A2 Basic Verbs 10 min read Easy

Arabic Negative Imperative: How to say 'Don't!' (Al-Nahy)

Form the negative imperative by adding لَا to the Jussive present tense to command 'Don't do it!'
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To say 'Don't!' in Arabic, use the particle 'la' (لا) followed by the Jussive form of the verb.

  • Use the particle 'la' (لا) to negate the command.
  • Conjugate the verb in the present tense (second person).
  • Change the final vowel to a sukun (or drop the 'n' in plural forms).
لا (la) + [Present Tense Verb (Jussive)]

Overview

The Arabic Negative Imperative, known as النَّهْي (an-Nahy), is a grammatical construct used to issue direct commands not to perform an action. It functions as the "don't" in English, instructing someone to cease an ongoing activity or to refrain from starting one. This differs significantly from simple negation, which merely states a fact about an action not happening.

Understanding النهي is fundamental for expressing prohibitions, giving advice, and issuing warnings in Arabic. It is a core component of daily communication, appearing frequently in formal and informal contexts alike. The النَّهْي relies on a specific verbal mood called the Jussive mood (المَجْزُوم), which modifies the verb's ending to indicate this prohibitive command.

Mastering this pattern allows you to clearly communicate boundaries and guidance in various social interactions.

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of the Arabic Negative Imperative is the Jussive mood (الجَزْم - al-jazm). This mood is characterized by specific changes, or "truncations," to the end of a present tense verb (المُضَارِع). It signals that the verb is being used for a command, a request, or a conditional clause.
For negative commands, the Jussive mood is always preceded by the particle لَا (lā). However, it is crucial to understand that this لَا is not the same as the لَا used for simple negation.
The prohibitive لَا is specifically لَا النَّاهِيَة (lā an-nāhiyah), meaning "the lā of prohibition." It explicitly triggers the Jussive mood in the following verb, demanding a change to its ending. In contrast, لَا النَّافِيَة (lā an-nāfiyah), "the lā of negation," simply negates the present tense verb without changing its ending. The verb with لَا النَّافِيَة remains in the indicative mood (المَرْفُوع).
You must use the second person forms of the verb (أَنْتَ, أَنْتِ, أَنْتُمَا, أَنْتُمْ, أَنْتُنَّ) with لَا النَّاهِيَة. This is because a prohibition is always a direct address to one or more individuals. You cannot issue a direct command to someone who is not being spoken to directly.
The concept of Jussive truncation involves specific modifications to the verb's ending: for most healthy verbs (those without weak letters ا, و, ي as part of their root) and regular plural/dual forms, the ending is either shortened or removed entirely. This "chopping off" is a consistent pattern in Arabic grammar, ensuring clarity in distinguishing between a statement and a command. For example, if you want to tell someone "don't write," you would transform the indicative تَكْتُبُ (you write) into the jussive لَا تَكْتُبْ (don't write).
The final vowel ـُ is replaced by a سُكُون (sukūn). This phonetic and orthographic change is what marks the verb as being in the prohibitive Jussive mood.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the Arabic Negative Imperative involves three main steps: identifying the correct present tense verb form, preceding it with لَا النَّاهِيَة, and then applying the specific Jussive ending modifications. This process ensures the verb accurately conveys a prohibition for the addressed individual(s).
2
Step 1: Start with the Second-Person Present Tense Verb
3
Begin with the appropriate second-person (أَنْتَ, أَنْتِ, أَنْتُمَا, أَنْتُمْ, أَنْتُنَّ) present tense form of the verb. Ensure you are using the correct form for the gender and number of the person or people you are addressing. These forms are based on the verb's root and pattern, indicating the subject (you).
4
| Pronoun | Meaning | Example Verb: كَتَبَ (to write) | Present Tense Form (المُضَارِعُ الْمَرْفُوعُ) | Transliteration |
5
| :--------- | :--------------- | :--------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :-------------- |
6
| أَنْتَ | You (m. sg.) | تَكْتُبُ | You write | taktubu |
7
| أَنْتِ | You (f. sg.) | تَكْتُبِينَ | You write | taktubīna |
8
| أَنْتُمَا | You (dual m./f.) | تَكْتُبَانِ | You both write | taktubāni |
9
| أَنْتُمْ | You (m. pl.) | تَكْتُبُونَ | You all write (masculine) | taktubūna |
10
| أَنْتُنَّ | You (f. pl.) | تَكْتُبْنَ | You all write (feminine) | taktubna |
11
Step 2: Add the Prohibitive Particle لَا
12
Place لَا النَّاهِيَة directly before the present tense verb. This particle immediately signals that a command of prohibition is about to follow, triggering the Jussive mood in the subsequent verb. It acts as the grammatical marker for a negative imperative.
13
Step 3: Apply Jussive Truncation (Verb Ending Modifications)
14
This is the most critical step, as it changes the verb's final vowel or letters. The specific change depends on the verb's original present tense ending. These modifications are consistent across all verbs of a similar type.
15
Case 1: Verbs ending with a Damma (ـُ)
16
For أَنْتَ (masculine singular), the final ـُ (damma) is replaced by a سُكُون (sukūn). This applies to all healthy masculine singular present tense verbs.
17
Example: تَكْتُبُ (you write) becomes لَا تَكْتُبْ (lā taktub).
18
لَا تَذْهَبْ إِلَى هُنَاكَ. (lā tadhab ilā hunāk.) – Don't go there. (to a male)
19
لَا تَأْكُلْ هَذَا. (lā ta'kul hādhā.) – Don't eat this. (to a male)
20
Case 2: Verbs ending with ـُونَ (Waw and Noon)
21
For أَنْتُمْ (masculine plural), the final ـُونَ is dropped. A silent ا (alif) is added after the و (waw) to preserve correct Arabic orthography, indicating that the ن (noon) has been removed. This ا is called أَلِفُ الْوِقَايَة (alif al-wiqāyah) or أَلِفُ الْفَارِقَة (alif al-fāriqah), signifying the end of the verb. This rule applies similarly to the third-person masculine plural هُمْ in Jussive contexts.
22
Example: تَكْتُبُونَ (you all write) becomes لَا تَكْتُبُوا (lā taktubū).
23
لَا تَتَكَلَّمُوا بِصَوْتٍ عَالٍ. (lā tatakallamū bi-ṣawtin ʿālī.) – Don't speak loudly. (to males)
24
لَا تَلْعَبُوا هُنَا. (lā talʿabū hunā.) – Don't play here. (to males)
25
Case 3: Verbs ending with ـِينَ (Ya and Noon)
26
For أَنْتِ (feminine singular), the final ـِينَ is dropped. This is a common pattern for second-person feminine singular Jussive verbs.
27
Example: تَكْتُبِينَ (you write) becomes لَا تَكْتُبِي (lā taktubī).
28
لَا تَشْرَبِي الْقَهْوَة. (lā tashrabī al-qahwah.) – Don't drink coffee. (to a female)
29
لَا تَفْهَمِي خَطَأً. (lā tafhamī khaṭa'an.) – Don't misunderstand. (to a female)
30
Case 4: Verbs ending with ـَانِ (Alif and Noon)
31
For أَنْتُمَا (dual, both masculine and feminine), the final ـَانِ is dropped. This form is used when addressing two people regardless of their gender.
32
Example: تَكْتُبَانِ (you both write) becomes لَا تَكْتُبَا (lā taktubā).
33
لَا تَذْهَبَا إِلَى السُّوقِ. (lā tadhabā ilā as-sūq.) – Don't both go to the market. (to two people)
34
لَا تَجْلِسَا هُنَا. (lā tajlisā hunā.) – Don't both sit here. (to two people)
35
Case 5: Verbs ending with ـْنَ (Noon al-Niswa)
36
For أَنْتُنَّ (feminine plural), the نُونَ النِّسْوَة (nūn al-niswah - "noon of femininity") at the end of the verb is never dropped. This ن is a strong, integral part of the feminine plural conjugation and is resistant to Jussive truncation. This is an important exception to the general rule of dropping the ن for Jussive forms.
37
Example: تَكْتُبْنَ (you all (f.) write) remains لَا تَكْتُبْنَ (lā taktubna).
38
لَا تَجْلِسْنَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ. (lā tajlisna ʿalā al-arḍ.) – Don't all (f.) sit on the floor.
39
لَا تَلْمَسْنَ الزُّهُورَ. (lā talmasna az-zuhūr.) – Don't all (f.) touch the flowers.
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Summary Table for Jussive Forms:
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| Pronoun | Present Tense (Indicative) (مَرْفُوع) | Negative Imperative (Jussive) (مَجْزُوم) | Transliteration of Jussive |
42
| :--------- | :--------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------- | :------------------------- |
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| أَنْتَ | تَكْتُبُ | لَا تَكْتُبْ | lā taktub |
44
| أَنْتِ | تَكْتُبِينَ | لَا تَكْتُبِي | lā taktubī |
45
| أَنْتُمَا | تَكْتُبَانِ | لَا تَكْتُبَا | lā taktubā |
46
| أَنْتُمْ | تَكْتُبُونَ | لَا تَكْتُبُوا | lā taktubū |
47
| أَنْتُنَّ | تَكْتُبْنَ | لَا تَكْتُبْنَ | lā taktubna |
48
Important Note on Weak Verbs (الأَفْعَالُ الْمُعْتَلَّة)
49
Verbs whose root contains a "weak letter" (ا, و, ي) are called weak verbs. In the Jussive mood, if the weak letter is the final letter of the verb, it is dropped as a form of truncation. This preserves phonetic balance and applies to all forms except أَنْتُنَّ.
50
Example: The verb دَعَا (to call/invite). Present tense أَنْتَ تَدْعُو (tadʿū). In the Jussive, the و is dropped: لَا تَدْعُ (lā tadʿu) – Don't call/invite.
51
Example: The verb مَشَى (to walk). Present tense أَنْتَ تَمْشِي (tamshī). In the Jussive, the ي is dropped: لَا تَمْشِ (lā tamshi) – Don't walk.
52
Example: The verb رَأَى (to see). Present tense أَنْتَ تَرَى (tarā). In the Jussive, the ى (alif maqsurah) is dropped: لَا تَرَ (lā tara) – Don't see.
53
This rule for weak verbs is a consistent feature of the Jussive mood, whether for prohibition or other Jussive contexts, making the verb lighter and easier to pronounce.

When To Use It

The Arabic Negative Imperative is a versatile tool for various communicative functions, primarily centered around direct instruction and influence. Its usage extends beyond mere prohibition, encompassing advice, warnings, and even polite requests when appropriately softened. Understanding these contexts helps you apply the لَا النَّاهِيَة effectively in real-world scenarios, ensuring your communication is clear and culturally appropriate.
  1. 1Direct Prohibitions and Commands:
This is the most straightforward use. You issue a clear command for someone not to perform a specific action. The tone can range from firm to gentle, depending on the context and your relationship with the person being addressed.
This is often seen in instructional settings or when safety is a concern.
  • لَا تَقْفِزْ! (lā taqfiz!) – Don't jump! (to a child near danger)
  • لَا تَفْتَحِ الْبَابَ. (lā taftaḥi al-bāb.) – Don't open the door. (an important security instruction)
  • لَا تُلْمِسُوا مُعَدَّاتِ السَّلامَة. (lā tulmisū muʿaddāt as-salāmah.) – Don't touch the safety equipment. (to a group of people)
  1. 1Giving Advice and Warnings:
The negative imperative is commonly used to offer advice, suggesting that a particular action is unwise or will lead to negative consequences. These are often phrased as friendly cautions, especially among peers or to younger individuals.
  • لَا تَنْسَ وَاجِبَاتِكَ. (lā tansa wājībātika.) – Don't forget your homework. (advice to a student)
  • لَا تَقْلَقْ كَثِيراً. (lā taqlaq kathīran.) – Don't worry too much. (reassuring advice)
  • لَا تَقْتَرِبُوا مِنَ النَّارِ. (lā taqtaribū mina an-nār.) – Don't get close to the fire. (a general warning to a group)
  1. 1Expressing Pleas or Requests (Politely):
While a direct command, the negative imperative can be softened with polite phrases like مِنْ فَضْلِكَ (to a male) / مِنْ فَضْلِكِ (to a female) – "please." This transforms a command into a polite request, suitable for more formal or respectful interactions.
  • مِنْ فَضْلِكَ، لَا تُغَادِرْ قَبْلِي. (min faḍlika, lā tughādir qablī.) – Please, don't leave before me. (polite request)
  • لَا تَتَأَخَّرِي، مِنْ فَضْلِكِ. (lā tatakhkharī, min faḍliki.) – Don't be late, please. (polite reminder to a female)
  1. 1Common Expressions and Idioms:
Many everyday Arabic phrases use the negative imperative to convey common sentiments or warnings. These are often learned as fixed expressions.
  • لَا بَأْسَ. (lā ba's.) – No problem / Never mind / It's alright. (literally: no harm)
  • لَا تَخَفْ. (lā takhaf.) – Don't be afraid. (from خَافَ - to fear, a weak verb)
  • لَا تَغْضَبْ. (lā taghḍab.) – Don't get angry. (common advice)
Using the negative imperative effectively means not only knowing the grammatical rules but also understanding the social context and adjusting your tone accordingly. A prohibition can be delivered firmly when necessary or gently when offering comfort or advice.

Common Mistakes

Learners often encounter specific pitfalls when mastering the Arabic Negative Imperative. Recognizing these common errors and understanding their underlying causes can significantly accelerate your learning process. These mistakes often stem from overgeneralizing rules or confusion with similar-sounding structures.
  1. 1Confusing لَا النَّاهِيَة with لَا النَّافِيَة:
This is the most frequent and crucial mistake. Both use لَا, but their grammatical functions and impact on the verb are fundamentally different. لَا النَّافِيَة (negation) states a fact, while لَا النَّاهِيَة (prohibition) issues a command. The key differentiator is the verb's ending:
  • أَنْتَ لَا تَشْرَبُ الْقَهْوَةَ. (anta lā tashrabu al-qahwata.) – You do not drink coffee. (Statement of fact - verb is indicative مَرْفُوع).
  • لَا تَشْرَبْ الْقَهْوَةَ! (lā tashrab al-qahwata!) – Don't drink coffee! (Command - verb is jussive مَجْزُوم).
  • The difference between تَشْرَبُ (with damma) and تَشْرَبْ (with sukun) is vital. Always pay attention to the final vowel/diacritic.
  1. 1Incorrect Jussive Endings (Forgetting Truncation):
Failing to apply the Jussive truncation rules (dropping ن or changing ـُ to ـْ) is a common error. This makes your command grammatically incorrect and could be misinterpreted as a statement of fact.
  • Incorrect: لَا تَكْتُبُونَ (Instead of لَا تَكْتُبُوا) – sounds like "you all don't write" as a statement.
  • Incorrect: لَا تَذْهَبُ (Instead of لَا تَذْهَبْ) – sounds like "you don't go" as a statement.
Remember to consistently apply the required ending changes as detailed in the Formation Pattern section.
  1. 1Using for Third Person or First Person:
The Negative Imperative (لَا النَّاهِيَة) is exclusively for direct address, meaning it can only be used with second-person pronouns (أَنْتَ, أَنْتِ, etc.). You cannot use it to directly command a third person ("he," "she," "they") or a first person ("I," "we").
  • Incorrect: لَا يَأْكُلْ هُوَ. (You cannot command

2. Negative Imperative Conjugation (Verb: Kataba - To Write)

Person Affirmative Negative Imperative
You (m. sing.)
Uktub
La taktub
You (f. sing.)
Uktubii
La taktubii
You (m. dual)
Uktubaa
La taktubaa
You (m. pl.)
Uktubuu
La taktubuu
You (f. pl.)
Uktubna
La taktubna

Meanings

The negative imperative, or 'Al-Nahy', is used to forbid an action or give a negative command to someone.

1

Direct Prohibition

Telling someone directly not to do something.

“لا تأكل هذا! (Don't eat this!)”

“لا تجلس هنا! (Don't sit here!)”

2

Strong Advice

Warning someone against a negative behavior.

“لا تضيع وقتك. (Don't waste your time.)”

“لا تثق به. (Don't trust him.)”

3

Formal Prohibition

Used in signs or formal instructions.

“لا تلمس المعروضات. (Do not touch the exhibits.)”

“لا تدخن هنا. (Do not smoke here.)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Arabic Negative Imperative: How to say 'Don't!' (Al-Nahy)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Imperative stem
Uktub (Write!)
Negative
La + Jussive
La taktub (Don't write!)
Question
Hal + Verb
Hal taktub? (Are you writing?)
Short Answer
Na'am/La
La, la aktub (No, I'm not writing)
Plural Negative
La + Jussive (no n)
La taktubuu (Don't write!)
Weak Verb
La + Jussive (drop vowel)
La tansa (Don't forget!)

Formality Spectrum

Formal
لا تذهب.

لا تذهب. (General)

Neutral
لا تذهب.

لا تذهب. (General)

Informal
لا تروح.

لا تروح. (General)

Slang
ما تروحش.

ما تروحش. (General)

The Anatomy of 'Don't!'

لا (La)

Verb

  • تكتب You write

Action

  • لا تكتب Don't write

Affirmative vs. Negative

Affirmative
اذهب Go!
Negative
لا تذهب Don't go!

How to form the Negative Imperative

1

Is it a command?

YES
Use Present Tense
NO
Use other tense
2

Is it negative?

YES
Add 'La'
NO
Keep affirmative
3

Final step?

YES
Add Sukun
NO
Done

Common Prohibitions

⚠️

Safety

  • • لا تلمس
  • • لا تقترب
  • • لا تعبر
💬

Social

  • • لا تتكلم
  • • لا تصرخ
  • • لا تقاطع
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Examples by Level

1

لا تذهب

Don't go

2

لا تأكل

Don't eat

3

لا تجلس

Don't sit

4

لا تنم

Don't sleep

1

لا تفتح الباب

Don't open the door

2

لا تتكلم معي

Don't talk to me

3

لا تضيع وقتك

Don't waste your time

4

لا تنسَ موعدنا

Don't forget our appointment

1

لا تلمس المعروضات في المتحف

Don't touch the exhibits in the museum

2

لا تسرع في القيادة

Don't speed while driving

3

لا تتدخل في شؤوني

Don't interfere in my affairs

4

لا تتردد في الاتصال بنا

Don't hesitate to contact us

1

لا تستهن بقدرات الآخرين

Don't underestimate the abilities of others

2

لا تكن متسرعاً في قراراتك

Don't be hasty in your decisions

3

لا تترك الباب مفتوحاً

Don't leave the door open

4

لا تظلم أحداً أبداً

Don't ever treat anyone unjustly

1

لا تستخف بالتحذيرات الأمنية

Don't take security warnings lightly

2

لا تنجرف وراء الشائعات

Don't get carried away by rumors

3

لا تساوم على مبادئك

Don't compromise your principles

4

لا تتوانَ عن تقديم المساعدة

Don't delay in providing assistance

1

لا تغتر بما حققته من نجاح

Don't be deceived by the success you've achieved

2

لا تتقاعس عن أداء واجبك

Don't slack off in performing your duty

3

لا تتملق لأصحاب النفوذ

Don't flatter those in power

4

لا تستهلك الموارد دون داعٍ

Don't consume resources without cause

Easily Confused

Arabic Negative Imperative: How to say 'Don't!' (Al-Nahy) vs Affirmative vs. Negative Imperative

Learners mix up the stems.

Arabic Negative Imperative: How to say 'Don't!' (Al-Nahy) vs Prohibitive 'La' vs. Negative 'La'

They look the same.

Arabic Negative Imperative: How to say 'Don't!' (Al-Nahy) vs Second Person vs. Third Person

Learners try to use it for 'he' or 'she'.

Common Mistakes

✗

لا تذهبين

✓

لا تذهبي

Forgetting to drop the 'n' in the feminine singular.
✗

لا تذهبُ

✓

لا تذهبْ

Using a vowel instead of a sukun.
✗

ما تذهب

✓

لا تذهب

Using 'ma' instead of 'la' for commands.
✗

لا تذهبوا

✓

لا تذهبوا

Actually, this is correct, but learners often forget the alif at the end.
✗

لا تذهبون

✓

لا تذهبوا

Keeping the 'n' in the plural form.
✗

لا تنسى

✓

لا تنسَ

Keeping the alif maqsura in weak verbs.
✗

لا تكتبي

✓

لا تكتبي

Wait, this is correct, but learners often add an extra alif.
✗

لا تذهبين

✓

لا تذهبي

Still struggling with the feminine singular drop.
✗

لا تكن

✓

لا تكن

Correct, but learners often use 'la takun' incorrectly.
✗

لا تترددون

✓

لا تترددوا

Dropping the 'n' is hard for some.
✗

لا تستهين

✓

لا تستهن

Complex weak verb conjugation.
✗

لا تنجرفون

✓

لا تنجرفوا

Plural conjugation error.
✗

لا تساومين

✓

لا تساومي

Feminine singular error.

Sentence Patterns

لا ___ يا صديقي.

من فضلك، لا ___ في المكتبة.

لا ___، فالأمر ليس بهذه الخطورة.

لا ___ على قراراتك السابقة.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

لا تتأخر!

Social Media very common

لا تتبع الشائعات.

Job Interview occasional

لا تتردد في طرح الأسئلة.

Travel common

لا تدخل هنا.

Food Delivery common

لا تضع الكثير من الملح.

Parenting constant

لا تلعب بالنار.

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💡

Listen for the Sukun

When listening to native speakers, notice how they cut the verb short. That's the sukun!
⚠️

Don't use 'Ma'

Never use 'ma' for commands. It's only for facts.
🎯

Practice with Weak Verbs

Weak verbs are the best way to master the Jussive mood.
💬

Softening the Blow

Add 'min fadlak' (please) to make your negative command sound polite.

Smart Tips

Add 'min fadlak' at the end.

لا تذهب. → لا تذهب، من فضلك.

Drop the final vowel entirely.

لا تنسى. → لا تنسَ.

Always drop the 'n'.

لا تذهبون. → لا تذهبوا.

Use a simple verb first.

لا تتردد. → لا تذهب.

Pronunciation

taktub -> tak-tub

Sukun

The sukun indicates a complete stop of the vowel sound.

laa

La

The 'l' is light, and the 'a' is long.

Commanding

لا تذهب! ↘

Falling intonation for a firm command.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

La is the wall, the verb is the ball. Stop the ball with a sukun wall!

Visual Association

Imagine a red stop sign with the word 'LA' written on it. Behind the sign, a person is trying to run, but they hit the 'LA' and stop instantly, frozen in place.

Rhyme

When you want to say 'Don't' and stop the flow, add 'La' at the start and make the end low.

Story

Ahmed was running toward the edge of a cliff. His friend shouted, 'La tadhhab!' (Don't go!). Ahmed stopped immediately, his feet hitting the ground with a silent 'sukun' thud. He realized the power of the negative imperative.

Word Web

لاتكتبتذهبتأكلتنسَتتكلم

Challenge

Write 5 things you want to tell your pet not to do using 'La + [verb]'.

Cultural Notes

In Egypt, the negative imperative is often formed with 'ma...sh' (e.g., 'ma-t-ruh-sh').

In the Levant, 'la' is used, but the verb might change (e.g., 'la t-ruh').

In the Gulf, the structure is very close to Modern Standard Arabic.

The negative imperative stems from the classical Arabic 'la' (لا) used for prohibition, which historically required the Jussive mood.

Conversation Starters

“

لا تذهب إلى هناك! لماذا؟

“

ماذا تقول لصديقك إذا أراد أن يضيع وقته؟

“

هل تحب أن يعطيك الناس أوامر؟

“

كيف تنهي شخصاً عن فعل شيء خطير؟

Journal Prompts

Write a list of 5 things you tell yourself not to do every morning.
Write a short story about a character who ignores a 'Do Not Enter' sign.
Reflect on a time you gave someone advice. What did you tell them not to do?
Describe a strict teacher or boss. What were their common prohibitions?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct negative imperative.

___ (taktub) الدرس.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تكتب
Use the singular masculine form.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تذهب
The sukun is the correct ending.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

لا تذهبون إلى هناك.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تذهبوا
Drop the 'n' in the plural.
Change to negative imperative. Sentence Transformation

تأكل الطعام. (You eat the food.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تأكل الطعام
Add 'la' and sukun.
Match the verb to its negative imperative. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تذهب
Correct singular form.
Conjugate for plural. Conjugation Drill

تكتب -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تكتبوا
Drop the 'n'.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

لا / تصرخ / يا / أخي

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تصرخ يا أخي
Correct word order.
Is this true? True False Rule

The negative imperative uses the Jussive mood.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Yes, it's a core rule.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct negative imperative.

___ (taktub) الدرس.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تكتب
Use the singular masculine form.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تذهب
The sukun is the correct ending.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

لا تذهبون إلى هناك.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تذهبوا
Drop the 'n' in the plural.
Change to negative imperative. Sentence Transformation

تأكل الطعام. (You eat the food.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تأكل الطعام
Add 'la' and sukun.
Match the verb to its negative imperative. Match Pairs

تذهب -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تذهب
Correct singular form.
Conjugate for plural. Conjugation Drill

تكتب -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تكتبوا
Drop the 'n'.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

لا / تصرخ / يا / أخي

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تصرخ يا أخي
Correct word order.
Is this true? True False Rule

The negative imperative uses the Jussive mood.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Yes, it's a core rule.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank (to a male friend). Fill in the Blank

لَا ____ (تَكْتُبُ) رِسَالَةً الآنَ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تَكْتُبْ
Fix the sentence: 'Don't play!' (to a girl). Error Correction

لا تَلْعَبْ يا سارة!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لا تَلْعَبِي يا سارة!
Reorder to say 'Don't open the door.' Sentence Reorder

الْبَابَ / لَا / تَفْتَحْ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لَا تَفْتَحْ الْبَابَ
Translate: Don't forget! Translation

Don't forget! (to a male)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لَا تَنْسَ!
Which one means 'Don't speak' (plural)? Multiple Choice

Select the plural form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لَا تَتَكَلَّمُوا
Match the verb to its prohibition form. Match Pairs

Match these:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تَأْكُلُ -> لَا تَأْكُلْ
Don't be late (feminine). Fill in the Blank

لَا ____ (تَتَأَخَّرِينَ)!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تَتَأَخَّرِي
Fix the plural: 'Don't drink!' Error Correction

لَا تَشْرَبُوا الْمَاءَ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sentence is already correct.
Translate: Don't listen to him. Translation

Don't listen (masc) to him.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لَا تَسْتَمِعْ إِلَيْهِ
Which is a prohibition? Multiple Choice

Choose the command:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: لَا تَنَمْ!

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, the negative imperative is strictly for the second person (you).

It's the Jussive mood, which is required after the prohibitive 'la'.

It can be direct, so add 'please' to soften it.

You drop the vowel completely.

Yes, though the exact pronunciation might vary.

The prohibitive 'la' changes the verb ending; the simple 'la' does not.

No, you don't give yourself commands in this way.

Forgetting the sukun at the end of the verb.

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

No + subjunctive

Spanish changes the verb stem; Arabic changes the ending.

French low

Ne... pas

French is a sandwich structure; Arabic is a prefix.

German low

Nicht + imperative

German word order is flexible; Arabic is fixed.

Japanese moderate

Verb + na

Prefix vs. Suffix.

Chinese moderate

Bu yao + verb

Chinese has no verb conjugation.

Arabic high

La + Jussive

None.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Arabic Jussive: 'Don't' and 'Didn't' Commands
Next
Arabic 'As Long As': Using Maa Daama (ما دام)

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