission: هَلْ يُمْكِنُنِي الذَّهَابُ إِلَى الحَمَّامِ؟ (May I go to the bathroom?).

The verbal noun (masdar) is اسْتِطَاعَة (istitaa'ah), which translates to 'ability', 'capability', or 'capacity'. For example, هَذَا خَارِجُ اسْتِطَاعَتِي (This is beyond my capability).

A very common idiom is بِقَدْرِ مَا أَسْتَطِيعُ (bi-qadri maa astatī'u), which literally means 'by the measure of what I can'. Another variation is عَلَى قَدْرِ اسْتِطَاعَتِي (according to my ability).

It is universally understood in all Arab countries because it is standard Arabic. However, in casual street conversation, people usually substitute it with local words. In the Levant, they say 'biqdar' or 'feeni'. In Egypt, they say 'aqdar' or 'mumkin'. In the Gulf, 'yigdar'. But if you use يَسْتَطِيع, everyone will understand you perfectly.

In English, we sometimes say 'I can swim' to mean 'I know how to swim'. In Arabic, you can say أَسْتَطِيعُ السِّبَاحَةَ (I have the physical ability/opportunity to swim) or أَعْرِفُ كَيْفَ أَسْبَحَ (I know the skill of swimming). Both are acceptable for acquired skills.

Simply add the future prefix سَـ (sa-) or the word سَوْفَ (sawfa) before the present tense verb. سَأَسْتَطِيعُ (sa-astatī'u) means 'I will be able to'. For example, سَأَسْتَطِيعُ السَّفَرَ غَداً (I will be able to travel tomorrow).

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writing

Translate into Arabic: 'I can read the book.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use أَسْتَطِيعُ for 'I can', followed by أَنْ, then the subjunctive verb أَقْرَأَ.