Arabic modals

http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_modals.html

home

vocabulary

grammar

faq

about

links

Modals in standard Arabic Modals in Egyptian Arabic

Modals in standard Arabic

In English, modal verbs include "can," "may," "might," "must," "should," and "would" verbs that are not conjugated or negated in the same way as regular verbs. Standard Arabic doesn't have exact equivalents of these verbs, but it has words that are used in much the

. Here's a list (all of these are followed by imperfect-mood verbs, although if you remove the , you can follow them with a ):
same way including phrases beginning with

( yajib an) ( 3ala + object + an) ( min al-laazim an) ( min al-waajib an) ( min aD-Daruuri an) ( yanbai an) ( min al-mafruuD an) ( min al-muftaraD an) ( yumkin an) ( min al-mumkin an) ( min al-mustaHiil an) ( min al-mutawaqqa3 an) ( min al-muntaZar an) ( min as-sahl an) ( min al-yasiir an)
1 of 5

must, should must have to, it is necessary to it is necessary to it is necessary to should should should, ought to might, may it is possible to it is impossible to it is expected that it is expected that it is easy to it is easy to

22-Jun-12 10:09 PM

Arabic modals

http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_modals.html

( min aS-Sa3b an) ( min al-jadiir bid-dikr anna) ( min at-taabit anna) ( min al-ma3ruuf anna) ( min al-waaDiH anna) ( min al-mafhuum anna) ( min al-murajja3 an) ( min al-muHtamal an) ( min al-muqarrar an) ( min al-muttafaq 3aleihi an) ( min al-mu3taad an) ( min al-mustaHsan an) ( min al-aHsan an) ( min al-ajdar an) ( min aT-Tabii3ii an) ( min al-mamnuu3 an) ( min al-masmuuH an)
To shift to the past, add (laysa) before it. Examples:

it is hard to it's worth mentioning that it's well-established that it's (well-)known that it's clear that it's understood that it's most likely that it's probable that it's been decided that it's been agreed that it's customary to it's preferable that it's better that it's more suitable/proper to it's natural that it's forbidden to it's permitted to

( kaan) before the phrase. To shift to the future, add ( sayakuun) beforehand. For negation, add

( hal yajib munaaqaat qaDaaya mitl al-kaarita l-insaaniyya

fii burma fii majlis al-amn?) Should issues like the humanitarian disaster in Burma be discussed in the Security Council?

( " " fiilm iiraani 3an itiyaal as-saadaat min al-mutawaqqa3 an

yatiir aDab al-miSriyyiin) An Iranian movie about Sadat's assassination is expected to anger Egyptians (lit. excite Egyptians' anger).

( haadihi l-mukila min al-mumkin an

tataHawwil ila Zaahira ida lam tuwDi3 liha Huluul munaasiba wa-jidriyya) This problem may turn into a phenomenon if appropriate and radical solutions for it are not found.

2 of 5

22-Jun-12 10:09 PM

Arabic modals

http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_modals.html

( min aT-Tabii3i an yafraH al-muwaaTin, ayya

muwaaTin, laday ru'yatu jeian ariiban yansaHib min arDu) It's natural for a citizen, any citizen, to rejoice at the sight of a foreign army withdrawing from his land.

( ida lam nastaTi3 tajaawuz al-inqisaamaat daaxil al-mujtama3 al-filasTiini fa-sayakuun min aS-Sa3b jiddan taHqiiq
taqaddum fi mawDuu3eiyy azza wa-3amaliyyat as-salaam fil-waqt nafsu) If we can't overcome the divisions within Palestinian society, then it will be very difficult to achieve progress in the issues of Gaza and the peace process at the same time.

Modals in Egyptian Arabic

Egyptian Arabic uses many of the same modals listed above, but without the verb.

... . Usually they are followed by an imperfect-tense

( laazim) ( Daruuri) ( il-mafruuD) ( mumkin) ( mustaHiil) ( yemkin) ( gaayiz) ( sahl) ( Sa3b) ( mamnuu3) ( masmuuH)

must, have to must should can, it's possible it's impossible perhaps may, it is possible that it's easy to it's hard to it's forbidden to it's permitted to

There are also modals that are active participles. Remember that all active participles act as adjectives, and thus have masculine, feminine, and plural forms.

- - ( 3aayiz - 3ayza - 3ayziin) - - ( naawi - nawya - nawyiin)

want to intending to

3 of 5

22-Jun-12 10:09 PM

Arabic modals

http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_modals.html

- - '( aa3id - 'a3da - 'a3diin) - - ( 3ammaal - 3ammaala - 3ammaliin)

There are also modals that you attach a pronoun suffix to:

continuing to continuing to

( nifs-) '( aSd-) ( zamaan-) ( tann-) ( ya reit - suffix optional)

Again, to shift to the past, add

to feel like to mean to must have - indicates something happening at the proper or expected time continuing to wish

( kaan) before the phrase. To shift to the future, add ( haykuun) beforehand. For negation, add

( mi) before it.

Examples:

( kaan laazim tifakkar fel-mawDuu3 'abl ma taaxod qaraar)

You should've thought about it before you made a decision.

( il-mafruuD innena kollena ni'Di wa't kwayyis)

We should all spend our time well.

( makan 'aSdi adaayi'ak)

I didn't mean to annoy you.

( ya reitni mafataHt sidri witkallemt bi-'alb gaamid)

I wish I hadn't talked so openly and bravely.

( zamanha gayya)
She ought to be coming (soon now).

( zamaanak gu3t)
You must be hungry by now.

( kaan zamaan kulle Haaga xilSit law kunti sa3idtiini)

Everything would've been finished by now if you'd helped me.

( nifsi asaafir libnaan)

4 of 5

22-Jun-12 10:09 PM

Arabic modals

http://arabic.desert-sky.net/g_modals.html

I'd like to travel to Lebanon.

( nawya aSHa badri)

I intend to get up early.

( il-balaawi 3ammaala titHaddif 3aleina)

Troubles keep on befalling us.

( il-3arabiyya l-kaHyaana di 3ammaala tkoHH fi wesT i-aari3)

This beat-up old car keeps coughing in the middle of the street.

Main grammar page

The imperative

Contact

5 of 5

22-Jun-12 10:09 PM