Verbs
A Brief Introduction to Present Tense (Imperfect) Verbs
Conjugated verbs in Arabic consist of two main parts: the stem and the subject affix(es). Consider the conjugated verb أحبّ ("I love"). The subject أنا is shortenend to أ and affixed to the beginning of the verb stem حبّ ("love").
أحبّ
| حبّ is the imperfect stem for the verb "to love" |
أ represents the subject أنا (but for grammatical reasons is pronounced 'u sometimes) |
أدرس
| دْرُس is the imperfect stem for the verb "to study" |
أ represents the subject أنا (and in this case is pronounced 'a) |
Whereas English uses two words to express things like "I love" and "I study," Arabic only uses one.
One should also be aware that present tense verbs, such as those in this lesson, can be roughly translated as both simple present verbs, as well as present continuous verbs. For example, أدرس can be translated as both "I study" and "I am studying."
To negate present tense verbs, use لا.
| أحبّ I love |
لا أحبّ I don't love |
| أدرس I study |
لا أدرس I don't study |