A Levantine present-tense verb has three parts: a person prefix that shows who is doing it, the verb stem, and usually a b- in front for the normal present.
The bare present and the b- present
Here is katab (to write), stem -ktob:
| Person | Bare form | With b- |
|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | iktob | biktob |
| inta (you m) | tiktob | btiktob |
| inti (you f) | tiktbi | btiktbi |
| huwwe (he) | yiktob | byiktob |
| hiyye (she) | tiktob | btiktob |
| ni7na (we) | niktob | mniktob |
| intu (you pl) | tiktbu | btiktbu |
| hinne (they) | yiktbu | byiktbu |
"We" takes m- instead of b-: mniktob. And "you (m)" and "she" share a form.
b-: the normal present
- ุจุดุชุบู ุจุจููbishtighel b-bankI work in a bank.
- ุจุชุญูู ุนุฑุจูุbti7ki 3arabi?Do you speak Arabic?
3am: right now
To stress that something is happening at this moment, add 3am before the verb:
- ุนู ุจูุชุจ ุฑุณุงูุฉ3am biktob risaaleI'm writing a letter (right now).
- ุดู ุนู ุชุนู ูุshu 3am ta3mel?What are you doing?
Drop b- after "want", "must", "can"
Use the bare form after these. English uses "to" + verb here; Arabic uses the bare present with the right person.
- ุจุฏูู ุฅูุชุจbaddi iktobI want to write.
- ูุงุฒู ุชูุฌูlaazim tiijiYou have to come.
- ูููู ุณุงุนุฏูุfiyyi saa3dak?Can I help you?
badd- ("want") and fi- ("can") take possessive endings: baddak (you want), fiyya (she can).