Tools for Conjugating the Present Tense Verbs

Present Verb Tense

The present verb tense signifies an action occurring in the present or future, exemplified by verbs such as “writes” and “will work.” The present verb begins with one of the following letters of addition: the hamzat al-mudar’ah (أعملُ), the letter ta (تعملُ), the letter ya (يعملُ), or the letter noon (نعملُ), collectively represented by the word نأتي.

Indicators of the Present Verb Tense

There are specific indicators that can affirm a verb’s present tense status. If any of these indicators apply, the verb is classified as present tense. These indicators include:

It can accommodate the prefixes “s” or “will,” as seen in examples like “سنخرجُ” (we will go out) and “سوف يأتي” (he will come).
It accepts the introduction of negating tools such as “أن” and “لن,” for instance: “لن نسافرَ” (we will not travel).
It allows for the inclusion of jussive tools, such as “لم,” as in “لم نعملْ” (we did not work).

Note: If the verb indicates an action in the present or future but does not accept these indicators, it may be considered a verbal noun, such as “أفٍّ” (I am annoyed) or “آه” (I am in pain).

Jussive Tools for the Present Verb Tense

A present verb is deemed jussive when preceded by a jussive tool. Jussive tools are categorized into two types: those that jussive a single verb and those that can jussive two verbs, such as conditional jussive tools. The tools that jussive a single verb include: “لم,” “لمّا,” “لا الناهية,” and “لام الأمر.” Here is a detailed explanation:

لم: A jussive particle that conveys negation and converts the verb from present to past tense, for example: “لم ينتبهْ أحد إلى الطفل” (No one noticed the child). It can also be prefixed with a question particle without altering its function, for example: “ألم أنبّهْك؟” (Did I not warn you?). Additionally, a conditional tool may precede it: “سنَتأخر إن لم تحضرْ باكراً” (We will be late if you do not arrive early).
لمّا: This tool negates the present verb by extending it to the present moment, as in “خرج ولمّا يصلْ” (He left and has not yet arrived). It can also indicate an anticipated action, such as “لمّا يصل” (he is expected to arrive), with the option of omitting the jussive verb when context allows, i.e., “بدأت العمل باكراً ولمّا” (I started work early but have not finished it yet).
لام الأمر: Also referred to as the imperative L, it expresses a command. When the direction is from someone of higher status to someone of lower status, such as a teacher to a student: “لِتأخذْ حقيبتك معك” (Take your bag with you). When the request is from a lower-status individual to a higher one, it suggests a favor, as in “لتمنحْني فرصةً أخرى” (Please grant me another chance). When requesting between equals, it becomes an appeal, like “لنتناقشْ غداً” (Let us discuss tomorrow). The L has a kasra, and if prefixed with “ف,” “و,” or “ثمّ,” it is usually pronounced with a sukoon, such as: “فَلْتأخذْ حقيبتك معك” (Then take your bag with you).
لا الناهية: This negation tool prohibits action, typically from a superior to a subordinate, like a parent saying, “لا تقصِّر في واجبك” (Do not neglect your duties), or as a supplication from the lesser to the greater, for instance: “رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا” (Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget). It can also serve as an appeal among equals, such as “لا تتأخر!” (Don’t be late!).

The present verb can also be jussive if it responds to a request implied by a command or prohibition, as in: “أحسن إلى الناس يحبوك” (Be kind to people, and they will love you), or “لا تتسرع في الحكم تندم” (Do not rush to judge, or you will regret it). Moreover, it may serve as a condition like: “إن تحسن إلى الناس يحبوك” (If you are kind to people, they will love you), where “تحسن” is a present verb jussive due to the conditional “إن.” Its parsing is that of a present verb jussive marked by a visible sukoon.

As for the tools capable of jussive two verbs, some are names with grammatical positions while others are particles without such positioning. These include:

إن: A conditional particle signaling that the occurrence of the response depends on the condition without indicating time, place, or whether the subject is rational or not, illustrated by “إن تدرسْ تنجحْ” (If you study, you will succeed), where both verbs are jussive.
مَنْ: A conditional name indicating an intelligent subject, such as “من يعملْ خيراً findsْ خيراً” (Whoever does good finds goodness).
ما: A conditional name for non-intelligent subjects, as in “ما تعملْ من إحسان تلقَ جزاءه” (Whatever good you do, you will receive its reward).
مهما: A conditional name indicating non-intelligent subjects, as shown by “مهما تفعلْ تجدْ عاقبته” (Whatever you do, you will find its consequences).
أيّ: A conditional name applicable to both intelligent and non-intelligent subjects. For example, “أيّ عمل تعمله يعدْ عليك” (Any work you do will be counted for you), and it can also refer to time or place, like “أيَّ وقتٍ تسافرْ أسافرْ معك” (At whatever time you travel, I will travel with you).
متى وأيّان: Conditional nouns indicating time, as seen in “متى (أو أيّانَ) يحلّ الربيع نرحلْ” (Whenever spring arrives, we depart).
أين: A conditional noun indicating place, usually connected to a confirmation particle, as in “أينما تجلسْ أجلسْ” (Wherever you sit, I will sit).
أنّى: A conditional noun indicating place, for example, “أنّى أُقِمْ أجدْ خيراً” (Wherever I settle, I find goodness).
حيْثُما: A jussive conditional name, as in “حيثما توجّهتم فاذكروني” (Wherever you turn, remember me).
إذما: A jussive conditional particle, exemplified by “إذما تفعل شرّاً تندمْ” (If you do evil, you will regret it).
كيفما: A conditional name denoting manner, as shown in “كيفما تعاملْني أعاملْك” (However you treat me, I will treat you).

Signs of Jussive Present Verb

The present verb is made jussive upon being preceded by one of the above jussive tools. Below are its markers:

Sukoon: This applies if the present verb has a sound ending and does not connect to a personal pronoun, e.g., “لم يقمْ زيد من مكانه” (Zaid did not rise from his place). When two non-moving sounds meet, the jussive present verb is pronounced with a kasra to avoid such a collision, illustrated by “لمّا يصلِ المسافرون بعد” (The travelers have not yet arrived). The marker of jussive in “يصل” is a presumed sukoon; the lam is pronounced with a kasra to prevent the meeting of two non-moving sounds.
Deletion of Noun: This occurs with the five forms of verbs, i.e., connections to Alif dual, Ya for addressing, or Waw for a group, as in “لا تهملي واجباتك” (Do not neglect your duties). Here, “تهملي” is a jussive present verb with the marker of jussive being the deletion of the noun due to being among the five verb forms.
Deletion of Vowel Letters: This applies to verbs with weak endings, as seen in “لا تخشَ إلا الله” (Fear no one but God) and “متى يأتِ فصل الشتاء تنضج الحمضيات” (When winter arrives, the citrus fruits ripen). The original forms are “تخشى,” “تدعو,” and “يأتي,” where the vowel letters (Alif, Waw, Ya) at the end of these verbs are omitted. Their grammatical parsing is that of a jussive present verb identified by the deletion of the vowel at the end.

Additional Notes

The present verb can also be constructed in the opening of jussive when it connects with the ten voiced Noun of affirmation (both heavy and light) preceded by a jussive, e.g., “لا تُهملّنَّ عملك” (Do not neglect your work). Here, “تهملنَّ” is a present verb marked in jussive because of the attachment to the heavy affirmation Noun.
It also is fixed with a sukoon when connected to the Noun of women and preceded by a jussive, exemplified by “السيدات لم يغادرْنَ القاعة بعد” (The ladies have not left the hall yet). “يغادرن” is in fixed present form marked jussive by associating with the women’s Noun.
A present verb that is coordinated with a jussive verb receives the same grammatical treatment as that of the jussive verb it is associated with, e.g., “لا تهملَنَّ عملك ولا تقصِّرنَّ” (Do not neglect your work and do not fall short). “تقصّرنَّ” is a present verb in jussive form connected to the preceding jussive.
While jussiving a present verb with a weak middle letter, the vowel is omitted to avoid meeting non-moving sounds (the sukoon of the vowel and the jussive), as shown: “لا تقُمْ” (Do not rise), where “تقُمْ” is a present verb in jussive form marked by a visible sukoon, with the deletion of the vowel (Alif) to prevent sound collision. A line from Al-Mutanabbi illustrates how the Nun was omitted by allowance since what follows is a moving letter:

ومن يكُ ذا فمٍ مرٍّ مريضٍ يجد مرّاً به الماء الزلالا

Video on Jussive Tools for the Present Verb

Watch the video to learn more about the jussive tools for the present verb: