Negative Commands: Don't do it! (لا + Jussive)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To tell someone 'don't', use the particle 'la' (لا) followed by the jussive form of the present tense verb.
- Use 'la' + jussive verb for second person: لا تَكْتُبْ (Don't write).
- The final vowel of the verb usually becomes a sukun (vowelless).
- If the verb ends in a long vowel, drop it: لا تَنْسَ (Don't forget).
Overview
In Arabic, issuing a negative command, or prohibition, requires a specific grammatical construction that combines the particle لَا (lā) with a verb in the Jussive mood (المجزوم, al-majzūm). This particular لَا is known as لَا النَّاهِيَة (lā an-nāhiya), the "lā of prohibition." Its function is to directly forbid an action, serving as the equivalent of "Don't!" or "Do not!" in English. Understanding this structure is crucial for B1 learners, as it forms an integral part of daily communication, allowing for clear and unambiguous instructions or warnings.
Unlike simple negation, which merely states that an action is not happening (e.g., هُوَ لَا يَأْكُلُ – He is not eating), لَا النَّاهِيَة actively commands the listener not to perform an action (e.g., لَا تَأْكُلْ! – Don't eat!). The subtle but significant shift in verb mood from indicative to jussive is the key to differentiating a factual statement from a direct command. This section will thoroughly explore how to construct and correctly use لَا النَّاهِيَة to express prohibitions in Modern Standard Arabic.
لَا تَفْعَلْ! (Don't do!), لَا تَذْهَبُوا! (Don't go! – plural), لَا تَتَرَدَّدِي! (Don't hesitate! – feminine singular) are common examples you'll encounter and use.
How This Grammar Works
لَا النَّاهِيَة operates by inducing the Jussive mood (المجزوم, al-majzūm) in the present tense verb that immediately follows it. The term مجزوم literally means "cut off" or "clipped," referring to the characteristic truncation of the verb's ending. This grammatical "chopping" is a definitive marker of the Jussive mood and is pivotal to forming correct negative commands.لَا النَّاهِيَة preceding a present tense verb fundamentally alters its grammatical state, signaling a definitive prohibition rather than a simple negation or an ongoing action.- 1For Sound Verbs (
الفعل الصحيح الآخر- verbs ending in a consonant): The final damma (ُ) of the indicative present tense is replaced with a sukoon (ْ).
- Indicative:
تَكْتُبُ(You write) - Jussive:
لَا تَكْتُبْ(Don't write!) - Indicative:
تَشْرَبُ(You drink) - Jussive:
لَا تَشْرَبْ(Don't drink!)
- 1For the "Five Verbs" (
الأفعال الخمسة- verbs conjugated forأنتِ,أنتما,أنتم): The final noon (ن) is dropped. These are verbs typically ending inـُونَ,ـِينَ,ـَانِin the indicative mood.
- Indicative:
تَذْهَبُونَ(You all go) - Jussive:
لَا تَذْهَبُوا(Don't go! – plural masculine) - Indicative:
تَلْعَبِينَ(You play – feminine singular) - Jussive:
لَا تَلْعَبِي(Don't play! – feminine singular) - Indicative:
تَعْمَلَانِ(You two work) - Jussive:
لَا تَعْمَلَا(Don't work! – dual)
- 1For Defective Verbs (
الفعل المعتل الآخر- verbs ending in a weak letterا,و,ي): The final weak letter is completely removed.
- Indicative:
تَنْسَى(You forget – root ن-س-ي) - Jussive:
لَا تَنْسَ(Don't forget!) - Indicative:
تَبْكِي(You cry – root ب-ك-ي) - Jussive:
لَا تَبْكِ(Don't cry!) - Indicative:
تَدْعُو(You call/invite – root د-ع-و) - Jussive:
لَا تَدْعُ(Don't call!)
أَنْتُنَّ)ـنَّ) of the present tense verb (تَفْعَلْنَ) is stable and never drops in the Jussive mood. This is a crucial exception to remember.- Indicative:
تَكْتُبْنَ(You all write – feminine plural) - Jussive:
لَا تَكْتُبْنَ(Don't write! – feminine plural). The form remains unchanged.
لَا النَّاهِيَة; it is also triggered by other particles such as لَمْ (for past tense negation) and لِـ (the Lam of Command). However, its specific application with لَا النَّاهِيَة is solely for expressing direct prohibitions to the second person (you).Formation Pattern
الفعل المضارع): Identify the appropriate present tense conjugation of the verb you wish to prohibit. For negative commands, you must always use the second-person forms, as you are directly addressing someone.
ت): All second-person present tense verbs in Arabic begin with the prefix تَـ (ta-). For example, from the root ك-ت-ب (to write), the second-person forms are تَكْتُبُ, تَكْتُبِينَ, تَكْتُبَانِ, تَكْتُبُونَ, تَكْتُبْنَ.
لَا النَّاهِيَة: Place the particle لَا directly before the chosen second-person present tense verb.
ـنَّ) is retained.
كَتَبَ - to write, Present: يَكْتُبُ)
لَا + Jussive) | Translation |
تَكْتُبُ | لَا تَكْتُبْ | Don't write! (m. sg) |
تَكْتُبِينَ | لَا تَكْتُبِي | Don't write! (f. sg) |
تَكْتُبَانِ | لَا تَكْتُبَا | Don't write! (dual) |
تَكْتُبُونَ | لَا تَكْتُبُوا | Don't write! (m. pl) |
تَكْتُبْنَ | لَا تَكْتُبْنَ | Don't write! (f. pl) |
نَسِيَ - to forget, Present: يَنْسَى):
لَا + Jussive) | Translation |
تَنْسَى | لَا تَنْسَ | Don't forget! (m. sg) |
تَنْسَيْنَ | لَا تَنْسَيْ | Don't forget! (f. sg) |
تَنْسَوْنَ | لَا تَنْسَوْا | Don't forget! (m. pl) |
قَالَ - to say, Present: يَقُولُ):
لَا + Jussive) | Translation |
تَقُولُ | لَا تَقُلْ | Don't say! (m. sg) |
تَقُولِينَ | لَا تَقُولِي | Don't say! (f. sg) |
تَقُولُونَ | لَا تَقُولُوا | Don't say! (m. pl) |
When To Use It
لَا النَّاهِيَة is indispensable for expressing direct prohibitions, warnings, or advice in a negative form. Its use is widespread across various communication contexts, from formal written directives to casual spoken interactions. As a B1 learner, mastering this form significantly enhances your ability to manage and influence situations through direct instruction.- Issuing Direct Commands/Prohibitions: This is the most common application. When you need to tell someone unequivocally not to do something,
لَا النَّاهِيَةis the appropriate grammatical tool. لَا تَلْمَسْ هَذَا!(Don't touch this!)لَا تَتَكَلَّمُوا بِصَوْتٍ عَالٍ.(Don't speak loudly! – plural)- Giving Strong Warnings: The directness of the Jussive mood makes it suitable for urgent or important warnings.
لَا تَقْتَرِبْ مِنَ النَّارِ.(Don't get close to the fire!)لَا تُسَافِرْ وَحْدَكَ لَيْلًا.(Don't travel alone at night!)- Offering Negative Advice: While direct, it can also be used in an advisory capacity, often softened with politeness markers.
لَا تُضَيِّعْ وَقْتَكَ.(Don't waste your time.)لَا تَيْأَسْ أَبَدًا.(Don't ever despair.)
لَا النَّاهِيَة means that its perceived politeness can vary significantly with context, tone, and the relationship between speakers. While grammatically correct, using a bare negative command to an elder, a superior, or a stranger without softening language can be considered impolite in many Arabic-speaking cultures.- Informal/Close Relationships: Between friends, family, or with subordinates, the bare
لَا+ Jussive is common and acceptable. لَا تَخَفْ.(Don't be afraid. – to a child)لَا تَنْتَظِرْنِي.(Don't wait for me. – to a friend via text)- Formal/Respectful Contexts: To soften the command and convey respect, it is highly recommended to add phrases like
مِنْ فَضْلِكَ(min faḍlika – please, m.sg.),مِنْ فَضْلِكِ(f.sg.),مِنْ فَضْلِكُمْ(pl.). لَا تَغَادِرِ الْغُرْفَةَ، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ.(Please don't leave the room.)لَا تُقَاطِعُونَا، مِنْ فَضْلِكُمْ.(Please don't interrupt us! – plural)- Impersonal or General Advice: In written instructions or general advice, the directness is often accepted, as it's not aimed at a specific individual in a face-to-face interaction.
- In a safety manual:
لَا تَلْمَسِ الأَسْلَاكَ الْعَارِيَةَ.(Do not touch exposed wires.)
لَا for prohibition, relying heavily on intonation. However, in formal MSA, especially in writing, adhering to the Jussive form is mandatory for grammatical correctness.Common Mistakes
لَا النَّاهِيَة. Awareness of these common errors, and understanding the underlying grammatical principles, is key to achieving fluency and avoiding miscommunication.- 1Confusing
لَا النَّاهِيَة(Prohibition) withلَا النَّافِيَة(Negation): This is perhaps the most critical distinction. Both useلَاbefore a present tense verb, but their meanings and grammatical impacts are entirely different.
لَا النَّافِيَة(Negation): Thisلَاsimply states a negative fact; it negates the action of the present tense verb. The verb remains in the Indicative mood (المرفوع, al-marfūʿ), meaning its ending typically retains the damma (ُ) for sound verbs, or the noon (ن) for the "Five Verbs."هُوَ لَا يَفْهَمُ الدَّرْسَ.(He does not understand the lesson.) – Statement of fact.أَنْتُمْ لَا تَسْمَعُونَ.(You all are not listening.) – Statement of fact.لَا النَّاهِيَة(Prohibition): Thisلَاissues a direct command not to perform an action. The verb must be in the Jussive mood (المجزوم), meaning its ending is transformed (sukoon, dropped noon, or removed weak letter).لَا تَفْهَمْ الدَّرْسَ!(Don't understand the lesson! / Don't try to understand the lesson!) – Command/Prohibition.لَا تَسْمَعُوا!(Don't listen! – plural) – Command/Prohibition.
لَا النَّافِيَة (Negation) | لَا النَّاهِيَة (Prohibition) |المرفوع) | Jussive (المجزوم) |ـُ (damma) | ـْ (sukoon) |ـُونَ, ـِينَ, ـَانِ (noon retained) | ـُوا, ـِي, ـَا (noon dropped) |لَا تَفْعَلُ (You don't do) | لَا تَفْعَلْ (Don't do!) |- 1Failing to Apply Jussive Endings: A common error is to place
لَا النَّاهِيَةbefore a verb but neglect to change its ending to the Jussive. This results in the verb remaining in the indicative, leading to an unintended meaning of negation (لَا النَّافِيَة).
- Incorrect:
لَا تَكْتُبُونَ.(This means: You all are not writing.) - Correct:
لَا تَكْتُبُوا!(Don't write! – plural)
- 1Using the Third-Person Prefix (
يَـ) for Commands: Negative commands are always directed at the second person. Therefore, the verb must begin with theتَـprefix. Usingيَـ(ya-) instead ofتَـ(ta-) changes the subject to third-person (he/she/they).
- Incorrect:
لَا يَكْتُبْ!(This means: He should not write! – Jussive of absence/negation, not a direct command to 'you'.) - Correct:
لَا تَكْتُبْ!(Don't write! – direct command to 'you' masculine singular)
- 1Neglecting Weak Letter Removal in Defective Verbs: Learners often forget to drop the final weak letter (
ا,و,ي) in defective verbs when they enter the Jussive mood.
- Incorrect:
لَا تَرْمِي الكرة.(You are not throwing the ball / Don't throw the ball - but with incorrect ending.) - Correct:
لَا تَرْمِ الكرة!(Don't throw the ball!)
- 1Incorrectly Handling Hollow Verbs (
الفعل الأجوف): Hollow verbs, such asقَامَ(to stand) orبَاعَ(to sell), have a weak letter in the middle. In the Jussive mood, this middle weak letter is typically dropped to avoidالْتِقَاء السَّاكِنَيْنِ(the meeting of two quiescent letters). Learners sometimes fail to apply this rule.
- Indicative:
تَقُولُ(You say) - Incorrect:
لَا تَقْوُلْ(This form is ungrammatical.) - Correct:
لَا تَقُلْ!(Don't say!)
Real Conversations
Understanding لَا النَّاهِيَة is paramount for engaging in authentic Arabic communication. Here are examples illustrating its use in various real-world scenarios, ranging from casual to slightly more formal interactions, including modern contexts like messaging.
1. Expressing Immediate Prohibition (Parent to Child):
A parent sees their child about to do something dangerous or forbidden.
- Parent: يَا بَنِي، لَا تَلْعَبْ بِالْكِبْرِيتِ! (My son, don't play with matches!)
- Child: حَسَنًا يَا أُمِّي. (Okay, Mom.)
(Analysis: A direct, unambiguous command to the masculine singular 'you' (تَلْعَبْ). The sukoon makes it clear this is a prohibition.)*
2. Advising a Friend (Text Message/Informal Chat):
Two friends are discussing a difficult situation, and one offers advice.
- Friend A: أَنَا قَلِقٌ جِدًّا بِشَأْنِ الْاِمْتِحَانِ. (I'm very worried about the exam.)
- Friend B: لَا تَقْلَقْ! لَقَدِ اسْتَعْدَدْتَ جَيِّدًا. (Don't worry! You prepared well.)
(Analysis: لَا تَقْلَقْ (Don't worry!) uses the Jussive ending for the masculine singular 'you'. It's a common phrase in informal advice. If Friend A were female, it would be لَا تَقْلَقِي!.)*
3. Warning a Group (Meeting/Classroom):
A teacher or presenter needs to prevent a group from interrupting or making noise.
- Teacher: أَرْجُو مِنَ الْجَمِيعِ أَنْ يُصْغُوا. لَا تُقَاطِعُوا الْمُتَحَدِّثَ. (I ask everyone to listen. Don't interrupt the speaker!)
- Student: عَفْوًا يَا أُسْتَاذ. (Excuse me, teacher.)
(Analysis: لَا تُقَاطِعُوا (Don't interrupt!) uses the Jussive form for the masculine plural 'you', with the noon dropped. This is a clear directive to the entire group.)*
4. Setting Boundaries/Strong Disagreement:
Someone is asserting a boundary or strongly disagrees with a proposed action.
- Person A: سَأُخْبِرُهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ. (I will tell him everything.)
- Person B: لَا تَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ أَبَدًا! سَتَنْدَمُ. (Don't ever do that! You will regret it.)
(Analysis: لَا تَفْعَلْ is a firm prohibition to the masculine singular 'you', emphasizing the gravity of the potential action. The use of أَبَدًا (never) further strengthens the command.)*
5. Advice in a Defective Verb Context:
A coach advises a team member not to give up.
- Coach: لَا تَيْأَسْ أَبَدًا أَيُّهَا الْبَطَلُ، اسْتَمِرَّ! (Don't ever despair, champion, keep going!)
(Analysis: لَا تَيْأَسْ comes from the defective verb يَئِسَ (to despair), present يَيْأَسُ. In the Jussive, the ending is a sukoon. The sentiment is a direct encouragement framed as a negative command.)*
These examples demonstrate how لَا النَّاهِيَة is integrated into the fabric of everyday Arabic conversation, conveying authority, warning, or advice with varying degrees of formality.
Quick FAQ
لَا النَّاهِيَة and the Jussive mood, helping to solidify your understanding.ْ) at the end of a jussive verb?لَا تَذْهَبْ (Don't go!) would be written with the sukoon, even if pronounced without it in a dialect.لَا النَّاهِيَة be used with the first person (I/we)? How do I say "Let's not..." or "I shouldn't...?"لَا النَّاهِيَة is exclusively for addressing the second person (أنت, أنتِ, etc.) to issue a direct prohibition. You cannot use it to command yourself or a group that includes yourself in the sense of "Let's not..."- To express "Let's not...", the most common MSA construction is
لَاfollowed by the present tense verb in the Jussive mood for the first-person plural (نَحْنُ). For example,لَا نَذْهَبْ(Let's not go!). While grammatically correct, this specific Jussive form is often replaced in common usage byلِكَيْ لَا نَذْهَبَ(in order that we not go – using subjunctive for purpose) or simplyلَا نَذْهَبُ(we are not going, implying 'let's not'). A more emphatic way is to useدعنا لا نفعل(Let us not do). - For "I shouldn't..." or "We shouldn't...", you would typically use
يَجِبُ أَلَّا أَفْعَلَ(It is necessary that I not do) orلَا يَنْبَغِي لِي أَنْ أَفْعَلَ(It is not appropriate for me to do), which involve the subjunctive mood, or simplyلَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْعَلَ(I don't want to do). You can also stateأَنَا لَا أَنصحُ بِذَلِكَ(I do not recommend that).
ـهُ, ـهَا, ـكَ, etc.) does not alter the Jussive transformation of the verb itself. You first apply the Jussive rule to the verb, and then attach the pronoun to the modified verb stem. The Jussive ending (sukoon, dropped noon, or removed weak letter) will still be present at the end of the verb stem, before the pronoun suffix.لَا تَتْرُكْهُ!(Don't leave him/it! – fromتَتْرُكُ+ـهُ)لَا تَقُلْهَا!(Don't say it! – fromتَقُولُ->تَقُلْ+ـهَا)لَا تَسْأَلْهُمْ!(Don't ask them! – fromتَسْأَلُ+ـهُمْ)
- Form IV:
لَا تُهْمِلْ وَاجِبَاتِكَ.(Don't neglect your duties! – fromتُهْمِلُ) - Form VIII:
لَا تَعْتَذِرْ.(Don't apologize! – fromتَعْتَذِرُ) - Form X:
لَا تَسْتَسْلِمْ.(Don't give up! – fromتَسْتَسْلِمُ)
الْتِقَاء السَّاكِنَيْنِ) when the Jussive verb is followed by a word starting with a sukoon (often due to الْـ definite article)?الْتِقَاء السَّاكِنَيْنِ) for ease of pronunciation. When a jussive verb ending in a sukoon is immediately followed by a word starting with a sukoon (as is common with the definite article الْـ), the sukoon of the Jussive verb is temporarily changed to a kasra (ـِ) to facilitate smooth pronunciation. This kasra is purely phonetic and does not alter the verb's Jussive status.لَا تَتْرُكْ الْبَابَ.(Don't leave the door.)- Pronounced:
لَا تَتْرُكِ الْبَابَ.(The sukoon onكchanges to kasra to connect with the sukoon onلofالْبَابَ) لَا تَسْأَلْ الْمُعَلِّمَ.(Don't ask the teacher.)- Pronounced:
لَا تَسْأَلِ الْمُعَلِّمَ.
مِنْ فَضْلِكَ (please – m.sg.), مِنْ فَضْلِكِ (f.sg.), or مِنْ فَضْلِكُمْ (pl.) after the jussive verb.- Impolite:
لَا تَذْهَبْ.(Don't go.) - Polite:
لَا تَذْهَبْ، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ.(Please, don't go.)
2. Negative Imperative Conjugation
| Pronoun | Verb (Present) | Negative Command |
|---|---|---|
|
Anta (You m)
|
taktubu
|
la taktub
|
|
Anti (You f)
|
taktubina
|
la taktubi
|
|
Antuma (You dual)
|
taktubani
|
la taktuba
|
|
Antum (You pl m)
|
taktubuna
|
la taktubuu
|
|
Antunna (You pl f)
|
taktubna
|
la taktubna
|
Meanings
The negative imperative is used to express prohibition or to tell someone not to perform an action.
Direct Prohibition
Telling someone directly not to do something.
“لا تَذْهَبْ إِلى هُناكَ”
“لا تَأْكُلْ هَذا”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Singular Masc
|
la + verb-sukun
|
la taktub
|
|
Singular Fem
|
la + verb-i
|
la taktubi
|
|
Plural Masc
|
la + verb-uu
|
la taktubuu
|
|
Plural Fem
|
la + verb-na
|
la taktubna
|
|
Weak Verb (final)
|
la + verb-drop-vowel
|
la tansa
|
|
Dual
|
la + verb-a
|
la taktuba
|
Formality Spectrum
لا تَذْهَبْ إِلى هُناكَ (Giving directions)
لا تروح هناك (Giving directions)
لا تروح (Giving directions)
ما تروحش (Giving directions)
Negative Command Structure
Verb Modification
- Sukun Final vowel drop
Statement vs Command
Formation Flow
Is it 2nd person?
Usage Scenarios
Social
- • Don't worry
- • Don't forget
Safety
- • Don't touch
- • Don't run
Examples by Level
لا تَأْكُلْ
Don't eat
لا تَلْعَبْ
Don't play
لا تَنْظُرْ
Don't look
لا تَذْهَبْ
Don't go
لا تَفْتَحِ البابَ
Don't open the door
لا تَقْرَأْ هَذا
Don't read this
لا تَشْرَبْ القَهْوَةَ
Don't drink the coffee
لا تَكْتُبْ بِالقَلَمِ
Don't write with the pen
لا تَنْسَ مَوْعِدَنا
Don't forget our appointment
لا تَتَأَخَّرْ عَنِ العَمَلِ
Don't be late for work
لا تَقْلَقْ بِشَأْنِهِ
Don't worry about it
لا تَعُدْ إِلى هُناكَ
Don't go back there
لا تَتَدَخَّلْ فِي شُؤُونِ الآخَرِينَ
Don't interfere in others' affairs
لا تَتَوَقَّعْ الكَثِيرَ
Don't expect too much
لا تَتَرَدَّدْ فِي طَلَبِ المُساعَدَةِ
Don't hesitate to ask for help
لا تَتَجاهَلْ هَذِهِ الحَقِيقَةَ
Don't ignore this fact
لا تَتَسَرَّعْ فِي اتِّخاذِ القَرارِ
Don't rush into making the decision
لا تَتَذَرَّعْ بِالأَعْذارِ الواهِيَةِ
Don't make flimsy excuses
لا تَتَنازَلْ عَنْ مَبادِئِكَ
Don't compromise your principles
لا تَتَغافَلْ عَنِ التَّفاصِيلِ
Don't overlook the details
لا تَتَطاوَلْ عَلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَى مِنْكَ
Don't overstep your bounds with those above you
لا تَتَجاسَرْ عَلَى فِعْلِ ذَلِكَ
Don't dare to do that
لا تَتَمالَكْ أَعْصابَكَ
Don't lose your composure
لا تَتَوارَ عَنِ الأَنْظارِ
Don't hide from view
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the indicative and jussive forms.
Both are used with verbs.
Both mean 'not'.
Common Mistakes
la taktubu
la taktub
lam taktub
la taktub
la tansa-u
la tansa
la taktubuna
la taktubuu
Sentence Patterns
لا ___ هَذا!
مِنْ فَضْلِكَ، لا ___!
لا ___، فَأَنا مَوْجُودٌ.
لا ___ فِي هَذا المَوْضُوعِ.
Real World Usage
la tansa!
la tansa al-i'jab
la taqlaq
la talamis
la tada' al-ta'am
la tatakallam
Listen for the ending
Don't confuse with past
Use 'min fadlik'
Dialect vs MSA
Smart Tips
Always drop the 'n' in the plural form.
Drop the final long vowel entirely.
Add 'min fadlik' to soften the command.
Check if it's a command or a statement.
Pronunciation
Sukun
The sukun is a silent stop. Don't add a vowel sound after the consonant.
Commanding
LA taktub!
Strong emphasis on the prohibition.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
La is the wall, the verb hits it and loses its tail (vowel).
Visual Association
Imagine a stop sign (La) in front of a person running. The person stops and loses their shoes (the final vowel).
Rhyme
Add the La, drop the vowel, don't be a rebel.
Story
Ahmed was running. His mother shouted 'La tajri!' (Don't run). Ahmed stopped, dropped his shoes, and stood still.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 'don't' sentences about your daily routine in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Often uses 'ma' + verb + 'sh' for negation.
Very common to use 'ma' + verb + 'sh'.
Closer to MSA, uses 'la' frequently.
The jussive mood is a Proto-Semitic feature used to express wishes or prohibitions.
Conversation Starters
What should I not do in your country?
Don't you think we should leave?
What is a good advice for a student?
Don't be afraid to try new food!
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
لا ___ (taktub)!
Don't go.
Find and fix the mistake:
لا تَنْسَى
taktubu (you write)
la taktub (you m) -> ?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
la / tansa / mawa'idana
The jussive mood uses a sukun.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesلا ___ (taktub)!
Don't go.
Find and fix the mistake:
لا تَنْسَى
taktubu (you write)
la taktub (you m) -> ?
la tadhhab (m) -> ?
la / tansa / mawa'idana
The jussive mood uses a sukun.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesلا ___ غاضبة.
لا تذهبُ إلى السوق اليوم.
Order the words correctly:
Translate into Arabic:
Select the right form for 'you two':
Match the pairs:
___ تلمس هذا الزر!
لا تمشي في الشارع.
Which sentence means 'Don't speak'?
يا طلاب، لا ___ الواجب.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It marks the jussive mood, which is required for prohibitions.
No, it is only for second-person commands.
You might sound like you are making a statement instead of a command.
Yes, it is the standard way to express prohibition.
Add 'min fadlik' (please) at the end.
Yes, the ending changes for feminine and plural forms.
Yes, dialects often use 'ma' + verb + 'sh'.
It is a general prohibition, so it covers all time.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
No + Subjunctive
Spanish changes the verb stem; Arabic changes the ending.
Ne...pas
French negation is surrounding the verb; Arabic is prefix-based.
Nicht + Imperative
German uses a particle; Arabic uses a mood change.
Verb-nai
Suffix vs Prefix.
Bu + Verb
Chinese verbs do not conjugate.
Ma + Verb + sh
MSA uses 'la' + jussive; dialects use 'ma' + indicative.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
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