The Fusha present tense (the "imperfect") is built from a person prefix, the verb stem, and an ending. It covers both "I write" and "I am writing".
The present
Here is kataba (to write), stem -ktub-:
| Person | Arabic | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | ุฃูุชุจู | aktubu |
| anta (you m) | ุชูุชุจู | taktubu |
| anti (you f) | ุชูุชุจูู | taktubiina |
| huwa (he) | ููุชุจู | yaktubu |
| hiya (she) | ุชูุชุจู | taktubu |
| antumaa (you two) | ุชูุชุจุงู | taktubaani |
| humaa (they two, m) | ููุชุจุงู | yaktubaani |
| na7nu (we) | ููุชุจู | naktubu |
| antum (you pl m) | ุชูุชุจูู | taktubuuna |
| antunna (you pl f) | ุชูุชุจููู | taktubna |
| hum (they m) | ููุชุจูู | yaktubuuna |
| hunna (they f) | ููุชุจููู | yaktubna |
The vowel in the middle of the stem (u in yaktubu, a in yashrabu, i in yajlisu) has to be learned with each Form I verb. Dictionaries give it.
- ุฃุนู ูู ูู ุจูููa3malu fii bankinI work in a bank.
- ู ุงุฐุง ุชูุฑุฃููุmaadha taqra2iina?What are you (f) reading?
Three moods
The ending changes after certain words:
| Mood | Ending | Used after | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| indicative | -u | normally | yaktubu (he writes) |
| subjunctive | -a | an (to), lan (won't), li- (in order to) | an yaktuba (to write) |
| jussive | (none) | lam (didn't), laa (don't) | lam yaktub (he didn't write) |
In the subjunctive and jussive, the -na/-ni endings drop: taktubiina becomes an taktubii.
"Want to", "must", "can"
Use an + the subjunctive:
- ุฃุฑูุฏู ุฃู ุฃูุชุจูuriidu an aktubaI want to write.
- ูุฌุจู ุฃู ุชุฃุชููyajibu an ta2tiyaYou must come.
- ูู ูู ููู ุฃู ูุชูููู ูุhal yumkinu an natakallama?Can we talk?