Imperative Mood: Tell people what to do! (uktub, ishrab)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The imperative mood is used to give direct commands or requests by conjugating the verb based on the listener's gender and number.
- For masculine singular, use the base form: 'Iqra' (Read!)
- For feminine singular, add a 'ya' suffix: 'Iqra'i' (Read!)
- For plural, add 'u' suffix: 'Iqra'u' (Read!)
Overview
To effectively communicate in Arabic, especially when guiding, instructing, or simply making a request, mastering the Imperative Mood (al-Amr / الْأَمْر) is fundamental. This grammatical mood allows you to issue direct commands, similar to saying "Go!", "Write!", or "Listen!" in English. Unlike English, where the verb form for a command often remains the same as the base form, Arabic verbs undergo specific morphological changes to convey the imperative.
The imperative mood is exclusively used for addressing the second person (you), as one can only directly command the person or people being spoken to. You cannot directly command a third person (he, she, they) or a first person (I, we); for those situations, different grammatical structures involving the jussive or subjunctive moods are employed, which are outside the scope of direct imperative formation. Understanding the imperative is crucial for everyday interactions, from following recipes to navigating public spaces, and forms a high-frequency component of spoken and written Arabic at the A1 level.
How This Grammar Works
alif wasla / همزة الوصل) is introduced to facilitate pronunciation.kataba / كَتَبَ (to write). Its present tense for "you (masculine singular)" is taktubu / تَكْتُبُ. The jussive form is taktub / تَكْتُبْ.uktub / اُكْتُبْ. The t- prefix is removed, and because the remaining word ktub would start with a consonant cluster, an alif wasla is inserted at the beginning, its vowel determined by the present tense middle radical's vowel. This systematic approach applies across most sound Form I verbs, establishing a clear pathway to command formation.Formation Pattern
-u).
taktubu / تَكْتُبُ (you write) from the root K-T-B.
tashrabu / تَشْرَبُ (you drink) from the root SH-R-B.
tajlisu / تَجْلِسُ (you sit) from the root J-L-S.
-u) to a sukoon (-ْ). If the verb is one of the "five verbs" (ending in -uun or -iin), the final nuun is dropped to form the jussive, but for A1, focus on the sukoon ending.
taktubu / تَكْتُبُ → taktub / تَكْتُبْ
tashrabu / تَشْرَبُ → tashrab / تَشْرَبْ
tajlisu / تَجْلِسُ → tajlis / تَجْلِسْ
t- for second person, is removed. This isolates the core verbal stem.
taktub / تَكْتُبْ → ktub / كْتُبْ
tashrab / تَشْرَبْ → shrab / شْرَبْ
tajlis / تَجْلِسْ → jlis / جْلِسْ
Alif Wasla (همزة الوصل) if Necessary: Observe the resulting stem. If it begins with a consonant cluster (i.e., the first letter is a sukoon), an alif wasla (ا) must be prefixed to the stem to conform to Arabic phonotactics. This alif is a placeholder for a vowel to break the initial consonant cluster.
ktub / كْتُبْ (begins with k + sukoon) requires alif wasla.
shrab / شْرَبْ (begins with sh + sukoon) requires alif wasla.
jlis / جْلِسْ (begins with j + sukoon) requires alif wasla.
Alif Wasla: The vowel on the alif wasla is determined by the vowel of the middle radical (the second root letter) in the present tense jussive form:
u), the alif wasla takes a damma (u).
taktub / تَكْتُبْ (middle radical ت has damma) → uktub / اُكْتُبْ (Write!)
a) or a kasra (i), the alif wasla takes a kasra (i).
tashrab / تَشْرَبْ (middle radical ر has fatha) → ishrab / اِشْرَبْ (Drink!)
tajlis / تَجْلِسْ (middle radical ل has kasra) → ijlis / اِجْلِسْ (Sit!)
kataba / كَتَبَ – to write):
Anta (You m.s.) | taktub / تَكْتُبْ | uktub / اُكْتُبْ | uktub | Write! |
Anti (You f.s.) | taktubii / تَكْتُبِي | uktubii / اُكْتُبِي | uktubii | Write! |
Antumaa (You dual) | taktubaa / تَكْتُبَا | uktubaa / اُكْتُبَا | uktubaa | Write! (to two)|
Antum (You m.pl.) | taktubuu / تَكْتُبُوا | uktubuu / اُكْتُبُوا | uktubuu | Write! (to many m.) |
Antunna (You f.pl.) | taktubna / تَكْتُبْنَ | uktubna / اُكْتُبْنَ | uktubna | Write! (to many f.) |
anti), dual (antumaa), and masculine plural (antum), the imperative retains the present tense jussive suffixes, as these inherently prevent a final sukoon. The feminine plural (antunna) also maintains its characteristic -na suffix. These suffixes are crucial for indicating gender and number in commands.
و, ا, ي in their roots), verbs with weak letters behave differently. For instance:
qaala / قَالَ - to say, root Q-W-L). The middle weak letter often disappears in the imperative. taqoolu / تَقُولُ (you say) → qul / قُلْ (Say!).
wasala / وَصَلَ - to arrive, root W-S-L). The initial weak letter may drop. tasilu / تَصِلُ (you arrive) → sil / صِلْ (Arrive!).
ramaa / رَمَى - to throw, root R-M-Y). The final weak letter is often dropped. tarmii / تَرْمِي (you throw) → irmi / اِرْمِ (Throw!).
alif wasla. Many derived forms do not require an alif wasla because, after removing the present tense prefix, the verb stem does not begin with a consonant cluster. For example, for Form II darrasa / دَرَّسَ (to teach): tudarrisu / تُدَرِّسُ (you teach) becomes darris / دَرِّسْ (Teach!). The stem darris does not start with a sukoon, thus no alif wasla is needed. For A1, focus primarily on Form I, but be aware that not all imperatives will start with alif wasla.
When To Use It
- 1Direct Commands and Instructions: This is the most straightforward application of the imperative. When you need someone to perform an action directly, the imperative is the appropriate grammatical tool.
uktub ismak hunaa./ اُكْتُبِ اسْمَكَ هُنَا. (Write your name here.) — A direct instruction on a form.iftah al-baab./ افْتَحِ البَابَ. (Open the door.) — A clear directive to someone.idhhab ila al-jaami'a./ اذْهَبْ إِلَى الجَامِعَةِ. (Go to the university.) — Giving directions.
- 1Making Requests (with politeness markers): While inherently direct, imperatives can be softened to become polite requests, particularly when accompanied by phrases like
min faDlik/ مِن فَضْلِكَ (please, to a male),min faDlikii/ مِن فَضْلِكِ (please, to a female), orlaw samaHt/ لَوْ سَمَحْتَ (if you please, to a male).
marra-lii al-milH, min faDlik./ مَرِّرْ لِي المِلْحَ، مِن فَضْلِكَ. (Pass me the salt, please.) — A common dinner table request.sa'id-nii bi-haadha al-kitab, law samaHt./ سَاعِدْنِي بِهَذَا الكِتَابِ، لَوْ سَمَحْتَ. (Help me with this book, if you please.) — A polite request for assistance.
- 1In Recipes, Manuals, and Signage: Imperatives are ubiquitous in instructional texts, where clarity and conciseness are paramount. They guide users through processes, from cooking to operating machinery.
aDif al-maa' ila al-daqiqa./ أَضِفِ المَاءَ إِلَى الدَّقِيقِ. (Add the water to the flour.) — A step in a recipe.iDhghat az-zira li-tashgheel al-jihaaz./ اِضْغَطِ الزِّرَّ لِتَشْغِيلِ الجِهَازِ. (Press the button to turn on the device.) — An instruction from an appliance manual.qif hunaa./ قِفْ هُنَا. (Stop here.) — A sign or verbal instruction, e.g., to a taxi driver.
- 1User Interface (UI) Elements and Digital Contexts: In modern digital applications and websites, imperative verbs are commonly used for buttons and action prompts, directing the user to perform specific tasks.
ibHath/ اِبْحَثْ (Search) — A button label.arsil ar-risala./ أَرْسِلِ الرِّسَالَةَ. (Send the message.) — A prompt or action button.daftar/ دَفْتِرْ (Register) — A call to action for signing up.
min faDlik, law samaHt) or rephrasing as a question (hal yumkinuka an...? / هَلْ يُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ...؟Common Mistakes
- 1Forgetting or Misvocalizing the
Alif Wasla:
- Mistake: Beginners often omit the
alif waslaentirely, attempting to pronounce words likektub(fromkataba) orshrab(fromshariba). This results in an unpronounceable consonant cluster at the beginning of the word, sounding jarring to native speakers. Arabic phonotactics generally forbid words from starting with a two-consonant cluster where the first consonant carries a sukoon. - Correction: Always remember to add the
alif wasla(ا) and correctly vocalize it (uori) when the imperative stem begins with a sukoon. Forkataba, it isuktub/ اُكْتُبْ, notktub. Forshariba, it isishrab/ اِشْرَبْ, notshrab. - Reasoning: The
alif waslaserves as a phonetic bridge, providing an initial vowel sound to break the impermissible consonant cluster, thus ensuring smooth pronunciation.
- 1Incorrect Vowel for the
Alif Wasla:
- Mistake: Misapplying the rule for the
alif waslavowel, such as using a fatha (a) instead of a damma (u) or kasra (i). For Form I verbs, thealif waslanever takes a fatha. It's either a damma (if the present tense middle radical has a damma) or a kasra (if the present tense middle radical has a fatha or kasra). - Correction: Consistently refer back to the present tense middle radical's vowel. If
taktubu(middleتhasu), thenuktub. Iftashrabu(middleرhasa), thenishrab. Iftajlisu(middleلhasi), thenijlis. - Reasoning: This rule is a core aspect of Arabic phonological consistency, linking the imperative form directly to the present tense stem for vocalization cues. Deviating from it creates an ungrammatical and unnatural-sounding word.
- 1Confusing Imperative with Present Tense Indicative:
- Mistake: Using the present tense indicative form (e.g.,
taktubu/ تَكْتُبُ ortaktub/ تَكْتُبْ for jussive) when an imperative is intended.Taktubumeans "you write" (as a statement or question), whiletaktubis the jussive form (e.g., "that you write"). Neither is a direct command. - Correction: Recognize that the imperative
uktub/ اُكْتُبْ (Write!) is morphologically distinct fromtaktubu/ تَكْتُبُ (You write.). The imperative carries the force of a command, while the indicative describes an ongoing or habitual action. - Reasoning: The distinct forms reflect distinct semantic functions. The imperative is explicitly for commanding, while the indicative and jussive serve other roles in sentence structure and meaning.
- 1Over-Generalizing the
Alif WaslaRequirement:
- Mistake: Assuming all imperative verbs, regardless of their form (Form I, II, III, etc.), will start with an
alif wasla. This is incorrect as many derived forms do not require it. - Correction: Remember that the
alif waslais only added if removing the present tense prefix leaves a stem starting with a consonant cluster. For Form II verbs likedarrisa(tudarrisu/ تُدَرِّسُ), the imperative isdarris/ دَرِّسْ, which does not begin with a sukoon and therefore needs noalif wasla. - Reasoning: The
alif waslais a phonetic patch for a specific phonological problem (initial consonant clusters), not a universal feature of all Arabic imperatives.
- 1Lack of Politeness/Contextual Awareness:
- Mistake: Using a blunt imperative in situations requiring deference or politeness, which can be perceived as rude, especially with strangers, elders, or those in positions of authority.
- Correction: Always consider the social context. For polite requests, integrate phrases like
min faDlik/ مِن فَضْلِكَ,min ba'di idhnika/ مِن بَعْدِ إِذْنِكَ (with your permission), or frame the request as a question. For example, instead ofa'Tinii al-qalam!/ أَعْطِنِي القَلَمَ! (Give me the pen!), you might sayhal yumkinuka an tu'Tii-nii al-qalam, min faDlik?/ هَلْ يُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ تُعْطِيَنِي القَلَمَ، مِن فَضْلِكَ؟ (Can you give me the pen, please?) - Reasoning: While grammatically correct, the social force of an imperative varies culturally. Arabic society often values indirectness and politeness in certain interactions, making direct commands potentially brusque.
Real Conversations
The imperative mood is not confined to textbooks; it permeates real-life Arabic conversations, whether spoken or written, formal or informal. Its practical applications range from giving simple instructions to engaging in social media interactions. Understanding its use in various contexts helps learners bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical communication.
1. Giving Everyday Instructions and Directions:
- At Home/With Friends:
- ya fatima, HaDDirii al-ghadaa'. / يَا فَاطِمَةُ، حَضِّرِي الغَدَاءَ. (Fatima, prepare lunch.)
- ghassil sayyarata-ka ghadan. / غَسِّلْ سَيَّارَتَكَ غَدًا. (Wash your car tomorrow.)
- To a Taxi Driver or when asking for directions:
- idhab ila ash-shaari' ar-ra'eesi. / اذْهَبْ إِلَى الشَّارِعِ الرَّئِيسِيِّ. (Go to the main street.)
- ittajih yaminan 'inda ishara al-murour. / اِتَّجِهْ يَمِينًا عِنْدَ إِشَارَةِ الْمُرُورِ. (Turn right at the traffic light.)
- In a Shop:
- a'Tinii kilo tafaaH. / أَعْطِنِي كِيلُو تُفَّاحٍ. (Give me a kilo of apples.) — Often implied with min faDlik.
2. Social Media and Digital Communication:
In the digital realm, imperatives are frequently used for calls to action, engagement, and sharing content. Many commands are abbreviated or used colloquially, but their MSA roots are clear.
- Following accounts: tābi'nā li-maziid min al-aakhbaar! / تَابِعْنَا لِمَزِيدٍ مِنَ الأَخْبَارِ! (Follow us for more news!)
- Sharing content: shārik hādhihi al-qissa ma'a aSdiqaa'ika. / شَارِكْ هَذِهِ القِصَّةَ مَعَ أَصْدِقَائِكَ. (Share this story with your friends.)
- Commenting/Interacting: uktub ra'yaka fi at-ta'liqāt. / اُكْتُبْ رَأْيَكَ فِي التَّعْلِيقَاتِ. (Write your opinion in the comments.)
- Watching videos: shāhid al-fidyu al-jadeed alan! / شَاهِدِ الْفِيدْيُو الجَدِيدَ الآنَ! (Watch the new video now!)
3. Educational and Formal Contexts:
Imperatives are essential in academic instructions, formal documents, and even in religious texts (e.g., commands from God).
- Exam instructions: ajib 'an jamee' al-as'ila. / أَجِبْ عَنْ جَمِيعِ الأَسْئِلَةِ. (Answer all questions.)
- Research directives: iStadhim al-maSādir al-mawthūqa. / اِسْتَخْدِمِ المَصَادِرَ المَوْثُوقَةَ. (Use reliable sources.)
- Presentations: unZur ila ash-shaasha. / اُنْظُرْ إِلَى الشَّاشَةِ. (Look at the screen.)
4. Cultural Insight: The Power of Directness and Context:
While politeness is valued, Arabic conversation also embraces directness when appropriate. For instance, a parent commanding a child or a teacher instructing students will use the imperative directly, as the hierarchical relationship permits it. In a bustling souk (market), direct imperatives like i'Tinii! / أَعْطِنِي! (Give me!) are common due to the transactional nature and speed of interaction.
However, in situations demanding more deference, such as addressing an elder or someone of higher status, direct imperatives are typically avoided or heavily softened. Instead, circumlocutions or requests framed as questions are preferred. For example, hal yumkinuka an tu'Tii-nii al-kitab? / هَلْ يُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ تُعْطِيَنِي الكِتَابَ؟ (Could you give me the book?) is more appropriate than a bare imperative. This highlights that while the grammatical rule is fixed, its social application is flexible and context-dependent.
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) vs. Dialects:
The imperative forms taught here are based on Modern Standard Arabic, which is understood across the Arab world and used in formal contexts. In various Arabic dialects, the imperative forms are often simplified or have slightly different phonetic realizations. For example, in many Levantine dialects, the masculine singular imperative might omit the alif wasla (e.g., ktub instead of uktub) or simplify weak verb conjugations. However, understanding the MSA forms provides a solid foundation, as the underlying principles of deriving from the present tense and the suffixes for gender/number often remain similar across dialects, even if the precise vocalization changes.
Quick FAQ
alif wasla (همزة الوصل)?alif wasla. The alif wasla is specific to Form I sound verbs (and some weak verbs and derived forms that begin with a sukoon after removing the present tense prefix). Its purpose is to prevent an initial consonant cluster, which is generally not permitted in Arabic phonology.alif wasla because their stems, after the removal of the present tense prefix, typically begin with a vowel or a consonant that carries a fatha, damma, or kasra, thus not creating an initial consonant cluster. For example, the imperative of Form II darrasa / دَرَّسَ (to teach) is darris / دَرِّسْ; the d has a fatha, so no alif wasla is needed.laa (لا)?laa (لا) before an imperative verb. Arabic has a distinct structure for negative commands, often called the prohibitive. It uses the negative particle laa (لا) followed by the present tense jussive form of the verb, not the imperative.laa taktub! / لَا تَكْتُبْ! (to a male singular). This is distinct from uktub! / اُكْتُبْ!qaala - to say or ramaa - to throw) in the imperative?و, ا, ي) in their root are called weak verbs (al-af'aal al-mu'talla / الأَفْعَالُ الْمُعْتَلَّةُ) and often undergo significant changes in the imperative, as in other conjugations. These changes occur because weak letters are fluid and can transform, drop, or merge depending on their position and surrounding vowels. For A1, be aware of the following general patterns:- Hollow verbs (weak middle letter, e.g.,
qaala/ قَالَ, root Q-W-L): The middle weak letter often drops in the masculine singular imperative.taqoolu/ تَقُولُ →qul/ قُلْ (Say!). - Assimilated verbs (weak initial letter, e.g.,
wasala/ وَصَلَ, root W-S-L): The initial weak letterوoften drops.tasilu/ تَصِلُ →sil/ صِلْ (Arrive!). - Deficient verbs (weak final letter, e.g.,
ramaa/ رَمَى, root R-M-Y): The final weak letter often drops in the masculine singular imperative.tarmii/ تَرْمِي →irmi/ اِرْمِ (Throw!).
ta'aal hunaa! / تَعَالَ هُنَا! (Come here!) to a child, or a'Tinii al-qalam / أَعْطِنِي القَلَمَ (Give me the pen) to a close friend. However, in formal settings, with strangers, or with those deserving special respect, using a bare imperative can indeed be perceived as abrupt or impolite.min faDlik / مِن فَضْلِكَ (please) or law samaHt / لَوْ سَمَحْتَ (if you please), or to rephrase the command as a polite question (hal yumkinuka an...? / هَلْ يُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ...؟ - Can you...?`). Cultural awareness is key to navigating these social nuances effectively.lam / لَمْ), after certain particles that convey command or request (li- / لِـ, the imperative lam), and in conditional clauses. The imperative basically takes the jussive form and, for specific second-person contexts, modifies it by removing the prefix and adding an alif wasla if needed.Imperative Conjugation (Root: K-T-B)
| Person | Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Masc. Sing.
|
اكتب
|
Uktub
|
Write!
|
|
Fem. Sing.
|
اكتبي
|
Uktubi
|
Write!
|
|
Masc. Pl.
|
اكتبوا
|
Uktubu
|
Write!
|
|
Fem. Pl.
|
اكتبن
|
Uktubna
|
Write!
|
|
Dual
|
اكتبا
|
Uktuba
|
Write!
|
Meanings
The imperative mood is used to issue commands, requests, or advice directly to the listener.
Direct Command
An order given to someone.
“اجلس هنا (Sit here!)”
“اكتب الدرس (Write the lesson!)”
Polite Request
Softened command using 'please'.
“من فضلك، ساعدني (Please, help me!)”
“لو سمحت، تكلم ببطء (Please, speak slowly!)”
Advice/Instruction
Giving guidance.
“ادرس جيداً (Study well!)”
“نم مبكراً (Sleep early!)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Root + Suffix
|
اذهب (Idhhab)
|
|
Negative
|
La + Present
|
لا تذهب (La tadhhab)
|
|
Polite
|
Imperative + Min Fadlak
|
اذهب من فضلك
|
|
Plural
|
Root + u
|
اذهبوا (Idhhabu)
|
|
Feminine
|
Root + i
|
اذهبي (Idhhabi)
|
|
Emphatic
|
Root + nna
|
اذهبن (Idhhabna)
|
Formality Spectrum
تفضل بالجلوس (General)
اجلس (General)
اقعد (General)
اقعد يا بطل (General)
Imperative Branches
Gender
- مذكر Masculine
- مؤنث Feminine
Number
- مفرد Singular
- جمع Plural
Examples by Level
اقرأ الكتاب
Read the book.
اشرب الحليب
Drink the milk.
اكتب اسمك
Write your name.
اجلس هنا
Sit here.
افتحي النافذة من فضلك
Open the window, please.
اذهبوا إلى المدرسة
Go to school (plural).
لا تفتح الباب
Do not open the door.
اسمعني جيداً
Listen to me well.
ساعدني في حل هذه المشكلة
Help me solve this problem.
تكلم بوضوح أكثر
Speak more clearly.
لا تذهب إلى هناك وحدك
Do not go there alone.
خذ هذا الملف معك
Take this file with you.
راجع هذه الوثائق قبل الاجتماع
Review these documents before the meeting.
لا تتردد في الاتصال بنا
Do not hesitate to contact us.
أعطني رأيك الصريح
Give me your honest opinion.
حافظ على هدوئك
Keep your calm.
استوعب الفكرة قبل أن تحكم
Grasp the idea before you judge.
لا تستهن بقدراتك أبداً
Never underestimate your abilities.
استشر الخبراء في هذا المجال
Consult the experts in this field.
تأمل في جمال الطبيعة
Contemplate the beauty of nature.
لا تحيدن عن طريق الحق
Do not deviate from the path of truth (emphatic).
استمسك بالقيم التي تربيت عليها
Hold fast to the values you were raised on.
لا تكن ممن يتبعون الهوى
Do not be among those who follow whims.
أمعن النظر في هذه التفاصيل
Examine these details closely.
Easily Confused
They look identical in the second person.
Learners try to use the imperative for negative commands.
Using plural for singular.
Common Mistakes
لا اكتب
لا تكتب
اكتب (to a girl)
اكتبي
اكتبوا (to one person)
اكتب
اذهب (without alif)
اذهب
اذهبوا (to two people)
اذهبا
لا تذهبوا (to one person)
لا تذهب
تكلم (as a command)
تكلم
اكتب (for third person)
ليكتب
اسمع (with wrong alif)
اسمع
لا تذهبون
لا تذهبوا
اكتبن (for men)
اكتبوا
Sentence Patterns
___ (verb) ___ (object)!
لا ___ (verb) ___ (object)!
___ (verb) ___ (object) من فضلك.
___ (verb) ___ (adverb)!
Real World Usage
تابعنا للمزيد!
تعال الآن.
تفضل بالجلوس.
قف هنا.
أحضر الطعام بسرعة.
افتح الكتاب.
Use 'Min Fadlak'
No Negative Imperatives
Listen to the Vowel
Tone Matters
Smart Tips
Always add 'min fadlak' at the end of your command.
Default to the masculine form.
Stop yourself from using the imperative and switch to 'la' + present.
Use formal verbs like 'tafaddal' (please do).
Pronunciation
Helper Alif
The initial alif is a bridge to help pronounce the consonant cluster.
Command
اجلس! ↘
Falling intonation indicates a firm command.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'I-U-U': 'I' for the girl, 'U' for the group, and base for the man.
Visual Association
Imagine a teacher pointing at a student (masculine), then a girl (feminine), then a whole class (plural).
Rhyme
For the man, keep it base; for the girl, add an 'i' in place; for the group, add a 'u' to the face.
Story
Ahmed tells his sister to 'Iftah' (open) the door. She says 'Iftahi' (open it). Then they both tell the kids 'Iftahu' (open it) to get the snacks.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 commands for your morning routine and say them out loud.
Cultural Notes
Often uses 'yalla' before imperatives to soften the tone.
Highly formal, often adds 'ya akhi' (my brother) to soften commands.
Uses 'ya' + name to make commands sound friendly.
Derived from the jussive mood of the imperfective verb.
Conversation Starters
ماذا أكتب؟
هل أجلس هنا؟
كيف أطلب القهوة؟
هل يمكنني الذهاب؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ (اكتب) الدرس يا أحمد.
___ (لا تذهب) إلى هناك.
Find and fix the mistake:
لا اكتب الدرس.
افتح / الباب / من فضلك
اجلس (Masc) -> ?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
اشرب الحليب -> ?
The imperative is used for third person.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ (اكتب) الدرس يا أحمد.
___ (لا تذهب) إلى هناك.
Find and fix the mistake:
لا اكتب الدرس.
افتح / الباب / من فضلك
اجلس (Masc) -> ?
اكتبوا (Plural) - اكتب (Masc) - اكتبي (Fem)
اشرب الحليب -> ?
The imperative is used for third person.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercises___-khruj min huna! (Get out of here!) - Root vowel is 'u' (yakhruju).
___-ghsil yadayka. (Wash your hands) - Root vowel is 'i' (yaghsilu).
Match the verb form to the person being addressed.
Identify the imperative sentence.
Aktub al-waajib. (Write the homework!)
al-kitaab / iqra' / min faDlika
Translate: Sit down (f).
Ya Sarah, ___ (open) the door.
How do you say 'Don't go!'?
Which Alif vowel goes with which Stem vowel?
Ya aSdiqaa'ii, isma' (Listen, my friends!).
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
No, the imperative is only for addressing others (second person).
It depends on the vowel of the second root letter in the present tense.
It can be, so always add 'min fadlak'.
Use 'la' + present tense.
Yes, verbs with weak roots (like 'qala') have special forms.
Yes, use the 'na' suffix.
The imperative is a specific form for commands; the jussive is a mood used in other contexts.
Use the masculine singular as the default.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Imperativo
Spanish uses subjunctive for negative commands.
Impératif
French lacks the gendered suffixes of Arabic.
Imperativ
German does not gender the imperative.
Meireikei
Japanese commands are often considered rude.
Imperative
Chinese relies on particles for tone.
Fi'l al-Amr
Dialects simplify the vowel patterns.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
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