كلما

Whenever and the More

Level 4

Use كلما (kullamā) to describe actions that repeat every time a condition is met, or to show a proportional relationship (the more X, the more Y).

How It Works

The particle كلما is a compound of kull (every) and the temporal mā (whenever). It serves two main functions in Modern Standard Arabic:

  • Repetition: It indicates that the result happens every single time the condition occurs. Unlike إذا (if/when), which can refer to a one-time event, كلما inherently implies recurrence.
  • Proportionality: It is the standard way to express 'the more... the more...' or 'the less... the less...'

Syntactic Rules:
1. Verb Tense: The condition (the first verb) must be in the past tense. The answer (the second verb) can be in the past tense or the present tense. Despite the past tense form of the first verb, the meaning is often a general truth or a future event.
2. Non-Jussive: As a non-jussive particle, كلما does not change the mood of the verbs; it does not cause the jussive mood.
3. No Repetition: كلما should only appear once at the start of the sentence. Do not repeat it before the second verb.
4. Verbal Sentences Only: It cannot precede a noun. To express a state, use the past tense of كان (to be).

Distinction: Do not confuse كلما (whenever) with كل ما (everything that). The latter uses ما as a relative pronoun and does not function as a conditional.

Examples (4)

  1. كلما قرأتُ كتاباً تعلمتُ شيئاً جديداً.

    Whenever I read a book, I learn something new.

    Word by Word: Whenever I-read a-book I-learned something new.

    Notice that both 'read' and 'learned' are in the past tense form, even though this describes a general habit.

  2. كلما زادَ الطلبُ ارتفعَ السعرُ.

    The more the demand increases, the more the price rises.

    Word by Word: Whenever increased the-demand rose the-price.

    This demonstrates the proportional 'the more... the more...' usage common in economic and formal contexts.

  3. كلما كانَ الجوُّ جميلاً خرجنا للمشي.

    Whenever the weather is beautiful, we go out for a walk.

    Word by Word: Whenever was the-weather beautiful we-went-out for-the-walking.

    Since the condition is a state (the weather being beautiful), the verb 'kāna' (was) is used to satisfy the requirement for a past-tense verb.

  4. كلما حاولتُ النسيانَ تذكرتُ الماضي.

    Whenever I tried to forget, I remembered the past.

    Word by Word: Whenever I-tried the-forgetting I-remembered the-past.

    This shows a repeated emotional or mental state using two past-tense verbs.

Common Mistakes

  • Repeating the particle in the second clause.

    كلما درستَ أكثر كلما نجحتَ.
    كلما درستَ أكثر نجحتَ.

    In Arabic, the conditional particle is only placed at the beginning of the sentence. Repeating it in the result clause is a common error influenced by other languages.

  • Using the present tense for the first verb (the condition).

    كلما تدرسُ تنجحُ.
    كلما درستَ تنجحُ.

    Standard Arabic grammar requires the first verb (the condition) to be in the past tense form, even if the meaning refers to a general habit or the future.

How It Connects

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

كلماLevel 4Whenever and the More

Learn This First

To learn the pattern 'كلما', a learner must first be comfortable with the past tense (الفعل الماضي) because this specific particle dictates that the following verbs must be in the past form. Additionally, familiarity with basic conditional and temporal structures (like 'إذا' and 'عندما') provides the necessary framework for understanding how two clauses are linked to show that one change depends on another.

Words in This Pattern

كلما