لا (الناهية)
Do Not Do That
لا (Prohibitive) + Present Tense (Jussive) = 'Do not...'
How It Works
The Prohibitive La is a powerful tool in Modern Standard Arabic for giving negative commands or requests. It is distinct from the 'Negative La' (لا النافية) which simply states a fact.
1. Grammatical Effect:
When you use لا الناهية, the following present-tense verb must enter the jussive mood. This causes the following changes to the verb endings:
- Regular Verbs: The final vowel (damma) changes to a sukūn. For example, تَكْتُبُ (you write) becomes لا تَكْتُبْ (do not write).
- Hollow Verbs (Ajwaf): The middle long vowel is dropped to avoid the meeting of two silent letters. For example, تَقُولُ (you say) becomes لا تَقُلْ.
- Doubled Verbs (Mudha'af): These verbs typically take a fatha instead of a sukūn to maintain the shadda. For example, تَرُدُّ (you answer) becomes لا تَرُدَّ.
- Defective Verbs (Naqis): If the verb ends in a weak letter (و، ا، ي), that letter is dropped. For example, تَنْسَى (you forget) becomes لا تَنْسَ.
- The Five Verbs (Al-Af'al al-Khamsa): In forms like the plural or feminine singular, the final ن (nun) is dropped. For example, تَكْتُبُونَ (you all write) becomes لا تَكْتُبُوا.
2. Usage with Different Persons:
While most commonly used with the 2nd person ('You'), it can also be used with the 3rd person to express 'Let him/her not...' or 'No one should...'. Note that it is rarely used with the 1st person singular (أنا).
3. Phonological Rule:
If a verb ending in a sukūn is followed by a word starting with a sukūn (like the definite article الـ), the verb's ending changes to a kasra to make it easier to pronounce: لا تَكْتُبِ الدَّرْسَ (Do not write the lesson).
Examples (5)
- لا تَشْرَبْ القَهْوَةَ الآنَ.
Do not drink coffee now.
Word by Word: Not you-drink the-coffee now.
The verb ends in a sukūn because of the prohibitive 'La'.
- يا طُلابُ، لا تَنْسَوْا واجِبَكُمْ.
O students, do not forget your homework.
Word by Word: O students, not you-forget (plural) homework-your.
The final 'nun' is dropped from the plural verb because it is in the jussive mood.
- لا تَقُلْ ذَلِكَ.
Do not say that.
Word by Word: Not you-say that.
In hollow verbs like 'qāla', the middle long vowel is dropped in the jussive to avoid two silent letters meeting.
- لا تَرُدَّ عَلَى الهاتِفِ.
Do not answer the phone.
Word by Word: Not you-answer on the-phone.
Doubled verbs like 'radda' take a fatha instead of a sukūn in the jussive to keep the doubled letter (shadda).
- لا يَمْشِ أَحَدٌ فِي الشّارِعِ.
Let no one walk in the street.
Word by Word: Not he-walks anyone in the-street.
The prohibitive is used with the 3rd person for an indirect command, and the weak letter is dropped.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative (normal) present tense instead of the jussive.
لا تَكْتُبُ على الحائِطِ.لا تَكْتُبْ على الحائِطِ.The prohibitive 'La' requires the verb to end in a sukūn (jussive). Using a damma makes it a statement ('You do not write') rather than a command ('Do not write').
Keeping the middle long vowel in hollow verbs.
لا تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ.لا تَقُلْ ذَلِكَ.When a hollow verb enters the jussive mood, the middle long vowel must be removed to prevent two sukoons from appearing in a row.
Using 'La' with the imperative form of the verb.
لا اُكْتُبْ.لا تَكْتُبْ.You cannot negate the imperative form directly. You must use 'La' with the 2nd person present-tense jussive form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'la al-nahiya' (the prohibitive 'la'), you first need to be comfortable with the present-tense verb. Since this 'la' changes the verb's ending to the jussive (shortened) form—just like the particle 'lam'—familiarity with that mood is helpful. Finally, because this pattern is used to forbid actions, it is functionally related to the imperative (command) forms.
- لم + Jussive VerbDid Not (Formal)
Both 'lam' and 'la al-nahiya' trigger the jussive (shortened) mood in the verb, making the concept of the shortened ending a shared prerequisite.
Level 2 - Giving a Command
The prohibitive 'la' is the negative counterpart to the imperative (command) form, used to tell someone not to do something.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- The Shortened Present
The grammatical mood triggered by the prohibitive 'La'.
Level 3 - لا + Present TenseNot Doing Something
The 'Negative La' which negates facts without changing the verb ending.
Level 1 - Dropping the ن in Plural Verbs
Explains why the 'nun' is removed in plural prohibitive commands.
Level 3 - Verbs Ending in a Weak Letter
Explains how verbs ending in vowels behave when shortened in the jussive.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice لا (الناهية) in Bubblegum
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