A2 Verb Forms 10 min read Easy

I write vs. We write (First Person Present)

Match the first letter of the pronoun (أna, نahnu) to the first letter of the verb to get the present tense.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Arabic, use the prefix 'أ' for 'I' and 'ن' for 'we' to conjugate verbs in the present tense.

  • For 'I', add the prefix أ (alif) to the root: أكتب (I write).
  • For 'we', add the prefix ن (nun) to the root: نكتب (We write).
  • The root remains stable, but the prefix changes based on the subject.
أ + Root = I | ن + Root = We

Overview

Arabic verbs are the dynamic core of the language, communicating action, state, and intention. Unlike English, where auxiliary verbs often indicate tense and person, Arabic incorporates much of this information directly into the verb's structure through a sophisticated system of prefixes, suffixes, and internal vowel changes. Understanding these patterns is foundational for constructing meaningful sentences.

The Imperfect Tense (الفعل المضارع, al-fiʿl al-muḍāriʿ) in Arabic is a versatile verb form covering present and future actions. It signifies what you are doing now, what you habitually do, and what you will do. This guide focuses specifically on the First Person forms: I (أَنا, ʾanā) and We (نَحْنُ, naḥnu).

Mastering these forms is crucial for self-expression and describing collective actions, making them indispensable for A2 learners navigating daily conversations and basic narratives.

Its efficiency stems from the fact that a single verb form can convey a range of temporal meanings. For instance, أَكْتُبُ (ʾaktubu) can mean I write, I am writing, or I will write, with context determining the precise nuance. This inherent flexibility necessitates a deep understanding of the verb's construction and its typical usage scenarios, moving beyond a simple one-to-one translation.

How This Grammar Works

Arabic verbal morphology for the imperfect tense operates primarily through prefixes, a stark contrast to the suffixes that characterize the past tense (الفعل الماضي, al-fiʿl al-māḍī). These prefixes, known as أحرف المضارعة (aḥruf al-muḍāraʿa, imperfective letters), signal the person and number of the subject. For the first person, Arabic uses two distinct prefixes tied directly to the subject pronouns.
The fundamental principle is that the prefix matches the pronoun's initial sound: when you refer to yourself as I (أَنا), the verb begins with أ (ʾa-). When you refer to your group as We (نَحْنُ), the verb begins with ن (na-). This direct correspondence provides a mnemonic anchor, making the initial identification of first-person imperfect verbs relatively intuitive.
The verb's internal structure then undergoes specific vowel changes that further refine its meaning and ensure grammatical correctness.
Every Arabic verb is built upon a root (الجذر, al-jidhr), typically consisting of three consonant letters. For example, the root ك-ت-ب (k-t-b) conveys the core meaning of writing. These root letters, known as radicals (الحروف الأصلية, al-ḥurūf al-aṣliyya), are the foundation upon which all verb forms are constructed.
The imperfect tense overlays these radicals with the specific prefixes and vowel patterns relevant to the context, thereby generating the conjugated verb.
This system allows for extraordinary conciseness. When you say أَشْرَبُ (ʾashrabu), the single word intrinsically communicates I am drinking or I drink, eliminating the need for a separate subject pronoun unless emphasis is required. This verbal economy is a hallmark of Arabic and a key aspect that A2 learners must internalize to achieve natural communication.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the first-person imperfect verb requires a systematic application of prefixes and vowel changes to the verb's root. This process is highly regular for Form I verbs (الفعل الثلاثي المجرد, al-fiʿl ath-thulāthī al-mujarrad), which are the most common and foundational three-letter roots.
2
Let's deconstruct the process using the root ك-ت-ب (k-t-b), meaning to write:
3
Identify the Root: The three radical consonants are ك (k), ت (t), and ب (b).
4
Apply the Imperfective Prefix:
5
For I (أَنا), add the prefix أَ (ʾa-) to the beginning of the root.
6
For We (نَحْنُ), add the prefix نَ (na-) to the beginning of the root.
7
Vowelize the First Radical: The first consonant of the root (the فعل, faʿl, or first radical) usually receives a sukūn (˚), indicating the absence of a vowel.
8
For ك-ت-ب, the ك takes a sukūn when prefixed: أَكْـ or نَكْـ.
9
Special Note for Hamza: If the first radical is أ (hamza), it merges with the imperfective أ prefix. For instance, from the root أ-ك-ل (ʾ-k-l, to eat), I eat becomes آكُلُ (ʾākulu), where أَ + أ merges into آ (ā). Similarly, I take from أ-خ-ذ (ʾ-kh-dh) becomes آخُذُ (ʾākhudhu).
10
Vowelize the Second Radical (عين الفعل): This is the most variable and critical part for Form I verbs. The vowel on the second radical (the عين الفعل, ʿayn al-fiʿl, or middle radical) must be learned with each verb. It can be a fatḥa (ـَ), ḍamma (ـُ), or kasra (ـِ). There is no predictable rule; it's an inherent property of the verb's lexical entry.
11
For ك-ت-ب, the second radical ت takes a ḍamma: تُ (tu).
12
For ش-ر-ب (sh-r-b, to drink), the ر takes a fatḥa: رَ (ra).
13
For ع-ر-ف (ʿ-r-f, to know), the ر takes a kasra: رِ (ri).
14
Vowelize the Third Radical: The third consonant of the root (the لام الفعل, lām al-fiʿl, or third radical) typically receives a ḍamma (ُ) for the indicative mood (مرفوع, marfūʿ), which is the default state of the imperfect verb unless it is preceded by a particle that makes it subjunctive or jussive.
15
Putting it Together (Form I Example: ك-ت-ب – to write):
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I write / I am writing / I will write: أَ + كْ + تُ + بُ = أَكْتُبُ (ʾaktubu)
17
We write / We are writing / We will write: نَ + كْ + تُ + بُ = نَكْتُبُ (naktubu)
18
Conjugation Table (Form I Examples):
19
| Root | Meaning | Prefix (I) | Stem (I) | Full Verb (I) | Transliteration (I) | Prefix (We) | Stem (We) | Full Verb (We) | Transliteration (We) |
20
| :------ | :-------- | :--------- | :-------- | :------------ | :------------------ | :---------- | :-------- | :------------ | :------------------- |
21
| ك-ت-ب | to write | أَ | ـكْتُبُ | أَكْتُبُ | ʾaktubu | نَ | ـكْتُبُ | نَكْتُبُ | naktubu |
22
| ش-ر-ب | to drink | أَ | ـشْرَبُ | أَشْرَبُ | ʾashrabu | نَ | ـشْرَبُ | نَشْرَبُ | nashrabu |
23
| ذ-ه-ب | to go | أَ | ـذْهَبُ | أَذْهَبُ | ʾadhhabu | نَ | ـذْهَبُ | نَذْهَبُ | nadhhabu |
24
| د-ر-س | to study | أَ | ـدْرُسُ | أَدْرُسُ | ʾadrusu | نَ | ـدْرُسُ | نَدْرُسُ | nadrusu |
25
| ع-ر-ف | to know | أَ | ـعْرِفُ | أَعْرِفُ | ʾaʿrifu | نَ | ـعْرِفُ | نَعْرِفُ | naʿrifu |
26
| ف-ه-م | to understand | أَ | ـفْهَمُ | أَفْهَمُ | ʾafhamu | نَ | ـفْهَمُ | نَفْهَمُ | nafhamu |
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Beyond Form I: Derived Forms (الأوزان المزيدة)
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While Form I provides the basic framework, Arabic features several derived verb forms (الأوزان) which add nuanced meanings to the root. For these forms, the conjugation pattern for the first-person imperfect remains similar, but crucial differences appear, particularly in the vowelization of the imperfective prefix.
29
Form II (فعّل): The imperfective prefix (أ or ن) usually takes a ُ (ḍamma) if the first radical is also ḍamma in the imperfect. Example: ع-ل-م (ʿ-l-m, to know) becomes علَّمَ (ʿallama, to teach). I teach is أُعَلِّمُ (uʿallimu), and We teach is نُعَلِّمُ (nuʿallimu). Notice the ḍamma on the أ and ن prefixes.
30
Form III (فاعل): Example: س-ف-ر (s-f-r, to travel) becomes سافرَ (sāfara, to travel with someone). I travel (Form III sense) is أُسَافِرُ (usāfiru), We travel is نُسَافِرُ (nusāfiru). Again, the ḍamma on the prefix.
31
Form IV (أفعل): Example: س-ل-م (s-l-m, to be safe) becomes أسلمَ (ʾaslama, to embrace Islam). I embrace Islam is أُسْلِمُ (uslimu), We embrace Islam is نُسْلِمُ (nuslimu). This form always has a ḍamma on the imperfective prefix for all persons.
32
The key takeaway for A2 learners is to recognize that while Form I prefixes (أَ and نَ) typically take a fatḥa, many derived forms will have a ḍamma on these prefixes. This distinction is vital for accurate pronunciation and understanding, indicating the verb's form and, consequently, its precise meaning derived from the root.

When To Use It

The Arabic imperfect tense is exceptionally versatile, encompassing a broad semantic range that in English might require multiple tenses or constructions. For the first person, it primarily conveys actions and states in the present and future. Understanding these contexts is crucial for effective communication.
  1. 1Actions in Progress (Present Continuous): The imperfect tense expresses actions happening at the moment of speaking, akin to I am doing in English. This is its most immediate application.
  • أَكْتُبُ رِسَالَةً الآنَ. (ʾaktubu risālatan al-ʾāna.) – I am writing a letter now.
  • نَشْرَبُ القَهْوَةَ في الصَّباحِ. (nashrabu al-qahwata fī aṣ-ṣabāḥi.) – We are drinking coffee in the morning.
  1. 1Habitual or Customary Actions (Simple Present): It describes actions that occur regularly, repeatedly, or are part of a routine, mirroring the English I do.
  • أَذْهَبُ إلى الجَامِعَةِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ. (ʾadhhabu ʾilā al-jāmiʿati kulla yawmin.) – I go to university every day.
  • نَدْرُسُ اللُّغَةَ العَرَبِيَّةَ. (nadrusu al-lughata al-ʿarabīyata.) – We study the Arabic language.
  1. 1Future Actions: The imperfect tense inherently carries a future connotation, especially when accompanied by future-indicating adverbs or context. It can mean I will do or I am going to do.
  • أُسَافِرُ غَدًا إلى مِصْرَ. (ʾusāfiru ghadan ʾilā miṣra.) – I will travel to Egypt tomorrow.
  • نُرْسِلُ البَرِيدَ الإلِكْتْرُونِيَّ مَسَاءً. (nursilu al-barīd al-ʾiliktrūnīya masāʾan.) – We will send the email in the evening.
Note: For explicit future tense, the prefixes سَـ (sa-) or سَوْفَ (sawfa) are added to the imperfect verb, making it سَأُسَافِرُ (saʾusāfiru) or سَوْفَ نُرْسِلُ (sawfa nursilu). However, without these prefixes, the imperfect verb still frequently implies future action through context.
  1. 1States of Being and Cognition: Many verbs describing mental states, knowledge, or emotions use the imperfect tense to convey an ongoing condition.
  • أَعْرِفُ الإجَابَةَ. (ʾaʿrifu al-ʾijābata.) – I know the answer.
  • نَفْهَمُ الدَّرْسَ جَيِّدًا. (nafhamu ad-darsa jayyidan.) – We understand the lesson well.
  1. 1Intentions, Plans, and Desire: The imperfect tense can also express an intention or a desire to perform an action.
  • أُرِيدُ أن أَشْتَرِيَ كِتَابًا جَدِيدًا. (ʾurīdu ʾan ʾashtariya kitāban jadīdan.) – I want to buy a new book. (Here أُرِيدُ is I want, أَشْتَرِيَ is subjunctive after أن).
  • نُخَطِّطُ لِزِيَارَةِ الأَهْرَامَاتِ. (nukhaṭṭiṭu liziyārati al-ʾahrāmāt.) – We are planning to visit the pyramids.
This broad functionality means that a single first-person imperfect verb form, like أَذْهَبُ, can fluidly adapt its temporal meaning depending on adverbs, conversational context, or explicit future markers. Learners should train their ears and minds to infer these nuances, rather than seeking a one-to-one English equivalent for every usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners of Arabic frequently encounter specific challenges when forming and using the first-person imperfect verbs. Recognizing these common pitfalls is the first step toward correcting them and achieving greater fluency and accuracy.
  1. 1Incorrect Middle Vowel (حركة العين): This is arguably the most common and persistent error for Form I verbs. As explained in the Formation Pattern section, the vowel on the second radical (the عين الفعل) – fatḥa, ḍamma, or kasra – is irregular and must be memorized for each verb. Learners often incorrectly guess this vowel.
  • Error: Saying أَكْتَبُ (ʾaktabu) or أَكْتِبُ (ʾaktibu) instead of the correct أَكْتُبُ (ʾaktubu) for I write.
  • Error: Saying أَشْرُبُ (ʾashrubu) instead of the correct أَشْرَبُ (ʾashrabu) for I drink.
  • Correction Strategy: Always learn the imperfect form (or at least the middle vowel) when acquiring new Form I verbs. Flashcards or spaced repetition systems are highly effective for this specific challenge.
  1. 1Confusion of أ (Hamza) with ا (Alif): While both are written on the alif letter, أ (Alif with Hamza above or below) represents a glottal stop, whereas ا (Alif without Hamza) is primarily a long vowel ā or a silent placeholder. In the first-person singular imperfect, the prefix is always أ.
  • Error: Writing اكتب (iktub – command form) when intending أَكْتُبُ (ʾaktubu – I write).
  • Explanation: The presence of the hamza (ء) on the alif is crucial. أَكْتُبُ means I write. اكتب! is the imperative Write! (to a male singular). The omission of the hamza completely changes the grammatical function and meaning. This mistake can be particularly critical in written communication.
  • Correction Strategy: Pay meticulous attention to hamza placement for initial alifs in imperfect verbs. The imperfective أ will always carry a fatḥa (Form I) or ḍamma (derived forms) over the hamza.
  1. 1Overusing Subject Pronouns (أَنا / نَحْنُ): In Arabic, the verb's prefix inherently indicates the subject. Therefore, explicitly stating أَنا or نَحْنُ is often redundant unless emphasis is desired.
  • Error: Constantly saying أَنا أَذْهَبُ إلى السُّوقِ (ʾanā ʾadhhabu ʾilā as-sūqi) for I go to the market.
  • Correction: The grammatically complete and more natural phrasing is simply أَذْهَبُ إلى السُّوقِ (ʾadhhabu ʾilā as-sūqi). Using the pronoun (أَنا or نَحْنُ) renders the statement emphatic, similar to I MYSELF go to the market or WE are the ones who go. Reserve explicit pronoun use for contrast, clarification, or strong emphasis.
  1. 1Mixing Up Imperfective Prefixes for Derived Forms: While Form I verbs have a fatḥa on their أ or ن prefixes (أَشْرَبُ, نَكْتُبُ), many derived forms (Forms II, III, IV, etc.) take a ḍamma.
  • Error: Saying أَسْلَمُ (ʾaslamu) instead of أُسْلِمُ (uslimu) for I embrace Islam (Form IV).
  • Explanation: The vowel on the imperfective prefix (أ or ن) changes with the verb form. أَسْلَمُ (if it existed) would be a Form I verb, but أُسْلِمُ clearly signals Form IV. This ḍamma on the prefix is a key identifier for many derived forms.
  • Correction Strategy: When learning a derived verb form, always observe the vowel on its imperfective prefix. This vowel is consistent for all persons within that specific derived form.
  1. 1Confusing Imperfect with Past Tense Forms: Despite the distinct prefix vs. suffix system, beginners might momentarily confuse the overall structure, especially when translating from English where

Present Tense Conjugation (Form I)

Subject Prefix Verb (Root: K-T-B) Meaning
I
أ
أكتب
I write
We
ن
نكتب
We write
You (m)
ت
تكتب
You write
You (f)
ت...ين
تكتبين
You write
He
ي
يكتب
He writes
She
ت
تكتب
She writes

Meanings

These prefixes indicate the subject of the verb in the present tense (imperfective).

1

First Person Singular

Used when the speaker is the subject.

“أنا أقرأ كتاباً.”

“أنا أعمل في المكتب.”

2

First Person Plural

Used when the speaker and others are the subject.

“نحن نذهب إلى المدرسة.”

“نحن نلعب كرة القدم.”

Reference Table

Reference table for I write vs. We write (First Person Present)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative (I)
أ + root
أكتب
Affirmative (We)
ن + root
نكتب
Negative (I)
لا + أ + root
لا أكتب
Negative (We)
لا + ن + root
لا نكتب
Question (I)
هل + أ + root
هل أكتب؟
Question (We)
هل + ن + root
هل نكتب؟

Formality Spectrum

Formal
أنا أكتب رسالة.

أنا أكتب رسالة. (Writing)

Neutral
أكتب رسالة.

أكتب رسالة. (Writing)

Informal
قاعد أكتب رسالة.

قاعد أكتب رسالة. (Writing)

Slang
عم أكتب رسالة.

عم أكتب رسالة. (Writing)

First Person Prefixes

Verb Root

First Person

  • أ I
  • ن We
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Examples by Level

1

أنا أكتب.

I write.

2

نحن نكتب.

We write.

3

أنا أقرأ.

I read.

4

نحن نقرأ.

We read.

1

أنا لا أعمل اليوم.

I am not working today.

2

هل نذهب الآن؟

Are we going now?

3

أنا أحب القهوة.

I like coffee.

4

نحن نسكن هنا.

We live here.

1

سوف أكتب الرسالة غداً.

I will write the letter tomorrow.

2

نحن نحاول تعلم العربية.

We are trying to learn Arabic.

3

أنا أبحث عن عمل.

I am looking for a job.

4

نحن نخطط للسفر.

We are planning to travel.

1

أنا أدرك أهمية هذا الموضوع.

I realize the importance of this topic.

2

نحن نؤيد هذا القرار.

We support this decision.

3

أنا أعتمد على نفسي.

I rely on myself.

4

نحن نناقش الخطة.

We are discussing the plan.

1

أنا أستنتج أن الحل بسيط.

I conclude that the solution is simple.

2

نحن نستعرض النتائج.

We are reviewing the results.

3

أنا أستنكر هذا التصرف.

I denounce this behavior.

4

نحن نتبنى وجهة نظر جديدة.

We are adopting a new perspective.

1

أنا أستشرف مستقبلاً واعداً.

I foresee a promising future.

2

نحن نستنبط الحقائق.

We are deducing the facts.

3

أنا أستحضر ذكريات الماضي.

I am recalling memories of the past.

4

نحن نستجلي الغموض.

We are clarifying the ambiguity.

Easily Confused

I write vs. We write (First Person Present) vs Past vs Present

Learners mix up prefixes and suffixes.

I write vs. We write (First Person Present) vs He vs I

Both start with similar sounds.

I write vs. We write (First Person Present) vs We vs You

Both involve Nun or Ta.

Common Mistakes

✗

أنا كتب

✓

أنا أكتب

Missing the prefix.
✗

نحن كتب

✓

نحن نكتب

Missing the prefix.
✗

أكتب أنا

✓

أكتب

Redundant pronoun.
✗

نكتب نحن

✓

نكتب

Redundant pronoun.
✗

لا كتب

✓

لا أكتب

Missing prefix.
✗

أنا لا نكتب

✓

أنا لا أكتب

Subject-verb mismatch.
✗

نحن لا أكتب

✓

نحن لا نكتب

Subject-verb mismatch.
✗

سوف أكتبت

✓

سوف أكتب

Mixing past and present.
✗

أنا أكتبون

✓

أنا أكتب

Incorrect plural suffix.
✗

نحن نكتبين

✓

نحن نكتب

Incorrect gender suffix.
✗

أنا أستكتب

✓

أنا أكتب

Incorrect form usage.
✗

نحن نكتبوا

✓

نحن نكتب

Incorrect plural suffix.
✗

أنا أكتبا

✓

أنا أكتب

Incorrect mood marker.

Sentence Patterns

أنا ___ في ___.

نحن ___ إلى ___.

أنا لا ___ اليوم.

هل ___ نحن ___؟

Real World Usage

Texting constant

أنا أكتب لك الآن.

Job Interview very common

أنا أعمل بجد.

Food Delivery common

نحن نطلب الطعام.

Travel common

نحن نذهب إلى المطار.

Social Media very common

أنا أنشر صورة.

Classroom constant

نحن نقرأ الدرس.

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💡

Drop the pronoun

You don't need 'أنا' or 'نحن' every time. The prefix is enough.
⚠️

Watch the vowels

The vowel after the prefix changes based on the verb root.
🎯

Use the ATN rule

Remember Alif, Ta, Nun, Ya for present tense prefixes.
💬

Dialect matters

In casual speech, prefixes might change slightly.

Smart Tips

Drop the pronoun to sound more natural.

أنا أكتب الدرس. → أكتب الدرس.

Use the prefix to quickly switch subjects.

أنا أذهب، نحن نذهب. → أذهب، نذهب.

Learn the root first.

Learning 'أكتب' and 'نكتب' separately. → Learning 'كتب' and adding prefixes.

Use the ATN mnemonic.

Guessing the prefix. → Using ATN to identify the subject.

Pronunciation

a-ktubu

Prefix Vowel

The 'أ' is pronounced as 'a' (like 'cat').

Statement

أكتبُ.

Falling intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'A' for 'A-I' (I) and 'N' for 'N-ew' (We, as in 'new' group).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant 'أ' shaped like a pen in your hand (I write) and a 'ن' shaped like a boat carrying many people (We write).

Rhyme

Prefix 'أ' for me, Prefix 'ن' for we.

Story

I (أ) am sitting at my desk writing. Suddenly, my friends join me. Now we (ن) are all writing together.

Word Web

أكتبنكتبأقرأنقرأأعملنعمل

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your day using 'أ' and 5 using 'ن'.

Cultural Notes

Often adds 'عم' (am) to indicate continuous action.

Often adds 'ب' (b) prefix.

Uses standard MSA forms frequently.

Derived from Proto-Semitic verbal systems.

Conversation Starters

“

ماذا تفعل؟

“

أين تسكن؟

“

ماذا تعمل؟

“

ماذا تخطط لهذا الأسبوع؟

Journal Prompts

Write about your daily routine.
Write about what you and your friends do on weekends.
Describe your current job or studies.
Discuss a project you are working on with a team.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct prefix.

___كتب (I write)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أ
أ is for I.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

We write is:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نكتب
ن is for we.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

أنا نكتب.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أنا أكتب
Subject-verb agreement.
Change to We. Sentence Transformation

أنا أعمل.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نحن نعمل
Prefix change.
Conjugate for I. Conjugation Drill

Root: D-R-S

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أدرس
Prefix أ.
Match. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I/We
Prefix meanings.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ماذا تفعل؟ B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أنا أقرأ
Agreement.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

I / work / today

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أنا أعمل اليوم
Correct prefix.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct prefix.

___كتب (I write)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أ
أ is for I.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

We write is:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نكتب
ن is for we.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

أنا نكتب.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أنا أكتب
Subject-verb agreement.
Change to We. Sentence Transformation

أنا أعمل.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نحن نعمل
Prefix change.
Conjugate for I. Conjugation Drill

Root: D-R-S

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أدرس
Prefix أ.
Match. Match Pairs

أ/ن

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I/We
Prefix meanings.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ماذا تفعل؟ B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أنا أقرأ
Agreement.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

I / work / today

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أنا أعمل اليوم
Correct prefix.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Fill in the correct verb for 'I live' (s-k-n). Fill in the Blank

أنا ___ في القاهرة.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أَسْكُنُ
Fill in the correct verb for 'We play' (l-'-b). Fill in the Blank

نحن ___ كُرة السَلّة.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نَلْعَبُ
Identify the correct translation. Multiple Choice

How do you say 'I understand'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أَفْهَمُ
Identify the speaker. Multiple Choice

Who is speaking in this sentence? 'نُشاهِدُ التِلْفاز' (Nushahidu al-tilfaz)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We
Find the mismatch. Error Correction

أَنا نُحِبُّ الشاي.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أَنا أُحِبُّ الشاي.
Fix the prefix. Error Correction

نَحْنُ أَكُلُ البِيتْزا.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نَحْنُ نَأْكُلُ البِيتْزا.
Match the pronoun to the verb form. Match Pairs

Match the pairs

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["\u0623\u064e\u0646\u0627 (I)-\u0623\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u064f (Aktubu)","\u0646\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0646\u064f (We)-\u0646\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0628\u064f (Naktubu)"]
Conjugate 'to sit' (j-l-s) for 'I'. Fill in the Blank

أَنا ___ عَلى الكُرْسي.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أَجْلِسُ
Which sentence means 'We are reading'? Multiple Choice

Select the correct Arabic sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نَقْرَأُ الكِتاب.
Correct the verb used with 'Ana'. Error Correction

أَنا نَعْرِفُ الجَوَاب.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أَنا أَعْرِفُ الجَوَاب.
Select the correct form for 'We work' ('-m-l). Fill in the Blank

نحن ___ في المَكْتَب.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نَعْمَلُ
Is the sentence singular or plural? Multiple Choice

'نُسافِرُ إِلى مِصْر' (Nusafiru ila Misr)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Plural (We)

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

No, the prefix already tells the listener who the subject is.

The prefix 'أ' merges with it to form a long 'آ'.

The prefixes are standard, but the following vowels vary.

Just add 'لا' before the verb.

Add 'س' or 'سوف' before the verb.

It is the simplest verb pattern in Arabic.

Some weak verbs change the internal vowels.

Using the wrong prefix for the subject.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Conjugated endings

Position of the marker.

French low

Pronouns

Arabic embeds the pronoun.

German moderate

Verb endings

Arabic uses prefixes.

Japanese low

Contextual

Arabic is mandatory.

Arabic high

Prefixes

None.

Chinese low

Particles

Arabic is inflectional.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Arabic Plural Verbs: You all & They (ـون / ـن)

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