A2 · 初中級 チャプター 9

Talking About the Past

5 トータルルール
53 例文
5 分
このチャプターのルール クイック練習

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the power of storytelling by mastering the Arabic past tense and essential narrative verbs.

  • Conjugate verbs in the past tense using I, we, and you endings.
  • Identify and transform tricky 'hollow' verbs like qāla.
  • Describe past states and conditions using the versatile verb kāna.
Master the past, own your Arabic story.

学べること

You've already built a fantastic foundation in Arabic, and now it's time for an exciting leap into the past! In this chapter, you'll unlock the secrets of talking about everything that's already happened. Imagine confidently telling your friends about your amazing weekend, or describing a memorable trip – that's exactly what you'll be able to do! We’ll kick things off by making it super easy to say what 'I did' and 'we did.' Just by adding simple suffixes like '-tu' and '-nā' to verbs, you'll instantly transform them into past actions. Then, you'll master how to ask others, 'What did *you* do?' or tell them what *they* did, using the gender-specific suffixes '-ta' and '-ti'. Ever wondered about those 'hollow verbs' (like 'قَالَ' - qāla, 'he said') where the middle letter seems to vanish in the past tense? We'll demystify these tricky but common verbs, showing you the pattern behind their magical transformations. You'll particularly get a deep dive into the incredibly versatile root 'ق-و-ل' (Q-W-L), mastering all its forms for 'to say' in the past, present, and even as a command. Finally, we’ll dive into 'كَانَ' (kāna), your new best friend for describing past states and conditions. You'll learn how to say 'I was happy,' 'It was a beautiful day,' or 'He was a teacher,' adding rich detail to your past narratives. By the end of this chapter, you won't just be learning rules; you'll be equipped to weave compelling stories, share your experiences, and effortlessly discuss the past in Arabic. Get ready to tell some tales!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Narrate simple past events using first and second person verb forms.

チャプターガイド

Overview

Welcome to an exciting new chapter in your Arabic grammar A2 journey! Having built a solid foundation, you're now ready to unlock the secrets of talking about the past. This chapter is your key to confidently sharing stories, recounting events, and describing everything that has already happened.
Mastering the Arabic perfect tense, also known as Al-Māḍī (الماضي), is fundamental for real-world communication. Imagine being able to tell your friends about your amazing weekend, describe a memorable trip, or simply recount what you did yesterday – that's the power you'll gain! We'll start with easy-to-learn suffixes for I did and we did, then move to asking
What did *you* do?
You’ll also demystify those unique Arabic hollow verbs like قَالَ (qāla, he said) and learn to use كَانَ (kāna, he was) to express past states and conditions.
By the end, you won't just know rules; you'll be equipped to weave compelling narratives and effortlessly discuss the past in Arabic, significantly boosting your fluency at the A2 Arabic level.

How This Grammar Works

This chapter introduces you to the core of past tense formation in Arabic, starting with the perfect tense (Al-Māḍī). For most regular verbs, you'll learn to attach simple suffixes to the verb stem. To say
I did,
you add -تُ (-tu) to the verb's root.
For example, from كَتَبَ (kataba - he wrote), you get كَتَبْتُ (katabtu - I wrote). To say
we did,
you add -نَا (-nā), as in كَتَبْنَا (katabnā - we wrote). When addressing someone directly, you'll use gender-specific suffixes: -تَ (-ta) for
you (masculine) did
(e.g., كَتَبْتَ - katabta - you (m) wrote) and -تِ (-ti) for
you (feminine) did
(e.g., كَتَبْتِ - katabti - you (f) wrote).
Next, we tackle Arabic hollow verbs, which are verbs with a weak letter (usually و or ي) in their middle root position. These verbs undergo a special change in the past tense. Take قَالَ (qāla - he said), from the root ق-و-ل.
When conjugated, the middle vowel often shortens or changes. For I said, it becomes قُلْتُ (qultu), not *qālatu*. Similarly,
you (m) said
is قُلْتَ (qulta),
you (f) said
is قُلْتِ (qulti), and
we said
is قُلْنَا (qulnā).
The root ق-و-ل (Q-W-L) is incredibly versatile; you'll also briefly see its present tense form يَقُولُ (yaqūlu - he says) and the command form قُلْ (qul - say!) to understand its full range. Finally, we introduce كَانَ (kāna - he was), a crucial verb for describing past states and conditions. It conjugates just like other perfect tense verbs: كُنْتُ (kuntu - I was), كُنْتَ (kunta - you (m) were), كُنْتِ (kunti - you (f) were), كُنَّا (kunnā - we were).
You'll use it to say things like كُنْتُ سَعِيدًا (kuntu sa'īdan - I was happy) or كَانَ الْيَوْمُ جَمِيلًا (kāna al-yawmu jamīlan - the day was beautiful).

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: «أَنْتَ كَتَبْتِ» (anta katabti) (You (m) wrote)
✓ Correct: «أَنْتَ كَتَبْتَ» (anta katabta) (You (m) wrote)
*Explanation:* The suffix for you (masculine) did is -تَ (-ta), not -تِ (-ti). The -تِ (-ti) suffix is exclusively for you (feminine) did.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «أَنَا قَلْتُ» (ana qalatu) (I said)
✓ Correct: «أَنَا قُلْتُ» (ana qultu) (I said)
*Explanation:* For hollow verbs like قَالَ (qāla), the middle long vowel changes to a short vowel (usually a u-sound or i-sound) when conjugated with most subject pronouns (except for he and she). Memorize these special conjugations.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «أَنَا كَانَ مُتْعَبًا» (ana kāna mut'aban) (I was tired)
✓ Correct: «أَنَا كُنْتُ مُتْعَبًا» (ana kuntu mut'aban) (I was tired)
*Explanation:* Like other verbs, كَانَ (kāna) must be conjugated to match the subject. كُنْتُ (kuntu) is the correct form for I was.

Real Conversations

A

A

مَاذَا فَعَلْتَ أَمْسِ؟ (Mādhā fa'alta amsi?) (What did you do yesterday (m)?)
B

B

ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى السُّوقِ وَاشْتَرَيْتُ بَعْضَ الْفَوَاكِهِ. (Dhahabtu ilā as-sūqi wa-ishtaraytu ba'ḍa al-fawākihi.) (I went to the market and bought some fruits.)
A

A

كَيْفَ كَانَتْ رِحْلَتُكِ؟ (Kayfa kānat riḥlatuki?) (How was your trip (f)?)
B

B

كَانَتْ رَائِعَةً! زُرْنَا الْكَثِيرَ مِنَ الْأَمَاكِنِ الْجَمِيلَةِ. (Kānat rā'i'atan! Zurnā al-kathīra min al-amākini al-jamīlati.) (It was wonderful! We visited many beautiful places.)
A

A

هَلْ قُلْتَ لَهُ عَنِ الْخَبَرِ؟ (Hal qulta lahu 'an al-khabari?) (Did you (m) tell him about the news?)
B

B

نَعَمْ، قُلْتُ لَهُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ. (Na'am, qultu lahu kulla shay'in.) (Yes, I told him everything.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I form the Arabic past tense for most verbs when talking about I or we?

For «I,» you add -تُ (-tu) to the verb's perfect tense stem (e.g., كَتَبْتُ - I wrote). For we, you add -نَا (-nā) (e.g., كَتَبْنَا - we wrote).

Q

What are hollow verbs in Arabic and how do they change in the past tense?

Hollow verbs have a weak letter (و or ي) in the middle of their root. In the past tense, this weak letter often changes or shortens to a short vowel (like 'u' or 'i') when conjugated with most pronouns, as seen in قَالَ (qāla - he said) becoming قُلْتُ (qultu - I said).

Q

Can kāna be used with adjectives in A2 Arabic grammar to describe past feelings?

Absolutely! كَانَ (kāna) is perfect for describing past states and conditions. For example, كُنْتُ سَعِيدًا (kuntu sa'īdan - I was happy) or كَانَتْ مُتْعَبَةً (kānat mut'abatan - she was tired).

Cultural Context

In Arabic-speaking cultures, storytelling and sharing personal experiences are deeply valued. Mastering these past tense forms is crucial for participating in everyday conversations, whether you're recounting your day, sharing memories with family, or describing events from your travels. While Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) provides the standard forms taught here, you might notice slight phonetic variations in spoken dialects, but the core conjugations remain largely consistent and understandable across the Arab world.
Being able to confidently talk about the past allows you to truly connect with native speakers and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of their narratives.

重要な例文 (2)

1

Qāla al-mudīru inna al-ijtimā'a ghadan.

部長は明日会議だと言いました。

「言う」のアート：語根 Q-W-L をマスターしよう (qāla/yaqūlu)
2

Aqūlu laka al-haqīqata dā'iman.

私はいつもあなたに真実を話します。

「言う」のアート：語根 Q-W-L をマスターしよう (qāla/yaqūlu)

ヒントとコツ (4)

🎯

主語は言わなくてOK

ネイティブは「Anā（私は）」をほとんど言いません。語尾の「-tu」だけで誰のことか100%伝わるからです。 «كَتَبْتُ الكِتابَ في البَيْتِ»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去の「私」と「私たち」：アラビア語の完了形 (Al-Māḍī)
💡

スクーンの魔法

語尾をつける前に、動詞のベースの最後の音を止める（スクーンを置く）のを忘れずに！「カタバ・タ」ではなく「カタブ・タ」です。 katab-ta
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の二人称過去形：「あなたが〜した」 (-ta, -ti)
💡

子音の衝突を避けよう

アラビア語は母音のない文字が2つ並ぶのが大の苦手。重い語尾がつくと、長いアリフが身を引いて渋滞を防ぐイメージです。 «أنا قُلتُ الحق.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アラビア語の中空動詞：消える真ん中の文字 (قال)
💡

「Li」で誰に言ったかを伝える

アラビア語では、誰かに「言った」と言う時、動詞の後に「誰々に」という意味の「li」をつけます。「彼は私に言いました」と言いたい時は、「قَالَ لِي」とします。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 「言う」のアート：語根 Q-W-L をマスターしよう (qāla/yaqūlu)

重要な語彙 (5)

قَالَ (qāla) he said كَانَ (kāna) he was سَعِيد (saʿīd) happy يَوْم (yawm) day عَمِلَ (ʿamila) he worked

Real-World Preview

coffee

Sharing your weekend

Review Summary

  • Root + tu/nā
  • kāna + state

よくある間違い

You used the base form instead of the required -tu suffix for 'I'.

Wrong: أَنَا عَمِلَ (Ana ʿamila)
正解: أَنَا عَمِلْتُ (Ana ʿamiltu)

Hollow verbs lose their middle vowel when conjugated in the past.

Wrong: قَالْتُ (Qāltu)
正解: قُلْتُ (Qultu)

Kana must be conjugated to 'kuntu' for 'I', and adjectives in the predicate take the accusative case.

Wrong: أَنَا كَانَ سَعِيد (Ana kāna saʿīd)
正解: كُنْتُ سَعِيداً (Kuntu saʿīdan)

このチャプターのルール (5)

1

過去の「私」と「私たち」：アラビア語の完了形 (Al-Māḍī)

A2
語尾に「-tu」をつければ「私（I）」、 「«-nā»」をつければ「私たち（We）」の過去形がパッと完成します！
katabtu al-risālata
12 例文
2

アラビア語の二人称過去形：「あなたが〜した」 (-ta, -ti)

A2
動詞の最後を「無音」にしてから、相手に合わせた語尾 ta ti tum をプラスしましょう！
Hal ra'ayta manshūrī 'alā instaghrām?
10 例文
3

アラビア語の中空動詞：消える真ん中の文字 (قال)

A2
「私」や「あなた」など、子音で始まる語尾をつける時は、真ん中のアリフをポイッと捨てて «قُلتُ» や «بِعتُ» のように短くするのがコツです！
أنا قُلتُ الحقيقة لصديقي.
11 例文
4

「言う」のアート：語根 Q-W-L をマスターしよう (qāla/yaqūlu)

A2
「Q-W-L」の語根は、過去形では「a」の母音に、現在形では「u」の母音に変化します。そして命令形では母音が短くなる、「動詞の魔法」を覚えてくださいね！
Qāla al-mudīru inna al-ijtimā'a ghadan.
10 例文
5

Kanaを使った過去形：「私は〜だった」「それは〜だった」（كان）

A2
文章の前に「كان」を置いて、後ろの言葉を「対格（タンウィーン・ファトハ）」に変えるだけで過去の話ができます。 «كان» «كنت» «過去の状態»
كانت الحفلة رائعةً جداً أمس.
10 例文

Next Steps

Congratulations! You have completed the A2 level. You are now ready to start having real conversations about your life and experiences in Arabic.

Write a diary entry for yesterday

Continue to: Timing and Logic: When and Why

クイック練習 (3)

「言う」の正しい形を空欄に埋めてください。

Ana ___ al-haqīqata. (I say the truth)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: aqūlu (أَقُولُ)
主語が「Ana」（私）で現在形なので、活用は「aqūlu」になります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 「言う」のアート：語根 Q-W-L をマスターしよう (qāla/yaqūlu)

この文の間違いを見つけてください。

Find and fix the mistake:

Anta qālat hādhā. (You said this)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Anta qulta hādhā. (أَنْتَ قُلْتَ هَذَا)
過去形で「Anta」（あなた・男性単数）の場合、形は「qulta」になります。「Qālat」は「彼女が」の場合に使います。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 「言う」のアート：語根 Q-W-L をマスターしよう (qāla/yaqūlu)

「彼は言った」として文法的に正しいのはどれですか？

正しい過去形を選んでください:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Huwa qāla (هُوَ قَالَ)
Q-W-Lの語根は中空動詞なので、過去形では真ん中の「w」がアリフに変わって「qāla」となります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 「言う」のアート：語根 Q-W-L をマスターしよう (qāla/yaqūlu)

Score: /3

よくある質問 (6)

いいえ、アラビア語のここはとてもシンプル！男性も女性も「私は」は -tu 、「私たちは」は «-nā» を使います。 «كَتَبْتُ»
アラビア語には英語のような完了形がありません。過去形ひとつで両方の意味を表せます。 «نَسِيْتُ الشَّاحِنَ»
文脈で判断しましょう！女性の名前や「彼女」を指す言葉があれば ti、そうでなければ ta と読むのが一般的です。 «كتبتِ يا ليلى» のようにヒントを探してみて。
丁寧なアラビア語では tunna を使いますが、最近の話し言葉では tum で済ませることも多いですよ。 «هل فهمتم؟» と女性たちに聞くのはよくあることです。
真ん中の文字が弱くて、活用すると「空っぽ」になったり消えたりするからです。 «قالَ» が «قُلتُ» になるようにね。
現在形を見てみましょう。 «يقول» (彼は言う) なら Waw、 «يبيع» (彼は売る) なら Yaa が隠れた正体です。
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