The Plain Present Ending

Level 3

The Plain Present Ending (المضارع المرفوع) is the standard form of the present tense in Arabic. It is used for ongoing actions, habits, and general facts. Unless a specific particle (like 'not' or 'that') comes before it, the verb stays in this default state.

How It Works

The Present Tense in Arabic is not just about time; it also carries a 'mood.' The Plain Present (المضارع المرفوع) is the default mood.

1. The Rule of Tajarrud:
A verb is in the indicative mood (marfūʿ) simply because it is 'free' (tajarrud) from any preceding particles that would force it into the subjunctive or jussive moods. If no subjunctive particle or jussive particle is present, the verb remains in its natural plain state.

2. The Standard Ending (-u):
For singular subjects (I, you masc., he, she) and 'we,' the verb ends in a ضمة.
Example: يكتبُ (he writes).

3. The 'Five Verbs' (Retention of Nūn):
For specific subjects—you (fem. sing.), you (dual), they (dual), you (plural), and they (plural)—the sign of this mood is the letter ن (nūn) at the end. This is known as thubūt al-nūn. See The Five Verbs for more details.
Example: يكتبون (they write).

4. Weak Verbs:
If a verb ends in a long vowel like yāʾ, wāw, or alif maqṣūra (e.g., defective verbs like يسعى, يدعو, or يقضي), the ضمة is 'hidden' because it is difficult or impossible to pronounce. We say the case ending is muqaddara (implied).

5. Feminine Plural Exception:
Verbs for 'they (fem. pl.)' and 'you (fem. pl.)' end in a fixed nūn al-niswa. These are mabnī (indeclinable) and do not change their endings even if the mood changes.

6. Usage:
This form is used for:

  • Habits: 'I drink coffee every day.'
  • General Facts: 'The sun rises in the east.'
  • Ongoing Actions: 'He is studying right now.'
  • The Future: When preceded by the future particles (سـ or سوف), the verb remains in the plain indicative mood. Example: سيسافرُ (he will travel).

Examples (4)

  1. يذهبُ الطالبُ إلى الجامعةِ كلَّ يومٍ.

    The student goes to the university every day.

    Word by Word: Goes the student to the university every day.

    The verb 'yadhhabu' ends in a ḍamma (-u) because it is in the plain present (indicative) state.

  2. هم يُشاهدونَ التلفازَ الآنَ.

    They are watching television now.

    Word by Word: They watch the television now.

    The verb 'yushāhidūna' retains the 'nūn' at the end, which is the sign of the indicative mood for the masculine plural.

  3. أنا أكتبُ رسالةً لصديقي.

    I am writing a letter to my friend.

    Word by Word: I write a letter to my friend.

    The first-person singular verb 'aktubu' takes the default -u ending.

  4. أنتِ تتحدثينَ اللغةَ العربيةَ بطلاقةٍ.

    You (fem.) speak the Arabic language fluently.

    Word by Word: You speak the language the Arabic with fluency.

    For the 'you' feminine singular, the 'nūn' at the end of 'tataḥaddathīna' indicates the plain present mood.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the 'nūn' in the plural without a reason.

    هم يكتبوا الدرس.
    هم يكتبونَ الدرسَ.

    Learners often drop the 'nūn' (saying yaktubū) because they confuse it with the subjunctive or jussive moods. In a plain sentence, the 'nūn' must stay.

  • Incorrect subject-verb agreement in VSO sentences.

    يذهبون الطلاب إلى المدرسة.
    يذهبُ الطلابُ إلى المدرسةِ.

    In Modern Standard Arabic, if the verb comes before a plural subject, the verb remains singular (yadhhabu), not plural (yadhhabūna).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

The Plain Present EndingLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand the Plain Present Ending (al-mudari' al-marfu'), you need to be familiar with the basic present tense verb forms and the general concept of Arabic grammatical endings (I'rab), specifically the 'marfu' status which typically uses the damma vowel.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.