A2 Questions & Negation 10 min read Easy

Asking 'When' in Arabic (متى)

Place متى at the start of any time-based question to ask when in any social or formal context.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'متى' (matā) at the start of a sentence to ask 'when' about past or future events.

  • Place 'متى' at the very beginning of your sentence: 'متى ستذهب؟' (When will you go?)
  • It does not change based on gender or number of the subject.
  • It can be used for both past and future tenses.
متى (When) + Verb + Subject?

Overview

In Arabic, mastering the flow of time in conversation depends on one crucial word: مَتَى (matā). This is the primary interrogative adverb used to ask 'when'. Whether you are scheduling a meeting, asking about a historical event, or figuring out when your favorite show starts, مَتَى is your essential tool.

It is functionally equivalent to the English question word "when."

One of the most helpful aspects of مَتَى for learners is its stability. It is an invariable word, meaning it does not change its form for gender, number, or grammatical case. This makes it highly predictable and easy to use.

Its position is also fixed: in standard Arabic, it always appears at the very beginning of the question. Understanding how to use مَتَى correctly is a foundational skill for moving beyond basic statements into dynamic, interactive conversations.

It is critical, however, to distinguish مَتَى from the conjunction عِنْدَمَا (ʿindamā). While both can be translated as "when" in English, مَتَى is used exclusively for asking questions, while عِنْدَمَا is used for making statements about a point in time. This distinction is a fundamental concept we will explore in detail.

How This Grammar Works

The grammatical behavior of مَتَى is governed by a core principle of Arabic syntax: the fronting of interrogative words (أَسْمَاءُ الِاسْتِفْهَامِ لَهَا الصَّدَارَةُ). This rule dictates that question words like مَتَى (when), أَيْنَ (where), and كَيْفَ (how) must occupy the initial position in a sentence. They cannot be moved to the middle or end as might be possible in some English colloquial structures.
Linguistically, مَتَى is classified as an اسْمُ اسْتِفْهَامٍ مَبْنِيٌّ (ism istifhām mabnī). Let's break this down:
  • اسْمُ اسْتِفْهَامٍ (ism istifhām) means it is an "interrogative noun," a word that introduces a question.
  • مَبْنِيٌّ (mabnī) means it is "built" or "fixed." Its ending vowel (fatḥah in this case) never changes, regardless of its role in the sentence. This is a huge advantage for learners, as you do not need to worry about applying different case endings (like dammah, fatḥah, or kasrah) to it.
This structure works seamlessly with both verbal sentences (those containing a verb) and nominal sentences (those without a verb).
  • In a verbal sentence, مَتَى is followed by the verb. For example: مَتَى وَصَلَ الْقِطَارُ؟ (matā waṣala al-qiṭār?) - When did the train arrive? The question word comes first, then the verb وَصَلَ.
  • In a nominal sentence, where the verb "to be" is implied, مَتَى is followed by the subject (a noun or pronoun). For example: مَتَى الِامْتِحَانُ؟ (matā al-imtiḥān?) - When [is] the exam? Here, مَتَى is followed directly by the subject الِامْتِحَانُ.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation rule for questions with مَتَى is straightforward and consistent. You place مَتَى at the beginning of the clause and follow it with the rest of the sentence, which can be either a verbal or nominal phrase. The verb, if present, must still agree with its subject in gender and number as usual.
2
Basic Formula:
3
Verbal Sentence: مَتَى + Verb (conjugated for subject) + Subject + ... ؟
4
Nominal Sentence: مَتَى + Subject (Noun/Pronoun) + ... ؟
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The following table demonstrates the pattern across different tenses and sentence structures:
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| Tense / Sentence Type | Arabic Structure | Example | Translation | Notes |
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| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
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| Past Tense (الفِعْلُ المَاضِي) | مَتَى + Past Verb + Subject | مَتَى بَدَأَتِ الْحَفْلَةُ؟ (matā badaʾat al-ḥaflah?) | When did the party start? | The verb بَدَأَتِ is feminine to agree with الْحَفْلَةُ. |
9
| Present Tense (الفِعْلُ المُضَارِع) | مَتَى + Present Verb + Subject | مَتَى تَفْتَحُ الْمَكْتَبَةُ؟ (matā taftaḥu al-maktabah?) | When does the library open? | The present tense here asks about a habitual or scheduled event. |
10
| Future with سَـ | مَتَى + سَـ + Present Verb | مَتَى سَتُسَافِرُ؟ (matā satusāfir?) | When will you travel? | The prefix سَـ indicates the near future. |
11
| Future with سَوْفَ | مَتَى + سَوْفَ + Present Verb | مَتَى سَوْفَ نَلْتَقِي؟ (matā sawfa naltaqī?) | When will we meet? | سَوْفَ indicates the more distant future, but is often interchangeable with سَـ. |
12
| Nominal Sentence (الجُمْلَةُ الاِسْمِيَّةُ) | مَتَى + Noun Subject | مَتَى مَوْعِدُكَ؟ (matā mawʿiduk?) | When is your appointment? | The verb 'is' is implied. This is a very common and efficient structure. |
13
| With a Preposition (مَعَ حَرْفِ جَرٍّ) | Preposition + مَتَى | إِلَى مَتَى سَتَبْقَى؟ (ilā matā satabqā?) | Until when will you stay? | The preposition إِلَى (until/to) combines with مَتَى to create a more nuanced question. |
14
| With a Preposition (Duration) | مُنْذُ + مَتَى | مُنْذُ مَتَى وَأَنْتَ هُنَا؟ (mundhu matā wa-anta hunā?) | Since when have you been here? | مُنْذُ (since) asks for the starting point of a duration. |

When To Use It

مَتَى is versatile and can be used in any context where you need to determine a point in time. It covers the past, present, and future, making it one of the most frequently used question words in Arabic.
  1. 1Scheduling and Daily Planning
This is the most common use case. You use it to ask about appointments, transportation schedules, and opening/closing times. It is essential for navigating daily life.
  • مَتَى يَصِلُ الْبَاصُ؟ (matā yaṣilu al-bāṣ?) - When does the bus arrive?
  • مَتَى اِجْتِمَاعُ الْفَرِيقِ؟ (matā ijtimāʿu al-farīq?) - When is the team meeting?
  1. 1Historical and Past Events
When discussing history, biographies, or personal past experiences, مَتَى is used to pinpoint when an event occurred.
  • مَتَى وُلِدَ ابْنُ سِينَا؟ (matā wulida Ibn Sīnā?) - When was Avicenna born?
  • مَتَى تَعَلَّمْتَ الْعَزْفَ عَلَى الْجِيتَارِ؟ (matā taʿallamta al-ʿazfa ʿalā al-gītār?) - When did you learn to play the guitar?
  1. 1Future Plans and Intentions
Use مَتَى with future tense markers like سَـ (sa-) or سَوْفَ (sawfa) to ask about upcoming events, deadlines, or plans.
  • مَتَى سَتَتَخَرَّجُ مِنَ الْجَامِعَةِ؟ (matā satatakharraju min al-jāmiʿah?) - When will you graduate from university?
  • مَتَى سَوْفَ يُصْدِرُونَ الْأَلْبُومَ الْجَدِيدَ؟ (matā sawfa yuṣdirūna al-albūm al-jadīd?) - When will they release the new album?
  1. 1Processes and Sequences
In instructions or descriptions of a process, مَتَى can ask "at what point" something should happen.
  • مَتَى نُضِيفُ السُّكَّرَ إِلَى الْخَلِيطِ؟ (matā nuḍīfu al-sukkara ilā al-khalīṭ?) - When do we add the sugar to the mixture?

When Not To Use It

The most significant source of error for English speakers is confusing the interrogative 'when' with the conjunctive 'when'. Arabic makes a clear distinction that does not exist in English.
Do not use مَتَى for statements. مَتَى is only for questions.
When you are making a statement that uses "when" to link two clauses (e.g., "Call me when you arrive"), you must use a conjunction. The most common one is عِنْدَمَا (ʿindamā), which means "at the time that..." or "when."
| Usage Type | Correct Arabic Word | Example | Translation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Question | مَتَى (matā) | مَتَى وَصَلْتَ؟ | When did you arrive? |
| Statement | عِنْدَمَا (ʿindamā) | اِتَّصِلْ بِي عِنْدَمَا تَصِلُ. | Call me when you arrive. |
Using مَتَى in a statement is a major grammatical error. The sentence اِتَّصِلْ بِي مَتَى تَصِلُ is incorrect and would be confusing to a native speaker, as it sounds like you are embedding a question inside a command.
Another case is for conditional sentences. When "when" carries the meaning of "if" or "whenever," Arabic uses conditional particles like إِذَا (idhā) or sometimes حِينَ (ḥīna). For instance, "When you heat water, it boils" is a general truth, not a time-specific event.
You would say: إِذَا سَخَّنْتَ الْمَاءَ، فَإِنَّهُ يَغْلِي (idhā sakhkhanta al-māʾa, fa-innahu yaghlī).

Common Mistakes

Learners often make a few predictable mistakes with مَتَى. Being aware of them is the first step to avoiding them.
  1. 1Word Order Violation
Because English allows for flexible word order in informal questions ("The movie starts when?"), learners sometimes try to place مَتَى at the end of an Arabic sentence. This is incorrect in MSA. The rule of fronting (الصَّدَارَة) is strict.
  • Incorrect: الْفِيلْمُ يَبْدَأُ مَتَى؟
  • Correct: مَتَى يَبْدَأُ الْفِيلْمُ؟ (matā yabdaʾu al-fīlm?)
  1. 1Confusing مَتَى with عِنْدَمَا
This is the most common conceptual error. As detailed in the previous section, learners often use مَتَى in statements because the English word "when" serves both roles. Always check: am I asking a question or making a statement?
  • Incorrect Statement: كُنْتُ سَعِيدًا مَتَى رَأَيْتُكَ. (I was happy question-when I saw you.)
  • Correct Statement: كُنْتُ سَعِيدًا عِنْدَمَا رَأَيْتُكَ. (I was happy at-the-time-that I saw you.)
  1. 1Attempting to Inflect مَتَى
Because so many parts of Arabic grammar require agreement, some learners instinctively try to add feminine (ـة) or plural (ـونَ) endings to مَتَى. Remember, it is مَبْنِيٌّ (invariable). It never changes.
  • Incorrect: مَتَاة؟ or مَتَىُونَ؟ (These are nonsensical.)
  • Correct: Always and forever مَتَى.
  1. 1Using the Incorrect Question Mark
This is a writing mistake, but an important one for digital and formal communication. The Arabic question mark (؟) is a mirror image of the English one, pointing to the left to align with the right-to-left script.
  • Incorrect: متى الدرس?
  • Correct: مَتَى الدَّرْسُ؟

Real Conversations

Here is how مَتَى appears in natural, everyday communication, from text messages to more formal interactions.

S

Scenario 1

Casual Texting (WhatsApp/Messaging)

> خالد: أهلاً يا جماعة، في فيلم جديد في السينما.

> (Hey everyone, there's a new movie at the cinema.)

>

> نورة: حلو! متى نروح؟

> (Cool! When should we go? - Note the casual, direct usage.)

S

Scenario 2

Commenting on a Social Media Post (Instagram/Facebook)

> Post (by a brand): ترقبوا إطلاق منتجنا الجديد!

> (Stay tuned for our new product launch!)

>

> User Comment: متى الإطلاق بالضبط؟ متحمس جداً.

> (When is the launch exactly? Very excited.)

S

Scenario 3

Formal Work Email

> Subject: استفسار بخصوص موعد التسليم

> (Inquiry regarding the delivery deadline)

>

> Body: حضرة الأستاذ أحمد، ... نرجو منكم إعلامنا متى يمكننا توقع النسخة النهائية من التقرير. وشكراً.

> (Dear Mr. Ahmad, ... We kindly ask you to inform us when we can expect the final version of the report. Thank you. - Note the formal phrasing متى يمكننا توقع.)

A

A Note on Dialects

While مَتَى is pure Modern Standard Arabic and understood everywhere, many spoken dialects have their own version. For example, in Levantine Arabic (Lebanon, Syria), you will frequently hear إيمْتَى (ēmtā). In Egyptian Arabic, إيمْتَى (ēmtā) is also standard. However, using مَتَى is always considered correct and will be perfectly understood by all speakers.

Progressive Practice

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Work through these exercises to build your confidence and accuracy with مَتَى.

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Level 1: Simple Recognition (Fill in the Blank)

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Insert مَتَى into the following questions.

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______ تَذْهَبُ إِلَى النَّادِي الرِّيَاضِيِّ؟

5

______ كَانَتْ رِحْلَتُكَ إِلَى دُبَي؟

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______ سَيَصِلُ الطَّرْدُ؟

Level 2: Sentence Construction

Unscramble the following words to form correct questions.

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(؟ / يَبْدَأُ / الدَّوَامُ / مَتَى)

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(مُسَلْسَلُكَ / سَيُعْرَضُ / ؟ / مُتَى / الْمُفَضَّلُ)

Level 3: Question Formation

Read the answer and write the appropriate question using مَتَى.

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Answer: سَأُسَافِرُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ الْقَادِمِ. (I will travel next Friday.)

Question: ___________________

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Answer: اَلِاجْتِمَاعُ السَّاعَةَ الْعَاشِرَةَ صَبَاحًا. (The meeting is at 10 AM.)

Question: ___________________

Level 4: Translation and Distinction (مَتَى vs. عِنْدَمَا)

Translate the following sentences into Arabic, choosing the correct word for "when."

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When will the library close?

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I will read the book when I have free time.

13

When did you buy this phone?

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He felt happy when he saw his family.

Answers: L1: متى, متى, متى. L2: متى يبدأ الدوام؟, متى سيُعرض مسلسلك المفضل؟. L3: متى ستسافر؟, متى الاجتماع؟. L4: متى ستُغلق المكتبة؟, سأقرأ الكتاب عندما يكون لدي وقت فراغ., متى اشتريت هذا الهاتف؟, شعر بالسعادة عندما رأى عائلته.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I use مَتَى to ask about someone's age?

No. While age is time-related, you ask about it using كَمْ (how much/many). The standard phrase is كَمْ عُمْرُكَ؟ (kam ʿumruk?) - literally, "How much is your age?"

Q: How is مَتَى different from فِي أَيِّ وَقْتٍ (fī ayyi waqt)?

They are very similar. مَتَى is a general "when." فِي أَيِّ وَقْتٍ means "at what time" and often implies you are seeking a more precise clock time. For example, if you ask مَتَى نَلْتَقِي؟ (When do we meet?), the answer could be "tomorrow." If you ask فِي أَيِّ وَقْتٍ نَلْتَقِي؟ (At what time do we meet?), you are explicitly asking for the hour, like "at 3:00 PM."

Q: I saw أَيَّانَ (ayyāna) in the Quran. What does it mean?

أَيَّانَ is an older, more literary word for "when." In modern usage, it is almost exclusively found in religious or high literary texts. It typically refers to a great or momentous future event, often with a sense of gravity, such as the Day of Judgment (يَسْأَلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ الدِّينِ). For all everyday purposes, you should always use مَتَى.

Q: What about phrases like إِلَى مَتَى or حَتَّى مَتَى?

These are excellent examples of how prepositions combine with مَتَى to add meaning. إِلَى مَتَى and حَتَّى مَتَى both mean "Until when?" and are used to ask about the endpoint of an action or state. For example, إِلَى مَتَى سَتَنْتَظِرُ؟ (ilā matā satantaẓir?) - "Until when will you wait?"

Q: Is مَتَى used in all Arabic-speaking countries?

Yes. As a core word in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), مَتَى is taught and understood by educated speakers everywhere. While daily spoken dialects often have their own variants (like إيمتى), using مَتَى is always correct, clear, and will make you sound well-educated in the language.

Using 'متى' with verbs

Tense Arabic Structure English Meaning
Past
متى + Verb (Past)
When did [Subject] [Verb]?
Future
متى + سـ + Verb (Present)
When will [Subject] [Verb]?
Present
متى + Verb (Present)
When does [Subject] [Verb]?
Nominal
متى + Noun
When is [Noun]?

Meanings

An interrogative particle used to inquire about the time of an action or event.

1

Future Time

Asking about an event that has not happened yet.

“متى ستسافر؟”

“متى سنصل؟”

2

Past Time

Asking about an event that has already occurred.

“متى وصلت؟”

“متى سافرت؟”

Reference Table

Reference table for Asking 'When' in Arabic (متى)
Form Structure Example
Past Question
متى + Past Verb
متى سافرت؟
Future Question
متى + سـ + Present Verb
متى ستسافر؟
Nominal Question
متى + Noun
متى الاجتماع؟
Negative (Rare)
متى لا + Verb
متى لا تدرس؟
With Preposition
متى + Verb + Preposition
متى ستعود من السفر؟

Formality Spectrum

Formal
متى ستصلون؟

متى ستصلون؟ (Arrival)

Neutral
متى ستصل؟

متى ستصل؟ (Arrival)

Informal
إيمتى رح توصل؟

إيمتى رح توصل؟ (Arrival)

Slang
إيمتى جاي؟

إيمتى جاي؟ (Arrival)

The 'When' Concept

متى

Time

  • الماضي Past
  • المستقبل Future
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Examples by Level

1

متى تذهب؟

When do you go?

2

متى نأكل؟

When do we eat?

3

متى الحفلة؟

When is the party?

4

متى العمل؟

When is work?

1

متى ستسافر إلى مصر؟

When will you travel to Egypt?

2

متى وصلت إلى البيت؟

When did you arrive home?

3

متى سيبدأ الفيلم؟

When will the movie start?

4

متى اتصلت بك؟

When did I call you?

1

متى كنت تنوي المغادرة؟

When were you intending to leave?

2

متى سيتم الانتهاء من المشروع؟

When will the project be finished?

3

متى كان آخر لقاء بينكم؟

When was the last meeting between you?

4

متى توقعت وصولهم؟

When did you expect their arrival?

1

متى يُتوقع أن تنتهي الأزمة؟

When is the crisis expected to end?

2

متى كان ينبغي علينا تقديم الطلب؟

When should we have submitted the application?

3

متى سيتسنى لنا اللقاء مرة أخرى؟

When will we have the opportunity to meet again?

4

متى أدركت أنك على خطأ؟

When did you realize you were wrong?

1

متى كان من المفترض أن نكون هناك؟

When were we supposed to be there?

2

متى سيحين الوقت المناسب للتغيير؟

When will the right time for change arrive?

3

متى تظن أن الأمور ستعود لمجراها؟

When do you think things will return to normal?

4

متى كان آخر عهدك بهذه المدينة؟

When was the last time you were in this city?

1

متى كان يُؤمل أن تتحقق هذه النتائج؟

When was it hoped that these results would be achieved?

2

متى سيُكتب لنا اللقاء في ظروف أفضل؟

When will it be written for us to meet in better circumstances?

3

متى كان بوسعنا أن نغير مسار التاريخ؟

When could we have changed the course of history?

4

متى كان يظن أن الحقيقة ستنكشف؟

When did he think the truth would be revealed?

Easily Confused

Asking 'When' in Arabic (متى) vs متى vs أي وقت

Both ask about time, but 'أي وقت' is specific to clock time.

Asking 'When' in Arabic (متى) vs متى vs أين

Both are interrogative particles.

Asking 'When' in Arabic (متى) vs متى vs لماذا

Both are question words.

Common Mistakes

✗

تذهب متى؟

✓

متى تذهب؟

Interrogative particles must start the sentence.
✗

متى أنت تذهب؟

✓

متى تذهب؟

Arabic is pro-drop; don't add redundant pronouns.
✗

متى ذهبتَ؟ (with wrong gender)

✓

متى ذهبتِ؟ (if female)

Verb must agree with the subject.
✗

متى هو الوقت؟

✓

متى الوقت؟

Avoid redundant 'is' equivalents.
✗

متى ستذهب غداً؟

✓

متى ستذهب؟

Redundant time markers.
✗

متى سوف تذهب؟

✓

متى ستذهب؟

While 'سوف' is okay, 'سـ' is more natural.
✗

متى ذهبنا؟

✓

متى ذهبت؟

Wrong person conjugation.
✗

متى كان ذهبت؟

✓

متى ذهبت؟

Do not use 'كان' with past tense verbs.
✗

متى سأذهب؟

✓

متى ستذهب؟

Wrong person in context.
✗

متى أكون ذهبت؟

✓

متى ذهبت؟

Incorrect tense formation.
✗

متى قد ذهبت؟

✓

متى ذهبت؟

Avoid unnecessary particles.
✗

متى بـ ذهبت؟

✓

متى ذهبت؟

Dialectal interference.
✗

متى سوف يكون ذهبت؟

✓

متى ستذهب؟

Over-complication.

Sentence Patterns

متى ___ (verb)?

متى ستـ ___ (verb)?

متى كان ___ (noun)?

متى كنت ___ (verb)?

Real World Usage

Travel very common

متى يغادر القطار؟

Social Media common

متى ستنزل الصورة؟

Work very common

متى موعد التسليم؟

Food Delivery common

متى يصل الطلب؟

Scheduling constant

متى نلتقي؟

Education common

متى يبدأ الامتحان؟

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💡

Start with it

Always put 'متى' at the beginning of the sentence.
⚠️

Don't add 'is'

Arabic doesn't need an 'is' equivalent in these questions.
🎯

Dialect check

In spoken Arabic, check if your region uses 'إيمتى'.
💬

Politeness

Add 'من فضلك' (please) to make your question polite.

Smart Tips

Use the 'سـ' prefix for a natural flow.

متى سوف تذهب؟ → متى ستذهب؟

Ensure the verb is in the past tense.

متى تذهب؟ → متى ذهبت؟

Use the plural verb conjugation.

متى ستذهب؟ → متى ستذهبون؟

Use the noun directly after 'متى'.

متى يكون الاجتماع؟ → متى الاجتماع؟

Pronunciation

ma-TAA

Emphasis

The 't' in 'matā' is a standard dental stop.

Rising

متى ستذهب؟ ↗

Standard question intonation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Matā' as 'My Time'—you are asking for 'my time' to do something.

Visual Association

Imagine a clock with the word 'متى' written on the face. Every time the hand moves, you ask 'متى?'.

Rhyme

Ask 'متى' for the time of day, it starts the sentence, come what may.

Story

Ahmed is late for a meeting. He runs to his boss and asks 'متى الاجتماع؟' (When is the meeting?). The boss points to the clock. Ahmed realizes he should have asked 'متى' earlier.

Word Web

زمانوقتساعةيومشهرسنة

Challenge

Write 5 questions using 'متى' about your daily schedule.

Cultural Notes

In Levantine Arabic, 'إيمتى' (imta) is used instead of 'متى'.

Egyptians often use 'إمتى' (emta).

Standard 'متى' is very common in formal settings.

Derived from the Semitic root for time.

Conversation Starters

“

متى تبدأ عطلتك؟

“

متى كان آخر مرة سافرت فيها؟

“

متى تعتقد أن المشروع سينتهي؟

“

متى كان من المفترض أن نلتقي؟

Journal Prompts

Write about your daily routine using 'متى'.
Describe a past trip using 'متى'.
Plan your next week using 'متى'.
Reflect on a time you were late.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___ ستذهب إلى السوق؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى
Asking for time requires 'متى'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى تذهب؟
Particle must be first.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ستذهب متى؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى ستذهب؟
Move particle to front.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى تذهب؟
Correct order.
Translate to Arabic. Translation

When will you arrive?

Answer starts with: متى...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى ستصل؟
Future tense.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ___? B: غداً.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى ستسافر
Answer is time-based.
Sort by tense. Grammar Sorting

Which is past?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى سافرت؟
Past tense verb.
Conjugate for 'she'. Conjugation Drill

متى ___ (تذهب)؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تذهب
Correct conjugation.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ ستذهب إلى السوق؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى
Asking for time requires 'متى'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى تذهب؟
Particle must be first.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ستذهب متى؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى ستذهب؟
Move particle to front.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

تذهب / متى / أنت

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى تذهب؟
Correct order.
Translate to Arabic. Translation

When will you arrive?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى ستصل؟
Future tense.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ___? B: غداً.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى ستسافر
Answer is time-based.
Sort by tense. Grammar Sorting

Which is past?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى سافرت؟
Past tense verb.
Conjugate for 'she'. Conjugation Drill

متى ___ (تذهب)؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تذهب
Correct conjugation.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Translate the sentence into Arabic Translation

When is the meeting?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى الاجتماع؟
Reorder the words to form a correct question. Sentence Reorder

تبدأ / الحفلة / متى

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى تبدأ الحفلة
Match the Arabic question with its English meaning. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى نأكل؟ | When do we eat?
Complete the phrase with the correct preposition. Fill in the Blank

____ متى وأنت تدرس؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: منذ
Choose the correct question for the answer: 'I arrived at 5 PM.' Multiple Choice

Answer: وصلت في الساعة الخامسة.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى وصلت؟
Fix the word order in this question. Error Correction

الفيلم يبدأ متى؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى يبدأ الفيلم؟
Translate 'Until when?' Translation

Until when?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: حتى متى؟
Fill in the blank for a future question. Fill in the Blank

متى ____ السفر؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: سيكون
Which of these is a valid informal WhatsApp question? Multiple Choice

Choose the best informal option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى نتقابل؟
Arrange the words correctly. Sentence Reorder

العطلة / متى / تبدأ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: متى تبدأ العطلة

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, it is used for both.

No, it is invariant.

Always at the start.

It is neutral and used everywhere.

Use 'أي وقت'.

Only in specific relative clauses.

No, some use 'إيمتى'.

Usually not, as the verb implies it.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

English high

When

English requires auxiliary verbs like 'do' or 'will'.

Spanish high

Cuándo

Spanish uses an accent mark.

French high

Quand

French has more complex inversion rules.

German high

Wann

German word order is strictly V2.

Japanese moderate

Itsu

Japanese particles follow the noun/time phrase.

Chinese moderate

什么时候

Arabic uses a single particle.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Asking 'How' in Arabic (Kayfa - كيف)
Next
The Arabic 'Why': لماذا (li-matha)

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