أيضاً

Also

Level 1

أيضاً (ayḍan) is the standard way to say 'also' or 'too' in formal Arabic. It always follows the word it refers to or appears at the end of a sentence.

How It Works

In Modern Standard Arabic, أيضاً is used to indicate addition or similarity. Unlike the English word 'also,' which can sometimes start a sentence, أيضاً has specific placement rules:

  • Placement: It usually comes after the noun, adjective, or verb it modifies, or at the very end of the clause. For example, it can follow a pronoun (أنا أيضاً) or a verb (سأذهبُ أيضاً).
  • The Conjunction 'Wa': In formal writing, أيضاً is frequently preceded by the conjunction و (and) when adding a new item or clause (وأيضاً). This makes the sentence flow more naturally.
  • Starting a Sentence: You cannot start a sentence with أيضاً. To say 'Also,' or 'In addition,' at the beginning of a sentence, use بالإضافة إلى ذلك (In addition to that) or علاوة على ذلك (Furthermore).
  • Negative Sentences: When used in a negative sentence, it translates to 'either' (e.g., 'I don't know either').
  • Morphology: It is a noun in the accusative case, which is why it ends with the tanwīn fatḥa (ً).

It is important to distinguish أيضاً from كذلك (likewise). While أيضاً adds an item, كذلك emphasizes that something is done in the same manner.

Examples (5)

  1. أنا أيضاً أحبُّ القراءةَ.

    I also like reading.

    Word by Word: I also I-like the-reading.

    This example shows the placement of أيضاً directly after the noun (the pronoun 'I') to emphasize that the speaker, like someone else, shares this interest.

  2. سأذهبُ أيضاً إلى المكتبةِ.

    I will also go to the library.

    Word by Word: I-will-go also to the-library.

    Here, أيضاً is placed immediately after the verb to show that going to the library is an additional action being taken.

  3. أنا لا أحبُّ هذا الفيلمَ أيضاً.

    I do not like this movie either.

    Word by Word: I not I-like this the-movie also.

    In negative sentences, أيضاً functions like the English word 'either' to show agreement with a negative statement.

  4. هذا الكتابُ مفيدٌ وجميلٌ أيضاً.

    This book is useful and also beautiful.

    Word by Word: This the-book useful and beautiful also.

    أيضاً follows the second adjective to add another quality to the book.

  5. أنا طالبٌ وأخي طالبٌ أيضاً.

    I am a student, and my brother is a student too.

    Word by Word: I student and my brother student also.

    Here, أيضاً is placed at the end of the second clause to show that the brother shares the same status as the speaker.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting a sentence with أيضاً as the English "Also,".

    أيضاً، أنا أحب التفاح.
    أنا أحب التفاح أيضاً.

    English speakers often start sentences with "Also, ...". In Arabic, أيضاً usually follows the word it adds to, such as the subject or the verb, and a sentence-first أيضاً is often seen as a copy of English. To start a new sentence with "Furthermore", use بالإضافة إلى ذلك.

  • Using أيضاً where you mean "even".

    Different Meaningأيضاً هو لا يعرف.
    حتى هو لا يعرف.

    أيضاً هو لا يعرف is correct, but it means "he also does not know". To say "even he does not know", use حتى.

  • Omitting the conjunction 'wa' when adding a new clause.

    هو يدرس اللغة العربية، أيضاً يدرس التاريخ.
    هو يدرس اللغة العربية، وأيضاً يدرس التاريخ.

    When using أيضاً to add a new action or clause, it is stylistically better to precede it with the conjunction و (and) to create a smoother transition.

How It Connects

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أيضاًLevel 1Also

Learn This First

To use أيضاً (also/too), you need to be able to form a basic sentence to which you are adding information. Understanding personal pronouns and simple nominal sentences provides the necessary context, while knowledge of tanwin explains the word's ending.

Words in This Pattern

أيضا