Daily Routines#
Objective: By the end of the chapter, you will be able to: • talk about your daily activities using the present tense • use one verb after another to express complex thoughts • give commands with the imperative Present Tense – Regular Verbs Present Tense in General In Arabic, the present tense normally expresses both habitual and progressive actions. habitual action: I eat couscous every Friday. progressive action: I am eating couscous now. For a small number of verbs, the present tense expresses only habitual actions (see page 147 for more information on these verbs). Unlike the past tense, which uses only suffixes (endings) to conjugate a verb, the present tense uses both suffixes and prefixes. The present tense prefix is written with ka (ـكَ ) and another letter (n, t, or y). Present tense suffixes (i or u) may be added as well. Regular Verbs in the Present Tense Verbs that were regular in the past tense are still regular in the present tense. In addition to these, two-letter verbs are also regular in the present tense. Therefore, they will be conjugated like ktb ()كتب in the present tense. See page 51 for more information on two-letter verbs. Here is the conjugation of the verb ktb in the present tense, with prefixes and suffixes underlined: Yes, these are the same. You understand the speaker by context. “to write”ktbكتب I writekan-ktbنكتبكَ you write (masc. sing.)kat-ktbتكتبكَ you write (fem. sing.)kat-ktbiتكتبيكَ he writeskay-ktbيكتبكَ she writeskat-ktbتكتبكَ we writekan-ktbuنكتبوكَ you write (plur.)kat-ktbuتكتبوكَ they writekay-ktbuيكتبوكَ Q: What changes are brought to the verb when conjugated in the present tense? These have different conjugations. In the past tense, they had the same conjugation.Peace Corps / Morocco • 59 Time Expressions alwaysdimaديما usuallyghalibanباغال sometimesb3D l-mrratfrom time to timemrra mrraةمر ّ ةمر ّ once a …mrra f …… ف ةمر ّ once a yearmrra f l-3amالعام ف ةمر ّ once a monthmrra f sh-hrالشهر ف ةمر ّ once a weekmrra f s-simanaالسيمانة ف ةمر ّ everydayyawmiyanاومي ّ يَ on (day of the week)nhar …نهار on Saturdaynhar s-sbtevery …kul …… لكُ every morningkul Sba7صباح لكُ every Fridaykul jm3aجمعة لكُ nowdaba اتالمر ّ بعض السبت نهار بادَ Some examples: Malika drinks milk every morning.Greg kay-tkllm d-darija mzyan. Malika kat-shrb l-7lib kul Sba7.Amina and her friend travel to France once a year.Amina u Sa7btha kay-safru l fransa mrra f l-3am.Aicha is pouring tea.Aicha kat-kbb atay..أتاي تكب َ كَ عيشة I don’t drink coffee.ma-kan-shrb-sh l-qhwa..القهوة نشربشكَ ما Greg speaks Darija well. .زيانم جةالدار يتكلّمكَ گريگ .صباح لكُ الحليب تشربكَ ليكةمَ ةمر ّ نسةفر َ ل يسافروكَ صاحبتها و أمينة .العام ف Exercise: Answer the following sentences (based on the examples above) in the negative. 1. wesh Greg kay-tkllm tamazight mzyan? 2. wesh Malika kat-shrb atay kul Sba7? 3. wesh Amina u Sa7btha kay-safru l mirikan mrra f l-3am? مزيان؟ تامازيغت يتكلّمكَ گريگ واش .1 صباح؟ لكُ أتاي تشربكَ ليكةمَ واش .2 العام؟ ف ةمر ّ ريكانم ل يسافروكَ صاحبتها و أمينة واش .360 • Moroccan Arabic الما؟ تكب ّ كَ عيشة واش .4 4. wesh Aicha kat-kbb l-ma? Exercise: Describe in the present tense the following activities. يديرو؟كَ / تديركَ / يديركَ شنو shnu kay-dir / kat-dir / kay-diru? Present Tense – Irregular Verbs with Middle “a” Irregular Verbs in General Irregular verbs in the present tense are more complicated than in the past tense. In the past tense, verbs with the same structure (“a” in the middle, “a” at the end) were conjugated the same way. In the present tense, verbs that look the same in their “infinitive” form may be conjugated differently. As a result of this difference, in the present tense you will have to remember which category of conjugation each irregular verb belongs to. These catego- ries are listed in the diagram to the right, and each will be shown individually. The glossary of verbs in the appendix (see page 159) also shows, by example, how an irregular verb is conjugated. Categories of Present Tense Irregular Verbs “a” becomes “u” long vowel “a” in the middle “a” becomes “i” “a” remains “a” Present Tense Irregular Verbs “a” becomes “i” long vowel “a” at the end “a” remains “a” internal changes We will deal with two large groups of irregular verbs: 3-letter verbs with a long vowel “a” in the middle and all verbs with a long vowel “a” at the end. Within each of these general groups, there will be three categories of different conjugations. At times, it may seem like too much information to handle. But Peace Corps trainees have been learning the irregular present tense for years; you’ll do great. Practicing irregular verbs with your homestay family is one way to remember how each verb is conjugated. The more you use the verbs, the quicker they will “stick” in your memory.Peace Corps / Morocco • 61 1st Category: Long “a” Becomes Long “u” Remember, here we are dealing with 3-letter verbs with a ()ا in the middle. The long vowel a ()ا changes to the long vowel u ()و, with the same prefixes and suffixes as regular verbs in the present tense. galگال I saykan-gulنگولكَ you say (masc. sing.)kat-gulتگولكَ you say (fem. sing.)kat-guliتگوليكَ he sayskay-gulيگولكَ she sayskat-gulتگولكَ we saykan-guluنگولوكَ you say (plur.)kat-guluتگولوكَ they saykay-guluيگولوكَ “to say” Verbs like “gal” to bekanكانto passfatفات to blamelamالمto seeshafشاف to diematماتto swim3amعام to drive / rideSagصاگto tastedaqداق to fastSamصامto throwla7الح to meltdabدابto turnDarضار to passdazدازto visitzarزار Some examples: Muslims fast Ramadan every year.l-mslmin kay-Sumu rmdan kul 3am. Lisa swims well.Lisa kat-3um mzyan. This driver doesn’t drive well.had sh-shifur ma- kay-Sug-sh mzyan. .عام لكُ رمضان يصوموكَ ينالمسلم .مزيان تعومكَ ليسا .مزيان يصوگشكَ ما الشيفور دهَ When the verb “to be,” kan ()كان is conjugated in the present tense, it expresses a habitual action or activity, not a current state or condition. Where are you (every) Saturday fin kat-kun nhar s-sbt f l-3shiya? afternoon? ة؟العشي ف السبت نهار تكونكَ فين ّ In order to express current states or conditions, use independent pronouns with adjectives or nouns (see page 7) or use the participles of kan ()كان (see page 36). You have already learned both!62 • Moroccan Arabic Exercise: Describe in the present tense the following activities. يديرو؟كَ / تديركَ / يديركَ شنو shnu kay-dir / kat-dir / kay-diru? 2nd Category: Long “a” Becomes Long “i” In this category, the long vowel a ()ا in the middle of the verb changes to the long vowel i ()ي, with the same prefixes and suffixes as regular verbs in the present tense. jabجاب I bringkan-jibنجيبكَ you bring (masc. sing.)kat-jibتجيبكَ you bring (fem. sing.)kat-jibiتجيبيكَ he bringskay-jibيجيبكَ she bringskat-jibتجيبكَ we bringkan-jibuنجيبوكَ you bring (plur.)kat-jibuتجيبوكَ they bringkay-jibuيجيبوكَ “to bring” Verbs like “jab” to addzadزادto flyTarطار to be absentghabغابto leaksalسال to be cookedTabطابto wake upfaqفاق to do / makedarدارSellba3باع to fallTa7طاحto touchqasقاس to trustTaqتاق Some examples:Peace Corps / Morocco • 63 Hassan sells (is selling) vegetables in the souq.Hassan kay-bi3 l-khuDra f s-suq..السوق ف الخضرة يبيعكَ حسن I don’t wake up early on Sundays.ma-kan-fiq-sh bkri nhar l-7dd..لحد ّ ا نهار بكري نفيقشكَ ما What do you do on Saturdays?shnu kat-dir nhar s-sbt?السبت؟ نهار تديركَ شنو Exercise: Describe in the present tense the following activities. يديرو؟كَ / تديركَ / يديركَ شنو shnu kay-dir / kat-dir / kay-diru? 3rd Category: Long “a” Remains Long “a” In this category, the long vowel a ()ا remains the same, without any changes, with the same prefixes and suffixes as regular verbs in the present tense. batبات I spend the nightkan-batنباتكَ you spend the night (masc. sing.)kat-batتباتكَ you spend the night (fem. sing.)kat-batiتباتيكَ he spends the nightkay-batيباتكَ she spends the nightkat-batتباتكَ we spend the nightkan-batuنباتوكَ you spend the night (plur.)kat-batuتباتوكَ they spend the nightkay-batuيباتوكَ “to spend the night” Verbs like “bat” to appearban to look likeban b7al بان بحال بان to owesalسال to be scaredkhafخاف Some examples: The mouse is scared of the cat. l-far kay-khaf mn l-qT. .القط من يخافكَ الفار64 • Moroccan Arabic .مريض إال بحال تبانكَ kat-ban b7al ila mriD. You look like you are sick. Present Tense – Irregular Verbs with Final “a” Now we change our focus from verbs with a long vowel a ()ا in the middle of the verb to those with a long vowel a ()ى at the end of the verb. 1st Category: Long “a” Becomes Long “i” In this category, the long vowel a ()ى changes to the long vowel i ()ي, with the same prefixes and suffixes as regular verbs in the present tense. Jraجرى I runkan-jriنجريكَ you run (masc. sing.)kat-jriتجريكَ you run (fem. sing.)kat-jriتجريكَ he runskay-jriيجريكَ she runskat-jriتجريكَ we runkan-jriuنجريوكَ you run (plur.)kat-jriuتجريوكَ they runkay-jriuويجريكَ “to run” These have the same conjugation in this category. Verbs like “jra” to buildbnaبنىto gomshaمشى to buyshraشرىto praySllaصلّى to crybkaبكىto like / lovebghaبغى to cleannqqaنقّىto showwrraىور ّ to comejaجاto singghnnaىغن ّ to foldTwaطوىto smokeKmaكمى to fryqlaقلىto teachqrraىقر ّ to finishsalaسالىto turn offTfaطفى Some examples: Hassan sings (is singing) in the shower.Hassan kay-ghnni f d-dush. I don’t smoke hash.ma-kan-kmi-sh l-7shish. .الدوش ف ييغن ّ كَ حسن .الحشيش نكميشكَ ماPeace Corps / Morocco • 65 Do you run every morning? صباح؟ لكُ تجريكَ واش wesh kat-jri kul Sba7? Exercise: Describe in the present tense the following activities. يديرو؟كَ / تديركَ / يديركَ شنو shnu kay-dir / kat-dir / kay-diru? 2nd Category: Long “a” Remains Long “a” In this category, the long vowel a ()ى remains the same, without any changes, with the same prefixes and suffixes as regular verbs in the present tense. qraقرى I readkan-qraنقرىكَ you read (masc. sing.)kat-qraتقرىكَ you read (fem. sing.)kat-qrayتقرايكَ he readskay-qraيقرىكَ she readskat-qraتقرىكَ we readkan-qrauنقراوكَ you read (plur.)kat-qrauتقراوكَ they readkay-qrauيقراوكَ “to read / study” Verbs like “qra” to forgetnsaنسىto defyt7ddaىتحد ّ to findlqaلقىto eat lunchtghddaىتغد ّ to hopetmnnaىتمن ّto eat dinnert3sh-shaىشّ تع to meettlaqaتالقىto be curedbraبرى66 • Moroccan Arabic to go shoppingtqddaىتقد ّto be finishedtsala تسالى to walk aroundtsaraتسارىto take care (of)thlla (f) )(ف ّتهال Some examples: From time to time we eat dinner at the restaurant.mrra mrra kan-t3sh-shau f r-risTura..الريسطورة ف اوشّ نتعكَ ةمر ّ ةمر ّ I don’t go shopping every day.ma-kan-tqdda-sh kul yum..يوم لكُ اشنتقد ّ كَ ما How many books do you read in sh7al mn ktab kat-qra f sh-sh-hr? a month?الشهر؟ ف تقرىكَ كتاب من شحال Exercise: Describe in the present tense the following activities. يديرو؟كَ / تديركَ / يديركَ شنو šnu kay-dir / kat-dir / kay-diru? Moroccan Wisdom: ودّ ماح احلديد ضرب .سخون Drb l-7did ma7ddu skhun. 3rd Category: Verb Has Strike while the Internal iron isChanges hot. Two verbs in Moroccan Arabic are conjugated in the present tense by changing their internal structure in addition to adding the normal prefixes and suffixes. In these forms, the “u” is pronounced very quickly. Thus, one shouldn’t say “kan-akuuuuul,” but rather “kan-akul” “to eat”Klaكلى I eatkan-akulلكُ ناكَ you eat (masc. sing.)kat-akulلكُ تاكَ you eat (fem. sing.)kat-akuliليكُ تاكَ he eatskay-akulلكُ ياكَPeace Corps / Morocco • 67 she eatskat-akulلكُ تاكَ we eatkan-akluناكلوكَ you eat (plur.)kat-akluتاكلوكَ they eatkay-akluياكلوكَ Another Verb like “kla” to take خدى khda Some examples: Every Friday we eat couscous.kul jm3a kan-aklu ksksu..كسكسو ناكلوكَ جمعة لكُ She takes medicine before she goes to bed.kat-akhud d-dwa qbl ma t-n3s..تنعس ما قبل الدوى دتاخ ُ كَ Exercise: Describe in the present tense the following activities. shnu kay-dir / kat-dir / kay-diru? يديرو؟كَ / تديركَ / يديركَ شنو68 • Moroccan Arabic Using One Verb after Another Sometimes, we will want to use one verb directly after another. This is true in English: I want to read. He likes to cook. We forgot to call you. She began to study yesterday. As the examples show, in English we use the infinitive after a verb (to read, to cook, to call, to study). But in Arabic, as you recall, there isn’t actually an infinitive for verbs (see page 46). Instead, we use the present tense of a verb without the opening “ka.” This will serve as the equivalent of the English infinitive when we use one verb after another. Present Tense Without “ka” Used after “bġa” I want to go.kan-mshin-mshibghit n-mshi.نمشي بغيت You want to go.kat-mshit-mshibghiti t-mshi.تمشي بغيتي He wants to go.kay-mshiy-mshibgha y-mshi.يمشي بغى She wants to go.kat-mshit-mshibghat t-mshi.تمشي بغات We want to go.kan-mshiun-mshiubghina n-mshiuنمشيو بغينا You want to go.kat-mshiut-mshiubghitu t-mshiuتمشيو بغيتو They want to go.kay-mshiuy-mshiubghau y-mshiuيمشيو بغاو Some more examples: I hope to speak Darija well.kan-tmnna n-tkllm d-darija mzyan..مزيان جةالدار نتكلّم ىنتمن ّ كَ He forgot to bring the book.nsa y-jib l-ktab..الكتاب يجيب نسى Using with Other Expressions This same construction is used after other words and expressions. The most important of these is (bash) ()باش. This word is the equivalent of the English “in order to.” Some examples: Latifa went to the post office in order to send a letter.Latifa mshat l l-busTa bash t-SifT bra. I went to Marrakech in order to see my friend.mshit l Marrakech bash n-shuf Sa7bi. .برا طتصيف باش البوسطة ل مشات لَطيفة .صاحبي نشوف باش مراكش ل مشيت Exercise: Combine the following words to make meaningful sentences, using the proper conjugations of verbs and pronouns. 1. Amina / msha / l l-busTa / bash / shra / karT d t-tilifun. 2. huwa / bgha / msha / l mirikan / bash / qra. 3. 7na / ja / l l-mghrib / bash / 3awn / nas dyalu / u / t3rrf / 3lihum / u {huma} /t3rrf/ 3lina 7tta {7na} / mzyan.Peace Corps / Morocco • 69 The Imperative The imperative is used to give commands: Go to the store! Open the window! Study Arabic! The positive imperative tells someone to do something, the negative imperative tells someone not to do something. The positive imperative is formed by dropping both the ka (َك) and the prefix t ()ت from the singular and plural “you” forms of the present tense. In the following table, all the examples are equal to the English command, “Write!” Present Tense Imperative you (masc. sing.)kat-ktbتكتبكَKtbكتب you (fem. sing.)kat-ktbiتكتبيكَKtbiكتبي you (plur. sing.)kat-ktbuتكتبوكَKtbuكتبو The negative imperative is formed by dropping the ka (َك) and using the negative form (ma…sh) (ش…)ما. In the following table, the first verb is gls, “to sit,” and the negative imperatives are equivalent to the English “Don’t sit!” The second verb is wqf, “to stand / stop” and the negative imperatives are equivalent to the English “Don’t stand up!” Present Tense Imperative Negative Imperative you (masc. sing.) kat-glsتگلسكَglsگلسma-t-gls-shتگلسش ما you (fem. sing.)kat-glsiتگلسيكَglsiگلسيma-t-glsi-shتگلسيش ما you (plur. sing.)kat-glsuتگلسوكَglsuگلسوma-t-glsu-shتگلسوش ما you (masc. sing.) kat-wqfتوقفكَwqfوقفma-t-wqf-shتوقفش ما you (fem. sing.)kat-wqfiتوقفيكَwqfiوقفيma-t-wqfi-shتوقفيش ما you (plur. sing.)kat-wqfuتوقفوكَwqfuوقفوma-t-wqfu-shتوقفوش ما Some Irregular Imperatives For the following three verbs, the positive imperative is not regular. 1. to go Go. 2. to come Come. 3. to give Give me. mshaمشى sirسير siriسيري siruسيرو jaجا ajiأجي ajiأجي ajiuأجيو 3Ta / araعطى araرا أ arayأراي arauأراو Don’t go. Don’t come. Don’t give me. ma-t-mshi-shتمشيش ما ma-t-mshi-shتمشيش ما ma-t-mshiu-shتمشيوش ما ma-t-ji-shتجيش ما ma-t-ji-shتجيش ما ma-t-jiu-shتجيوش ما ma-t-3Tini-shتعطينيش ما ma-t-3Tini-shتعطينيش ما ma-t-3Tiuni-shتعطيونيش ما70 • Moroccan Arabic Exercise: Put the verbs between parentheses in correct form, then arrange the sentences in the correct order. A. mn b3d (lbs) 7wayji. B. (ghsl) wjhi u snani, mn b3d (fiyq) d-drari. C. ana (naD) f 7:30. D. f l-3shiya (tqdda) wlla (khmml) D-Dar. E. ana (khdm) 7tta l 1:00 mn b3d (tghdda). .حوايجي )(لبس بعد من .الدراري )ق(في ّ بعد من ،سنان و وجهي )(غسل .7:30 ف )(ناض أنا .الدار )ل(خم ف ّ ةالعشي ّ ّ ّوال )ى(تقد .)ى(تغد ّ بعد من 1:00 ل حتّى )(خدم أنا .الفطور )(وجد F. (wjjd) l-fTur. G. 7na (t3sh-sha) mjmu3in. H. ana (n3s) ghaliban f 11:00. I. ana (shdd) T-Tobis f 8:00 bash (msha) l-khdma. J. d-drari (n3s) f 8:00. Text kifash kat-duwz n-nhar? Susan mutaTawi3a m3a hayAat s-salam.kul nhar kat-fiq bkri u kat-jri. mn b3d kat-duwwsh u kat-ftTr. dima f S-Sba7 kat-khdm 7tta l 11:30. mlli kat-sali, kat-rj3 l D-Dar. kat-wjjd l-makla u kat-tghdda. f l-3shiya kat-tqdda u b3D l-mrrat kat-tlaqa S7abha wlla kat-mshi l s-sibir. f l-lil kat-t3sh-sha u dima kat-qra qbl ma t-n3s. 1. shnu kat-dir Susan? wesh turist? 2. wesh kat-khdm f l-3shiya? 3. shnu kat-dir qbl ma t-n3s? 4. shnu kat-dir kul nhar? .مجموعين )ىشّ (تع حنا .11:00 ف باغال )(نعس أنا .الخدمة )(مشى باش 8:00 ف الطوبيس )(شد ّ أنا .8:00 ف )(نعس الدراري النهار؟ زتدو ّ كَ كيفاش و بكري تفيقكَ نهار لكُ .المالس َ يئةهَ مع َ ةعوِّ َتَطمُ سوزان الصباح ف ديما .تفطركَ و شتدو ّ كَ بعد من .تجريكَ .الدار ل ترجعكَ ،تساليكَ ملّي .11:30 ل حتّى تخدمكَ بعض و ىتتقد ف .ىتتغد ّ كَ ةالعشي ّ كَ و الماكلة دتوج ّ ّ كَ الليل ف .ريالسيب ل تمشيكَ وال صحابها تالقىكَ اتالمر ّ .تنعس ما قبل تقرىكَ ديما و ىشّ تتعكَ توريست؟ واش سوزان؟ تديركَ شنو .1 ة؟العشي ف تخدمكَ واش .2 ّ تنعس؟ ما قبل تديركَ شنو .3 نهار؟ لكُ تديركَ شنو .4