A Darija present-tense verb has three parts: a person prefix that shows who is doing it, the verb stem, and usually ka- in front for the normal present.
The bare present and the ka- present
Here is kteb (to write), stem -ktb:
| Person | Bare form | With ka- |
|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | nkteb | kanekteb |
| nta (you m) | tkteb | katekteb |
| nti (you f) | tketbi | katketbi |
| huwa (he) | ykteb | kayekteb |
| hiya (she) | tkteb | katekteb |
| 7na (we) | nketbu | kanketbu |
| ntuma (you pl) | tketbu | katketbu |
| huma (they) | yketbu | kayketbu |
Unlike other dialects, "I" starts with n-, and "we" is n- plus -u.
ka-: the normal present
- ููุฎุฏู ูุงูุจููkankhdem f l-bankI work in a bank.
- ูุชูุถุฑ ุงูุนุฑุจูุฉุkathder l-3arabiya?Do you speak Arabic?
ka- covers both "I do" and "I'm doing". Some regions say ta- instead: tankhdem.
Drop ka- after "want", "must", "can"
Use the bare form after these. English uses "to" + verb here; Darija uses the bare present with the right person.
- ุจุบูุช ููุชุจbghit nktebI want to write.
- ุฎุตู ุชุฌูkhassek tjiYou have to come.
- ููุฏุฑ ูุนุงูููุnqder n3awnek?Can I help you?
khass- ("must") takes an ending for the person: khassni (I must), khassha (she must).