ما زال

Still

Level 2

ما زال (mā zāla) is the formal way to say 'still' or 'continues to be' in Arabic. It functions like the verb 'to be' (كان) by changing the ending of the following word to the accusative case.

How It Works

The expression ما زال is a compound of the negation particle mā and the verb zāla (to cease). Together, they literally mean 'it has not ceased,' which translates to 'still.'

1. Sentence Structure:
When ما زال enters a nominal sentence, it affects the Subject and Comment:

  • The Subject (اسم ما زال) remains in the nominative case (usually ending in -u).
  • The Predicate (خبر ما زال) must change to the accusative case (usually ending in -an).

2. Conjugation:
Because it is a 'hollow verb' (having a long vowel in the middle), the alif drops when attaching to certain pronoun suffixes:

  • Mā zāla (He is still)
  • Mā zālat (She is still)
  • Mā ziltu (I am still)
  • Mā zilnā (We are still)

3. Types of Predicates:
The 'still' state can be described by:

  • An adjective: ما زال الجوُّ جميلاً (The weather is still beautiful).
  • A verb: ما زلتُ أدرسُ (I am still studying).
  • A prepositional phrase: لا يزال الطالبُ في البيتِ (The student is still at home).

4. Register Note:
In Modern Standard Arabic, ما زال (past form) and لا يزال (present form) are often used interchangeably to mean 'is still' in the present moment.

Examples (4)

  1. ما زالَ الجوُّ بارداً.

    The weather is still cold.

    Word by Word: Not ceased the weather cold.

    Notice that 'cold' (bāridan) takes the accusative ending -an because of mā zāla.

  2. ما زِلتُ أنتظرُ الحافلةَ.

    I am still waiting for the bus.

    Word by Word: Not I ceased I wait the bus.

    Here, the verb 'zāla' is conjugated for 'I' (ziltu) and followed by a present tense verb.

  3. لا يزالُ النيلُ يجري.

    The Nile is still flowing.

    Word by Word: Not it ceases the Nile it flows.

    This uses the present tense form 'lā yazālu' to indicate a continuous, ongoing fact.

  4. ما زالوا في الاجتماعِ.

    They are still in the meeting.

    Word by Word: Not they ceased in the meeting.

    The predicate here is a prepositional phrase, which does not change its ending.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative case for the predicate.

    ما زال الولدُ مريضٌ.
    ما زال الولدُ مريضاً.

    The predicate of mā zāla must be in the accusative case (manṣūb).

  • Incorrect conjugation for 'I' or 'We'.

    ما زالتُ أعملُ.
    ما زلتُ أعملُ.

    When adding 'tu' or 'nā', the long 'ā' in 'zāla' must be dropped, resulting in 'ziltu' or 'zilnā'.

How It Connects

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ما زالLevel 2Still

Learn This First

To understand 'ما زال' (still), you need to be familiar with how nominal sentences are structured (Subject and Comment) and how 'sister' verbs like 'كان' (was) modify those sentences by changing the predicate's ending to the accusative (mansub) case.

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زالما