Lesson 5- Practice Sentences

(a)r-rajul ya-ktub-(u) L-kitaab.  The man is writing the book.

(a)L-mar'a  ya-ktub-iina r-risaalah.  The woman is writing the letter.  
The ' is a "catch in the throat" made as in English "uh-oh!"  The "-" between "uh" and "oh" symbolizes this "catch," called a "glottal stop" in linguistics.  This sound ' after the letter r in the word mar'a woman means that there is a "catch" after the r just like the - in "uh-oh."  mar-a


anta ta-ktub-u L-kitaab.  You are writing the book. (said to a man)
anta ta-ktub kitaab.  You are writing a book.  (said to a man)

anti ta-ktub-iina L-kitaab.  You are writing the book.  (said to a woman)
anti ta-ktub-iina kitaab.  You are writing a book.  (said to a woman)

ana a-ktub-u L-kitaab.  I am writing the book.
ana a-ktub kitaab.  I am writing a book.

huwa ya-ktub-u L-kitaab.  He is writing the book.
huwa ya-ktub kitaab.     He is writing a book.  

hiya ya-ktub-iina L-kitaab.  She is writing the book.
hiya ya-ktub-iina kitaab.  She is writing a book.

Notice that there is no need for the definite article's "helping vowel" (a)- in these sentences, since the previous word supplies a vowel to the definite article.  This means that the "default suffix" is often being pronounced.  However, when it is not needed, it is usually left out.

Pronouncing the "default suffix" on verbs and other "default" suffixes on other words when they are not needed makes you sound formal, like a preacher in a Mosque on Fridays.  This is too formal for normal conversations and sounds stilted.

New verb:  s-k-n  to dwell
Non-Past stem:  skun


ana a-skun huna.  I am living here.
anta ta-skun huna.  You are living here. (said to a man)
anti ta-skun-iina huna.  You are living here.  (said to a woman)
huwa ya-skun huna.  He is living here.
hiya ya-skun-iina huna.  She is living here.  


naHnu na-skun huna.  We are living here.
antum ta-skun-uuna huna.  You guys are living here.
antunna ta-skun-na huna.  You ladies are living here.
hum ya-skun-uuna huna.  They are living here.  (said about a group of men)
hunna ya-skun-na huna.  They are living here.  (said about a group of women)