The Shortened Present

Level 3

The Jussive Mood (المضارع المجزوم) is a specific form of the present tense verb used in formal Arabic. It is triggered by certain particles like لم (did not) or لا (don't). Visually, it 'cuts off' the end of the verb, replacing the final vowel with a sukūn or deleting weak letters.

How It Works

The Jussive mood is essential for formal Modern Standard Arabic. It is triggered by specific 'jussive particles' (أدوات الجزم).

1. Morphological Changes:

  • Sound Verbs: The final ḍamma (-u) changes to a sukūn (zero vowel). Example: يكتبُ becomes لم يكتبْ.
  • Hollow Verbs: If the middle letter is a long vowel (ا، و، ي), it is shortened to prevent two silent letters from meeting. Example: يقولُ becomes لم يقلْ.
  • Defective Verbs: If the verb ends in a weak letter, that letter is deleted entirely. Example: يمشي becomes لم يمشِ.
  • The Five Verbs: In the specific forms ending in nūn, the nūn is dropped.

2. The Kasra Pronunciation Rule:
In Modern Standard Arabic, if a verb ending in a sukūn is followed by a word starting with a silent letter (like the definite article الـ), the sukūn changes to a kasra (-i) to allow for continuous speech. Example: لم يذهبْ + الطالب becomes لم يذهبِ الطالبُ.

3. Primary Triggers:

  • لم (Lam): Negates the present verb and shifts its time reference to the past.
  • لما (Lammā): Negates the present verb with the meaning 'not yet'.
  • لا الناهية (Lā al-Nāhiya): Used for prohibition.
  • لام الأمر (Lām al-Amr): The command 'Lām' used to express an imperative, usually for the third person.
  • Conditional Particles: Used in formal if-sentences or with other conditional tools.

Examples (5)

  1. لم يقلِ الرجلُ الحقيقةَ.

    The man did not tell the truth.

    Word by Word: Not he-say the-man the-truth.

    In this hollow verb, the long vowel is shortened. Additionally, the final sukūn changes to a kasra (يقلِ) to avoid two silent letters meeting before the definite article.

  2. لا تشربِ القهوةَ الآنَ.

    Do not drink the coffee now.

    Word by Word: Do-not you-drink the-coffee now.

    The prohibitive lā triggers the jussive. The verb ends in a kasra here to bridge the sound to the next word.

  3. لم يذهبِ الطالبُ إلى المدرسةِ.

    The student did not go to the school.

    Word by Word: Not he-go the-student to the-school.

    The particle lam triggers the jussive. The sukūn is replaced by a kasra for smooth pronunciation with the following word.

  4. إن تدرسْ تنجحْ.

    If you study, you will succeed.

    Word by Word: If you-study you-succeed.

    In formal conditional sentences using إن, both verbs are placed in the jussive mood.

  5. لم يمشِ الولدُ في الشارعِ.

    The boy did not walk in the street.

    Word by Word: Not he-walk the-boy in the-street.

    For defective verbs, the jussive is marked by deleting the final weak letter.

Common Mistakes

  • Retaining the long vowel in hollow verbs.

    لم يقول الرجل
    لم يقل الرجل

    When a hollow verb is in the jussive, the middle long vowel must be shortened to avoid the meeting of two sukūns.

  • Keeping the final weak letter in defective verbs.

    لم يمشي
    لم يمشِ

    In the jussive mood, the final weak letter (wāw, yā, or alif) must be deleted entirely.

  • Using the indicative after لا when you mean a command.

    Different Meaningلا تذهبُ!
    لا تذهبْ!

    لا تذهبُ is correct, but it states "you do not go". To forbid, use the jussive: لا تذهبْ!

How It Connects

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

The Shortened PresentLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand the jussive mood (al-majzum), you first need to be comfortable with the basic present tense verb and how Arabic uses case and mood endings (I'rab) to signal grammatical function. Since the jussive often involves replacing a final vowel with a sukun, familiarity with short vowel marks is also necessary.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

لملما