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Introducing yourself: pronouns and sentences without "to be"
In Arabic you can say "I a student" and it is perfectly correct. There is no word for am, is or are in the present tense.
Key phrases
مَرْحَبًا (marHaban) = hello. السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُم (as-salaamu ʿalaykum) = peace be upon you, a common greeting.
اِسْمي ... (ismii) = my name is ... أَنا مِن ... (anaa min) = I am from ...
أَسْكُنُ في ... (askunu fii) = I live in ... عُمْري خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَة (ʿumrii khamsa ʿashrata sana) = I am fifteen.
ما اسْمُكَ؟ (to a boy) / ما اسْمُكِ؟ (to a girl) = What is your name? كَيْفَ حالُكَ؟ = How are you? أَيْنَ تَسْكُن؟ = Where do you live?
اِسْمي ... (ismii) = my name is ... أَنا مِن ... (anaa min) = I am from ...
أَسْكُنُ في ... (askunu fii) = I live in ... عُمْري خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَة (ʿumrii khamsa ʿashrata sana) = I am fifteen.
ما اسْمُكَ؟ (to a boy) / ما اسْمُكِ؟ (to a girl) = What is your name? كَيْفَ حالُكَ؟ = How are you? أَيْنَ تَسْكُن؟ = Where do you live?
Personal pronouns
Sentences without a verb
In the present tense, "am / is / are" is not written: أَنا طالِب = I am a student (boy). أَنا طالِبَة = I am a student (girl).
هِيَ مِن مِصْر = She is from Egypt. البَيْتُ كَبير = The house is big.
This kind of sentence is called a nominal sentence (جُمْلة اسْمِيّة).
هِيَ مِن مِصْر = She is from Egypt. البَيْتُ كَبير = The house is big.
This kind of sentence is called a nominal sentence (جُمْلة اسْمِيّة).
Translate: My name is Sami and I live in Manchester.
- My name is: اسمي.
- And: وَ, joined to the next word.
- I live in: أسكن في.
Answer: اسمي سامي وأسكن في مانشستر.
Pronouns: أنا، أنتَ، أنتِ، هو، هي، نحن، أنتم، هم. There is no "am / is / are" in the present: أنا طالب, هي من مصر. Ask with ما اسمك؟ كيف حالك؟ أين تسكن؟
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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