The Present Tense Between English and Arabic A Comparative by Abdulbaseer Jamal Eid

ZARQA PRIVATE UNIVERSITY
<The Present Tense

Between
English and Arabic: A
Comparative
Study
Submitted by :
T. Abdulbaseer Jamal Eid
2006
This paper is meant to show the differences and the Jordan Amman
similarities between English and Arabic present tense. 962788120771+
abedaed85@yahoo.com
December 1, 2006 THE PRESENT TENSE BETWEEN ENGLISH AND ARABIC: ACOMPARTIVE STUDY
‫بسم الله الرحمن‬

‫الرحيم‬
I am Abdulbaseer Eid. I was born in
Lebanon. I have finished my secondary
school in Zarqa city Jordan in 2003. I
faced many difficulties in learning English
at the beginning during my study at
:‫قال تعالى‬
school so I decided to concentrate on
studding English language and to be
‫{ يَا أّيهَا النّاسُ إِنّا َخلَ ْقنَاكُم‬

specialist in this language in order to
make it easy for Arabic students to learn
it.
I became a student in Zarqa Private

University immediately after I had
finished my secondary school. During my
study, I wrote three researches in English
language; "The Sound Systems between
English and Arabic: a Comparative Study",
ْ‫كرٍ وَأُنثَى وَ جَ َعلْناكُم‬

َ َ‫مّن ذ‬
"The Present Tense between English and
Arabic: a comparative Study", and
"English foundational Grammar". The idea
that emerged from the first two
researches is to make studding English
familiar to our Arabic students because
they deal with the similarities and the
differences between English and Arabic
language.
I have graduated from my University and I

employed immediately at Al-Omareyah
Schools in Amman. I am happy in working
there because it has has a wide
ّ‫شُعوُبا َوقَبآئِلَ ِلتَعَا َرفُوا ِإن‬
reputation with its excellent teaching
with Islamic vision. I have taken many
courses that deal with my work as a
teacher and I have given there a
preliminary TOFEL levels.
Now I am still working on myself. I am

doing my higher Diploma in ICT
"Information Communication Technology"
ْ‫كرَمَكُمْ عِندَ الِ أَ ْتقَاكُم‬
ْ َ‫أ‬
in Education under the umbrella of
Yarmouk University/Jordan and
INHOLLAND University/ The Netherlands.
In addition; I am also I am about to finish
a book under the title of "The Easy Way to
the High Education' this material is
}ٌ‫ِإنّ الَ َعلِمٌ َخبِير‬

prepared for Al-Tawjihe Students in
Jordan. It contains all the passages with a
sufficient package of questions to
promote students understanding "The sky
is the limit to what I can do" is my slogan.
-5-
Teacher Abdulbaseer Jamal Eid
Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

‫صدق الله العظيم‬
"13" ‫ آيه رقم‬/ ‫سورة الحجرات‬

Dedication
To those people who mean something to me…
To those who have touched my life in one way or another…
To those who make me smile when I really need it….
To those that make me see the brighter side when I am really down…
To those who I want to let them know that I appreciate their love and
support…
My Dear Father, Mother…
My wife…
To All of my family…
My sisters, Brothers …
To My friends whom I have non-forgettable moments with them…
Those who share me the moments of pleasure and labor…

-5-
Abed Al-Qader,Khaleel, Qabas …

I dedicate this work.
Acknowledgment
I am very much indebted to my supervisor, Dr. Mua'yyed

Jum'a. Without his invaluable suggestions, helps,
patience and continuous guidance, I might not have
complete this research in its present shape.
Special thanks are addressed to all the people who have

helped me throughout my work and support me in every
way they could.
My appreciation goes also to my family for their support,

and guiding me through my educational journey.
-5-

The Abstract
This paper is meant to show the differences and the
similarities between English and Arabic present tense.
The first chapter shows the four forms of the present

tense in English; present simple, present continuous,
present perfect and perfect continuous. English like all
languages; it is full of problems for the foreign learner.
Some of these points are easy to explain like the form of
the verb in each type of these tenses, or the spilling of the
third person singular for the present simple tense. But
other problems are more tricky and cause difficulty even
for advance students and teachers like the use of these
tenses above. E.g. present simple may give past meaning
and future meaning not only present meaning. However,
this chapter shows the use of each type in an easy way to
be understandable for the readers in different level.
The second chapter shows the main types of the

Arabic present tense and the conjugation of the Arabic
present tense in an easy way, showing to the readers the
agreement between the subject and verb in the Arabic
present tense, and how it changes the form of the verb.
Moreover, this chapter shows the cases of the Arabic
present tense; Inflection Case and Non-inflection Case,
and the use of the Arabic present tense.
-5-

The third chapter shows the differences and

similarities between English and Arabic present tense, in
the use and the form, by using explanations and
examples from the two languages to be clear to the
readers to note the differences and the similarities.
-5-

List of Contents Page

Number
Chapter 1.The Present Tense in English
1.1 Introduction…………………………………………………....................... 1
1.2 Present Simple Tense……………………………………………………. 2
1.2.1. The definition of the Present Simple Tense…………………….. 2
1.2.2. The Form of the Present Simple Tense……………………... 2
1.2.3. Spelling of the third person singular forms…………………….. 3
1.2.4. Pronunciation of the third person singular forms…………….. 3
1.2.5. The Use of the Present Simple Tense…………………………….. 4
1.2.5.1. Present Simple refers to the Present Time…………
….............................................................................. 4
1.2.5.2. Using Simple Present Tense to refer to the future
meaning………………………………………………………… 6
…
1.2.5.3. Using Present Simple to refer to the past meaning……
……………………………………………………… 7
1.3. Present Continuous Tense………………………………………….. 8
1.3.1. The Definition of the Present Continuous Tense………………… 8
1.3.2. The Use of Present Continuous Tense…………………………….. 9
1.3.2.1. Present continuous tense for action happening now………… 9
1.3.2.2. Present continuous tense for the future…………………......... 9
1.4. Present Perfect Tense: (Past Time)…………………………............. 10
1.4.1. The Definition of the Present Perfect Tense…………………… 10
1.4.2. The Form of the Present Perfect Tense………………………… 10
1.4.3. The Use of the Present Perfect Tense………………………….. 10
1.4.3.1. Finish events connect with the present………................... 10
1.4.3.2. Finished events: new……………………………………….. 11
1.4.3.3. Finished events with expressions of 'time up to now'… 11
1.4.3.4. Repetition and continuation to now………………….......... 11
1.4.3.5. Time not mentioned…………………………………............. 11
2.5. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense: (Past Time)….........….. 12
2.5.1. The Definition of the Present Perfect Continuous…………... 12- 5 -
2.5.2. The Form of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense……...... 12
2.5.3. The Use of the Present Perfect Continuous…………………. 12

Chapter 2.The Present Tense in Arabic………………………………. 13

2.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… 13
2.2. The Conjugation of the Arabic Present Tense……………………… 14
2.3. The inflection Case of the Arabic Present Tense………………… 16
2.3.1. Subjunctive Case (‫……………………………………………)حالة النصب‬ 16
2. 3.2.2. Jussive Case (‫……………………………………………………)حالة الجزم‬.. 16
2.3.3. Nominative Case (‫………………………………………………)حالة الرفع‬ 17
2.4. The Non-inflection of the Arabic Present Tense……………………. 17
2.4. The Use of the Arabic Present Tense…………………………………….. 18
2.4.1 Statements of Fact…………………………………………………………… 18
2.4.2. Habitual Activities…………………………………………………………… 18
2.4.3. Present Situations……………………………………………………………. 18
2.4.4. Progressive Situations……………………………………………………… 19
Chapter 3. The Similarities and the Differences between the

English and Arabic Present Tense……………………………………………. 20
3.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………... 20
3.2. English Simple Present and Arabic Present Tense……………… 21
3.3. English Present Progressive and Arabic Present Tense………… 22
3.4. The English Present Perfect and the Arabic Present Tense… 24
3.5. The English Present Perfect Progressive and Arabic Present
Tense ………………………………..………………………………………………………….. 25
Chapter 4. The Conclusion……………………………………………………….. 26
Appendix………………………………………………………………………………. 27
English Bibliographies………………………………………………………... 35
Arabic Bibliographies…………………………………………………………. 56
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List of Tables
Page
Number
Table 1.1 The Form of the Present Simple Tense………………………………… 2

Table 1.2 Affirmative, Question and Negative form of the Simple Present
Tense…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
Table 1.3 Spelling of the third person singular…………………………………… 3
Table 1.4 The most common of the non-progressive verbs………………….. 5
Table 1.5 The structure of the present continuous tense…………………….. 8
Table 1.6 The structure of the present perfect tense………………………….. 10
Table 1.7 The structure of the present perfect continuous tense……………. 12
Table 2.1 The Conjugation of the Arabic Present Tense………………………. 15
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Chapter: one
The Present Tense in English
1.1 Introduction:
Time is frequently perceived as a continuum with three
main divisions: past, present, and future. The past and future
times are defined in relation to the present time (now). Past
tense refers to any time before the present time, and future
tense refers to any time after the present. Not all languages
perceive this relationship as a linear one, nor do these categories
characterize all possible times. Tense, then, is a grammatical
expression of time reference. The correlation between tense and
time is not necessarily one-to-one; languages do not recognize
as many oppositions of tense as they have conceptions of time.
English has past, present, and future times, but only a past and a
non-past opposition of tense. (encyclopedia Britannica: 2004)
In English we, have For Basic Tenses that refer to the

present time, Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present
Perfect, and Perfect Continuous.
It is important not to confuse the name of a verb tense with

the way we use it to talk about time. For example, a present
tense does not always refer to present time: 'I hope it rains
tomorrow.' "rains" is present simple, but it refers here to future
time (tomorrow). The verb form that usually indicates present
time is here used to indicate future time. Other example "That
will be $5.00, please." The second sentence, the verb form
usually indicating future time is here used to indicate present
time. Also past tense does not always refer to past time: 'If I
had some money now, I could buy it.' "had" is past simple but it
refers here to present time (now), but The past form of the verb
generally refers to past time, to a narrated event prior to the
speech event. (ibid) -5-

1.2 Present Simple Tense:

1.2.1. The definition of the Present Simple Tense:
The tense of a verb that expresses action or state in the
present time and is used of what occurs or is true at the time of
speaking and of what is habitual or characteristic or is always or
necessarily true, that is sometimes used to refer to action in the
past, and that is sometimes used for future events. (Merriam-
Webster: 2003)
The natural and most frequent use of the present tense is in

contexts of present time, whether actual (The door is open) or
habitual (The door is always open / Paris is the capital of
France). It is also used of past events in certain contexts, such
as newspaper headlines (Clinton says he is sorry) and in
narrative. (Allen: 1999)
1.2.2. The Form of the Present Simple Tense:
FORM SYMPOL EXAMPLE FUNCTIONS

(1)base V call (a) all the
drink present tense
put except 3rd person
singular.
I/you/we/they
call every day.
(2) –s form (3rd V-s calls 3rd person
person singular drinks singular present
present) puts tense: He/she/it
calls every day.
Table 1.1 The Form of the Present Simple Tense
Adopted from Quirk et al. (1973)
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Affirmative Question Negative

I work. Do I work? I don't work.
You work. Do you work? You don't work.
They work. Do they work? They don't work.
We work. Do we work? We don't work.
He works. Does he work? He doesn't work.
She works. Does she work? She doesn't work.
Table 1.2 Affirmative, Question and Negative form of the Simple
Present Tense
Adopted from Swan (1992)
1.2.3. Spelling of the third person singular forms:
Most verbs: work-works

Add-s to infinitive sit-sits
stay-stays
Verbs ending in consonant + y: cry-cries
Change y to i and add -es hurry-hurries
reply-replies
Verbs ending in –s, -ch, -sh, or –x: miss- misses
Add-es to infinitive buzz-buzzes
watch-watches
push-pushes
fix-fixes
Exceptions: have-has
go-goes
do-does
Table 1.3 Spelling of the third person singular

Adopted from Swan (1992)
1.2.4. Pronunciation of the third person singular forms:
"The present allomorphs are also similar to the plural

allomorphs. They belong to the present morpheme added to the
base verb when subject is third person singular e.g. … he goes"
(Alkhuli, M. 2005: ) -5-
1. "After one of the hissing sounds (/s/, /z/, / č /, / š /, /ž/, and
/ ĵ /) pronounced /iz/. E.g., watch/watches.

2. After any other voiceless sound (/p/, /f/, /Ө /, /t/, /k/, /h/)
pronounced /s/. E.g. sit/sits.
3. If the singular final is voiced, the allomorph is /z/,
e.g. go/goes stay/stays." (ibid: )
1.2.5. The Use of the Present Simple Tense:
According to the definition of the Present Simple Tense

it refer to the present time, but in some cases we use it to
refer for future time or even past time. However, we are
going to explain each case alone.
1.2.5.1. Present Simple refer to the Present Time:

a. Statements of Fact:
To express scientific statement of fact indicating that

something was true in the past, is true in the present and will be
true in the future. In addition, it refers to express general
statements of fact referring to actins and states that are expected
to remain for a long time. (Farghal and Shunnaq, 1999: 64)
1. The earth revolves around the sun.

2. Gold is a shining metal.
3. Khalid runs a factory.
4. Ali is a baker.
b. Present Situations:
With English Verbs that are not usually used in the

progressive tenses, the simple present may indicate situations
that exist right now, at the moment of speaking. (ibid: 68)
There are a number of verbs in English that we cannot

normally be used in continuous forms. They frequently describe
-5-
states of being, thinking, possessing or feeling:
5. Most people don't believe in the existence of ghosts.
(Not: most people aren't believing in the existence of ghosts.)
6. -I like tea.
(Not: I'm liking this tea.)
.I think that the world's problems are getting worse .7
.It weighs 100 kilos .8
9. The sign means 'stop' (Foley and Hall, 1988: 47)
Verbs of existing or being be, consist of, contain, exist.

Verbs of possessing belong to, have(= own), include,
lack, own, possess.
Verbs of feeling or wanting Adore, desire, despise, detest,
dislike, envy, hate, like, love, need,
pity, prefer, trust, want, and wish.
Verbs of thinking or believing Believe, doubt, expect, feel, (=
think), forget, imagine, intend,
know, realize, recognize,
remember, see (=understand),
suppose, think, understand.
Verbs of appearance appear, resemble, seem.
Other verbs concern, depend, deserve, fit,
matter, measure, mean, mind,
weigh.
Table 1.4 The Most Common of the Non-Progressive Verbs
Adopted from Foley and Hall (2003)
We use Present Simple to describe series of events and actions:

usual in radio commentary on sport. It is instantaneous.
10. Ali kicks off, Zidan passes to Henry, Henry cuts.
11. From here you cross the road, go through an Iron Gate
and follow the path west.
12. First I take a bowl and break two eggs into it, next...etc.
(ibid: 46)
c. Repeated action or events: expressing habitual activities:
We use the simple present with adverbs of frequency like:
(always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, every
week, every…etc). -5-
Similarly, we use in Arabic some expressions to give adverbs
meaning of frequency like:
13. Iplay tennis every week.

14. Ahmad always eats a sandwich for lunch.
(Farghal and Shunnaq, 1999: 66)
1.2.5.2. Using Simple Present Tense to refer to the future
meaning:
We can use the present simple to talk about timetabled
events, subordinate clauses, without using future forms
provided it refers to the future, with as and than present and
future are possible, and in some informal style. (Swan,M., 1995: 460)
a. Timetabled events: When an event is on a schedule or

timetable (for example, the take-off time for a plane), we often
use the present simple to express the future. We usually also
use a future word (expressed or understood) like tomorrow, at
6.30pm, next week. Only a few verbs are used in this way, for
example: be, open, close, begin, start, end, finish, arrive, come,
leave, and return. (ibid: 460)
15. The bus arrives at 11.45

16. I start my new job tomorrow.
17. The summer term starts on April 10.
18. What time does the bus arrive in Seattle?
19. My plane is at three o'clock.
We can also use the present simple to give suggestions by
using "why don’t you …?"
20.Why don’t we go to library tomorrow?
(ibid:460)
b. Subordinate clauses:
Present tenses are often used instead of will + infinitive to
refer to the future in subordinate clauses. This happens not only
after conjunctions of time like 'when',' until', 'after', 'before', 'as
soon as', but most other subordinate clauses-for instance after
'if', 'wither', and 'on condition that', after question words and
relatives, and in indirect speech. (ibid: 556)
21. I'll tell you what I find out. (NOT…I'll tell you what I will
-5-
find out.) (ibid: 556)

c. With as and than present and future are both possible to

use in the sentence to refer for future:
22. He will be on the same bus as we are/will tomorrow.
23. We will get the station sooner than you do/will.
(ibid: 557)
d. After certain expressions: in case, I hope, I bet, it does not
matter…etc.
24. I hope you enjoy your time.
25. I bet he passes the exam.
26. It does not matter where we spend our holiday.
27. It does not care who comes. (ibid: 557)
1.2.5.3. Using Present Simple to refer to the past
meaning:
Some times, we use Present Simple form to refer to past
meaning but this case is on common use, it is just in some cases
like headlines in the newspapers or in narrative. (Foley and Hall:
1988, 47)
a. I hear… with that-clause:
The simple present tense form is used with a perfect or past
meaning in introductory expressions like (I hear, I see, I gather,
I understand) are often used to introduce pieces of news which
one has heard, read or seen on television.
28. I hear that your sister is expecting a baby.
29. I see (that) the police are going to attack.
30. I hear you're getting married.
31. I see there's been trouble down at the shop.
Understand and gather are often used when the speaker is
checking information. We use the present simple form to refer
to the past meaning. (ibid: 246)
32. 'I understand you're moving to a new job.' 'Yes, that's
right.'
33. 'I gather you didn't like the party.' 'What makes you say
that?'
34. I gather Peter's looking for a job. (ibid: 246)
b. Quotations are often introduced with…says 'in -5-
narrative'.

35. No doubt, you all remember what Hamlet says about

suicide.
36. It says in the paper that petrol's going up again. (ibid: 559)
c. The simple present can be used to express the past events

in newspaper headlines to give more immediacy to the event:
(Foley and Hall, 1988: 47)
37. Abbas tries to curb Hamas building in West Bank.

38. Iran suggests talks with West amid fading Prospects for
UN sanctions.
39. Bomber Kills Iraqi shoppers despite Mecca peace call.
40. Sharia judges thank king for land allocation.
41. Rice gets Russia assurances on N.Korea.
42. Ministry downgrades factory for violating workers'
rights.
43. Prince Hassan pays Ramadan visit to Bahrain.
(THE JORDAN TIMES 2003: October, 22)
1.3. Present Continuous Tense:
1.3.1.The Definition of the Present Continuous Tense:

'The tense that you use to refer to actions or events that are
happening now or developing.'
The Form of the Present Continuous Tense:
subject + auxiliary verb + main verb
be base + ing
subject auxiliary main
verb verb
+ I am speaking to you.
+ You are reading this.
- She is not staying in
London.
- We are not playing football. -5-
? Is he watching TV?
? Are they waiting for John?
Table 1.5 The Structure of the Present Continuous Tense
1.3.2.The Use of Present Continuous Tense:

We use the present continuous tense to talk about:
44.action happening now

45.action in the future
1.3.2.1. Present continuous tense for action happening now:
a) For action happening exactly now
b) For action happening around now
The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is

happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent
or habitual. (Farghal and Shunnaq, 1999: 66)
46. Muriel is learning to drive.

47. I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.
1.3.2.2. Present continuous tense for the future:
We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about

the future—if we add a future word! We must add (or
understand from the context) a future word. "Future words"
include, for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at
Christmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk
about the future when we have planned to do something before
we speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before
speaking. (Foley and Hall, 2003: 74)
48. We are eating in a restaurant tonight. We have already

booked the table.
-5-
49. They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They are not
working.
50. When are you starting your new job?

In these examples, we have a firm plan or programmed

before speaking. The decision and plan were made before
speaking. (ibid: 74)
1.4. Present Perfect Tense: (Past Time)

1.4.1. The Definition of the Present Perfect Tense:
The Present Perfect Tense in English is used to express

something that happened or never happened before now at an
unspecified time in the past. (Farghal and Shunnaq, 1999: 77)
1.4.2. The Form of the Present Perfect Tense:
The structure of the present perfect tense is:
subject + auxiliary verb + main verb

have past participle
subject auxiliary main

verb verb
+ I have seen ET.
+ You have eaten mine.
- She has not been to Rome.
- We have not played football.
? Have you finished?
? Have they done it?
Table 1.6 The Structure of the Present Perfect Tense
1.4.3. The Use of the Present Perfect Tense:

:Finish events connect with the present .1.4.3.1 -5-
We use the simple present perfect to say that a finished
action or event is connected with the present in some way. If we

say that something has happened, we are thinking about the past
and the present at the same time.
.I con not go on holiday because I have broken my leg .53
(Swan, 1994: 419)
Finished events: news .1.4.3.2
The simple Present perfect is the most normal tense for giving
.news of recent events
And here are the main points of the news again. The
pound has fallen against the dollar. The Prime Minister has
said that the government's economic policies are working.
The number of unemployed has reached five million. There
has been a fire…. (ibid: 420)
1.4.3.3. Finished events with expressions of 'time up to now'
We often use the simple present perfect for past events when
we are thinking of a period of time continuing up to now the
present- for example when we use indefinite time adverbs that
mean 'at some/any time to now', like ever, before, never, yet,
already.
54. Have you ever seen a ghost?
(ibid: 420)
1.4.3.4. Repetition and continuation to now
We can use the simple present prefect to say that something has
happened several times up to the present.
55. I have written six letters since lunchtime.

56. How often have you been in love in your life?
(ibid: 420)
-5-
1.4.3.5. Time not mentioned

We use the present perfect when we are thinking of a period

of 'time up to now', even if we do not mention it. On the other
hand, we do not use the present perfect when we are thinking of
a particular finished time, even if we do not mention it.
57. Have you seen 'Rome and Juliet'? (Have you ever seen it?)
(ibid: 420)
2.5. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense: (Past

Time)
2.5.1. The Definition of the Present Perfect Continuous:
English uses the present perfect continuous tense to talk
about actions and state which start in the past but which have a
link with the present. (Foley and Hall, 2003: 62)
2.5.2. The Form of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense:
The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is:
subject + auxiliary verb + auxiliary verb + main verb

have
been base + ing
has
subject auxiliary verb auxiliary verb main verb

+ I have been waiting for one
hour.
+ You have been talking too much.
- It has not been raining.
- We have not been playingfootball.
? Have you been seeing her?
? Have they been doing their
homework?
Table 1.7 The Structure of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense
-5-
2.5.3. The Use of the Present Perfect Continuous

We use the present perfect continuous, in general, to talk

about situations which started in the past and are still going
on, or which have just stopped and have present result. (Swan,
1994: 424)
58. Sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long?

59. 'You look hot.' 'Yes, I've been running.' (ibid: 424)
Chapter Two
The Present Tense in Arabic
-5-
2.1. Introduction:

There are two main tenses in the Arabic language:

Firstly, Perfect Tense: The action is completed in the perfect
tense. You may also call this as the past tense because the
action is completed before the present so it belongs to the
past. E.g. 'I ate'. (ُ‫ )أكلت‬The action of eating was finished in
the past.The past could be a few minutes or a few decades
before the present time. (Salim: 2006)
Secondly, Imperfect Tense or the Present Tense: the

action is still continuing. E.g. "you knock on the door and
walk in." "I am eating." The action is still continuing, he is
still eating while talking to you. This is the present tense in
English. It is also the "imperfect tense" in Arabic. We say in
Arabic (ُ‫)آ ُكل‬. (ibid)
The Arabic Verb (ُ‫ )آ ُكل‬means, "I am eating" or "I eat".

There is not such a thing as the future tense in Arabic. This
is done by adding the prefix "‫ "ســ‬or the word "‫ "سوف‬to the
imperfect form of the verb. E.g. (ُ‫ )يأ ُكل‬we add "‫ "ســ‬to be (
ُ‫ )سـَيأ ُكل‬which means "I will eat".(ibid)
2.2. The Conjugation of the Arabic Present Tense:
The verb 'َ‫ 'رَسَم‬in Arabic conjugates into the first person -5-
singular 'ُ‫سم‬ُ ْ‫ 'أر‬like the form ' I do' in English. We add the prefix '
‫ 'أ‬at the first present singular to have the verb 'ُ‫'أرْسُم‬, which
means in English 'I draw'. This rule applies to the trilateral verbs
fro example '‫ 'رسم‬the three consonant are unchanged. (ibid)
The present tense is formed by adding suffixes as well as

prefixes to the "َ‫ "أ َكل‬which it is in the perfect tense. Before we
can add prefixes and suffixes, we have to derive the "stem" from
the root verb. This is done by making "sakeen" of the first and
the last letter of the root. The first root letter becomes "sakeen"
by throwing its diacritics "ْ‫ "أكل‬then we can add prefixes and
suffixes for the stem " ْ‫ " أكل‬to be " ُ‫" يَأ ُكل‬. (ibid)
We add the prefix '‫ 'أ‬for the first person singular, '‫ 'ت‬for the
second person singular and so on… and the most important is
the vowels or symbols on the top of each consonant. (ibid)
Pay extra attention to the diacritics written in Arabic, the

three small symbols ( َ ُِ ) are very important in the tables
below, because they play the role of vowels, ( ََََََََ = vowel
a) ( ُُُُُُ = vowel u) ( ِِِِِِِِ = vowel i or e). (Ibid)
Some of the trilateral verbs(‫ )الفعال الثلثية‬have some slightly

different, the word 'ُ‫ 'أسبَح‬swim, it has a vowel ' َ ' after '‫'بــ‬,
basically instead of using the vowel ' ُ ' , we use the vowel " َ "
with some trilateral verbs, like: '‫ 'لعـب‬to play, ' ‫ ' فـعل‬to do, '‫'ذهـب‬
to go, and ' ‫ ' سبح‬to swim…but the rest of the consonants stay
unchanged. (ibid)
Singular
-5-
I draw = ُ‫ أسبَح‬/ ُ‫أرسُم‬

you draw (singular masculine) = ُ‫ تسبَح‬/ ُ‫ترسُم‬
you draw (singular feminine) = َ‫ تسبَحين‬/ َ‫ترسُمِين‬
he draws = ُ‫ يسبَح‬/ ُ‫يَرسُم‬
she draws = ُ‫ تسبَح‬/ ُ‫تَرسُم‬
Dual
you draw (dual male or female) = ِ‫ تسبَحان‬/ ِ‫سمَان‬

ُ ‫تَر‬
they draw (dual male or female) = ِ‫ يسبَحان‬/ ِ‫يَرسُمَان‬
Plural
we draw = ُ‫ نسبَح‬/ ُ‫نَرسُم‬
you draw (plural masculine) = َ‫ تسبَحون‬/ َ‫تَرسُمُون‬
you draw (plural feminine) = َ‫ تسبَحون‬/ َ‫تَرسُمْن‬
they draw (plural masculine) =َ‫ يسبَحون‬/ َ‫سمُون‬

ُ ‫يَر‬
they draw (plural feminine) = َ‫ يسبَحن‬/ َ‫سمْن‬

ُ ‫يَر‬
Table 2.1 The Conjugation of the Arabic Present Tense

Based on (Salim: 2005-2006)
2.3. The Inflection Case of the Arabic Present Tense: -5-

(‫)الفعل المضارع المعرب‬

The diacritics of the Arabic present verbs changed according

to the situations. There are three cases that it can be:
1. Subjunctive (‫)منصوب‬
2. Nominative (‫)مرفوع‬
3. Jussive (‫)مجزوم‬
(Al-Jars and Amine, 1983: 54)
4. 2.3.1. Subjunctive Case (‫)حالة النصب‬

5.
If the Arabic verbs are proceeded by the Subjunctive articles:
ْ َ‫ ل‬,ْ‫ ' أَن‬then we put to the end letter the vowel ' a َ '.
'ْ‫ كي‬, ْ‫ إذَن‬, ‫ن‬
(ibid: 49)
1. ‫سنَ السباحة‬ ِ ‫أريدُ أن أُح‬
'I need to learn swimming.'
2. َ‫َلنْ أكذِب‬
'I will never lie.'
3. ُ‫سدَ الهواء‬ ُ ‫إذنْ يَ ْف‬
'So, will be bad smell.'
6. َ‫جِئتُ كَيْ أتَعلَم‬
'I come to learn.'
(ibid: 48)
2.3.2. Jussive Case (‫)حالة الجزم‬
If the Arabic verbs are proceeded by the Jussive articles: ', ‫لم‬
ْ‫ إن‬, ‫ ' ل الناهية‬, in this case there is no vowels at the end but it
ends with consonant sound. (ibid: 55)
7. َ‫َلمْ يلعبْ عليٌ الكرة‬

'Ali does not play football.'
8. ْ‫ِإنْ تدرسْ تنجح‬
'If you study you will succeed.'
9. ِ‫ل تُسرعْ في السير‬
'Don not walk quickly.'
(ibid: 54) -5-
2.3.3. Nominative Case (‫)حالة الرفع‬

Arabic present tense will be Nominative if it is preceded

neither by the Jussive articles nor by Subjunctive articles. The
final latter is with the diacritic ' ُ '. (ibid: 60)
7. ُ‫تطيرُ الحمامة‬
The pigeon flies.'
8. ُ‫زلُ المطر‬ ِ ‫يَن‬
'It's raining.'
10. ِ‫الشمس‬ َ‫تدورُ الرضُ حول‬
'The earth goes around the sun.' (ibid: 59)
2.4. The Non-inflection Case of the Arabic Present Tense:

(‫)بناء الفعل المضارع‬
Two cases make the Arabic present tense Non-inflection:
The First Case: When we add the suffix ' ‫ن ' 'نون التوكيد‬ّ ' and the
prefix ' ‫ 'لَ ' ' لم القسم‬to the present form.
We add ' ّ‫ ' ن‬and ' َ‫ ' ل‬to make emphasis. (ibid: 116)
10. َ‫لس َت ِمعَنّ النصيحة‬

'I must listen to the advice.' / Strong '‫'ن‬
11. ‫لسعيَنْ في الخير‬
'I'm seeking for good.' / Weak "‫"ن‬
ّ‫ نّ = لَستَمِ َعن‬+ ‫ أســتمع‬+ َ‫ لـــ‬/ strong

ْ‫ نْ = لسع َين‬+ ‫ أسعى‬+ َ‫ لـــ‬/ weak
The Second Case: When we add the feminine suffix ' ‫نَ ' ' نون‬
‫ ' النسوة‬to the Arabic present tense. (ibid: 116)
It gives feminine meaning.
12. َ‫ن النَصيحة‬
َ ‫سمَع‬
ْ َ‫ت ي‬
ُ ‫الطالِبا‬
'They listen to the advice'
َ‫ نَ = يــَسـْمـَعْـن‬+ ‫يــسمع‬
(ibid: 116)
-5-
2.4. The Use of the Arabic Present Tense:
2.4.1. Statements of Fact:

The Arabic Present Tense is used to express scientific

statements of fact indicating that something was true in the past,
is true in the present and will be true in the future. In addition, it
is used to express general statement of fact for action that may
be remaining for long time. (Farghal and Shunnaq, 1999: 64)
13. ِ‫يتكونُ الما ُء من الهيدروجينِ والكسجين‬

'Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.'
14. ِ‫ل الشمس‬
َ ‫تدورُ الرضُ حو‬
'The Earth goes around the sun.'
15. ِ‫يعملُ خال ٌد في المصنع‬
'Ali works in the factory.'
(ibid:64)
2.4.2. Habitual Activities:
We use the Arabic Present Tense to express habitual or

everyday activities; we use with the sentence some adverbs of
frequency to express habitual activities like: (/ ‫ كل يوم‬/ ً‫ غالبا‬/ ً‫دائما‬
‫ نادراً ما‬/ ‫ أحيانًا‬/ ً‫ أبدا‬/ ‫ كثيرًا ما‬/ ‫ عاد ًة‬/ ‫ كل سنة‬/ ‫) كل شهر‬. (always,
usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, every week,
every…etc). (ibid: 66)
16. ٍ‫أمشي مسافة ميلين ك َل صباح‬

'I walk for two miles every morning'
17. ً‫يتناولُ أحم ٌد الغداء في البيتِ دائما‬
'Ahmad always eats lunch at home.'
(ibid: 66)
2.4.3. Present Situations:
The Arabic Present Tense may indicate situations that exist

right now, at the moment of speaking. (ibid: 68)
18. ٍ‫' يحتاجُ أحم ٌد إلى مئةِ دولر‬Ahmad needs a hundred dollars.'
-5-
Further, we use the Arabic Present Tense to express a
situation that began in the past and continues to the present.
(ibid: 68)
19. ‫أسكُنُ في عمان منذُ سنتين‬

'I have lived in Amman for two years'
2.4.4. Progressive Situations:
We use the Arabic Present Tense to express situation that in

progressive at the moment of speaking, it may be still to the near
future and it will end. We use adverbial markers to indicate
present progressiveness. (ibid: 72)
20. ‫ي على البيانو في غرف ِة المعيشةِ الن‬

ٌ ‫يع ِزفُ عل‬
'Ali is playing the piano in the living room.'
21. ‫يُؤِلفُ أحمدٌ كتابَا عن اللغويات في هذه اليا ِم‬

'Ahmad is writing a book on linguistics these days.'
22. ‫يَقُومُ عليٌ بكتابةِ رسال ٍة في المكتبةِ الن‬

'Ali is writing a letter in the library now.'
(ibid: 73)
-5-
Chapter three

The Similarities and the Differences between the

English and Arabic Present Tense
3.1. Introduction
The verb is a major component of any language, not to

exclude English or Arabic. Every English sentence has a verb in
its surface structure, but it may be argued that they have some
kind of verb in the deep structure obligatorily delete. (Alkhuli:
1999, 43)
E.g. 'Ali is a student' this sentence has the copula 'is' which
calls linking verb; this verb is in the surface structure. When we
translate this sentence into Arabic, we have 'ٌ‫ "عليٌ طاِلب‬in this
sentence there is no verb 'it's verbless', the verb does not in the
surface structure but in the deep structure, the verb is '‫'يكون‬.
However, it will be 'ٌ‫'يكون عليٌ طالب‬. (Farghal & Shunnaq: 1999,
39) & (Alkhuli: 1999, 24)
In this chapter, we will see how verb tenses are expressed

in both English and Arabic and what are the similarities and the
differences between the two languages.
3.2. English Simple Present and Arabic Present Tense: -5-
Statements of facts are used in both English and Arabic.

1. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
ِ‫ يتكونُ الما ُء من الهيدروجينِ والكسجين‬.1
2. The Earth goes around the sun.

ِ‫ل الشمس‬
َ ‫ تدورُ الرضُ حو‬.2
General Statement of fact is also used in both English and

Arabic:
3. Ali works in the factory.

ِ‫ يعملُ خال ٌد في المصنع‬.3
Similarly, we use the present simple tense and present in

Arabic to express past meaning in the headlines in newspaper to
give more immediacy to the event.
4. Prince Hassan pays Ramadan visit to Bahrain.

.‫ يقومُ المير حسن بزيارة رمضانيةٍ إلى البحرين‬.4
5. Bomber Kills Iraqi shoppers despite Mecca peace call.

.‫ تفجيرُ قنبلةٍ في السواقِ العراقية على الرغم من نداء مكة المكرمة للسلم‬.5
There are no differences between English and Arabic to

indicate situations that exist right now, English verbs that are not
usually used in the progressive tense, at the moment of speaking
(present situations).
6. It is raining.
.ُ‫ يَنزِلُ المطر‬.6
7. The pigeon flies.
.ُ‫ تطيرُ الحمامة‬.7
Similarly, there are no differences between English and

Arabic in using habitual activities, in informal narrative and in
-5-
summaries, and in word (say).
8. We look forward to hearing for you. (More formal)

‫ نتطلعُ للجلوس معك‬.8

9. I play tennis every week.
. ‫ ألعبُ التنس‬.9
10. No doubt, you all remember what Hamlet says about
suicide.
‫ ل يوجد شكٌ بأننا نعلمُ ما يقولُ هاملت عن النتحار‬.10
In English, with the present simple, the only subject-verb

agreement is the present morpheme suffixed to the verb if the
subject is third-person singular, e.g., he look+s, she go+es, it
seem+s. (Alkhuli, 1999: 43)
In Arabic, with every verb in any tense, the verb

morphology is made to agree with the subject, and a subject
copy is suffixed to the verb. The agreement often requires
adding a prefix to the verb as well, e.g., ‫ أذهب‬,‫ نذهب‬,‫ تذهب‬,‫يذهب‬.
(ibid: 43)
3.3. English Present Progressive and Arabic Present

Tense:
In Arabic, the present progressive is expressed by the

present form. This means that present facts, present habits, and
present progressive acts are expressed in the same form.
However, in terms of translation, the Present Progressive is
problematic because Arabic does not formally mark present
verbs for progressiveness. (ibid: 44) & (Farghal & Shunnaq,
1999: 72)
11. They are playing. 11. ‫هم يلعبون‬
Arabic depends on the time adverb to make the difference

between facts and habits on one side and progressive acts on the
other side, whereas English varies the forms of the verbs. -5-
(Alkhuli, 1999: 44)
12. Ali is playing in the garden now.

ِ‫ يلعبُ عليٌ النَ في الحديقة‬.12
In addition, we can express the present progressive in

Arabic by utilizing the present form of the Arabic verb '‫' 'يقوم‬to
perform' plus the nominalized form of the verb in the sentence.
(Farghal & Shunnaq, 1999: 73)
13. Ali is writing a letter in his office now.

.‫ يقومُ عليٌ بكتابةِ رسالةٍ في مكتبه الن‬.13
14. The engineer is examining the equipment now.
14. ‫يقوم المهندس بفحص التجهيزاتِ الن‬.
(ibid: 73)
We can use Present Progressive in English to express futurity,

but we cannot do this in Arabic. (See page 9 & 1)
15. Maha is seeing the doctor next week.

.ِ‫ ستذهبُ مهى الى الطبيبِ في السبوعِ المق ِبل‬.15
16. I am leaving for Cairo tomorrow morning.

.ً‫ سأغادرُ الى القاهرةِ غداً صباحا‬.16
(ibid: 73)
We can express to futurity in Arabic by adding the prefix '‫ 'ســ‬to

the present form. E.g. ُ‫ يلعبُ = سَـيَلعَب‬+ ‫ســ‬
(ibid: 73)
3.4. The English Present Perfect and the Arabic

Present Tense:
-5-
Formally, the present perfect has no corresponding tense in
Arabic.

English uses 'has' or 'have' plus the past participle to express

the present perfect. The formula is have/has+ V3. A perfect
tense in English requires verb to have plus the past participle,
e.g., 'I have done the homework'. Tense is an obligatory
component; the choices are present, past, and future resulting in
have/has, had, and will have, respectively. (Alkhuli, 1999: 44)
Arabic has the perfective aspect although it is not formally

classified as the verb to express the present perfect preceded by
the particle '‫ 'قد‬or '‫ 'لقد‬to make the perfect aspect. (Forghal &
Shunnaq, 1999: 77) & (Alkhuli, 1999: 44)
The following English sentences along with their Arabic

counterparts illustrate this:
17. George and Mary have moved into a new apartment.

.ٍ‫ لقد انتقلَ جورج و ماري الى شقةٍ جديدة‬.17
18. He has done the homework.
.‫ع ِملَ الواجب البيتي‬
َ ‫ قد‬.18
Further, the present perfect in English may be used to

express a situation that began in the past and continues to the
present. In this case, Arabic uses the simple present or simple
past form of the verb as can be illustrated bellow:
19. I have lived in Amman for two years.

‫ أسكن في عمان منذُ سنتين‬/ ُ‫ سَكنت‬.19
(Forghal & Shunnaq, 1999: 77)
3.5. The English Present Perfect Progressive and

Arabic Present Tense:
-5-
The present perfect progressive in English is used to
indicate the duration of an activity that began in the past and
continues to the present or a general activity in progress
recently. In Arabic, the meaning of the present perfect

progressive is expressed by using ‫ لم يزل‬,‫ ل يزال‬,‫ ما زال‬, plus the
simple present form of the verb. (ibid: 78)
English uses this formula to express the present perfect

progressive: has / have + been + V-ing. In contrast, Arabic uses
this formula: ‫ ما زال‬or ‫ ل يزال‬or ‫ لم يزل‬+ present form, and it
requires Subject Verb agreement with the two verbs, ‫ زال‬and the
present form. (Alkhuli, 1999: 44-45)
20. I have been playing basketball since ten o'clock.

.ِ‫ب كرةَ السلةِ منذُ الساعةِ العاشرة‬
ُ ‫ ما زلتُ ال َع‬/ ‫ لم أزل‬/ ُ‫ ل أزال‬20.
21. Huda has been thinking about changing her major.

.‫ ما زالت هدى تف ِكرُ في تغيير تخصصها‬/ ‫ لم تزل‬/ ُ‫ ل تزال‬21.
Chapter 4. The Conclusion
According this research, we note that there are some -5-

differences and similarities between the two languages; English
and Arabic. We cannot make all languages completely similar or
completely different because each language has separate
linguistic system. However, we study this contrast between the

two languages English and Arabic, for basic purpose, which is to
accommodate one's language to those who learn English or
Arabic as second languages with correct way.
There are some similarities and differences between English

and Arabic in using the present; we can use the present simple in
English and Arabic present tense in statements of facts, general
statement, and habitual activities. In addition, present
continuous in English and Arabic present tens with actions that
happen now.
We use the present simple and continuous in English to refer

for future time but we cannot do it in Arabic present tense
without adding prefix '‫ 'ســ‬to the present form or the word '‫'سوف‬
before the Arabic present verb.
English language use the present perfect and perfect

continuous as a present tense to give an attention to the duration
of the action, but it refer to past time in Arabic present tense.
Arabic language can do this by using both forms past and
present with using the word to show the duration like '‫ 'منذ‬and '‫ما‬
‫'زال‬. Arabic has the perfective aspect although it is not formally
classified as the verb to express the present perfect preceded by
the particle '‫ 'قد‬or '‫ 'لقد‬to make the perfect aspect.
We can note that the differences between the two languages

in my research are not only in the form of the verb or the use of
the verb, but we find that it's in the structure of the sentence; we
find the verb like copula 'is' is shows in the English present
sentence, but it's not in Arabic present sentence.
Appendix
A -5-
Infinitive Simple Past Past Participle
arise arose arisen
awake awakened / awoke awakened / awoken
B
backslide backslid backslidden / backslid

be was, were been
bear bore born / borne
beat beat beaten / beat
become became become
begin began begun
bend bent bent
bet bet / betted bet / betted
bid (farewell) bid / bade bidden
bid (offer amount) bid bid
bind bound bound
bite bit bitten
bleed bled bled
blow blew blown
break broke broken
breed bred bred
bring brought brought
broadcast broadcast / broadcasted broadcast / broadcasted
browbeat browbeat browbeaten / browbeat
build built built
burn burned / burnt burned / burnt
burst burst burst
bust busted / bust busted / bust
buy bought bought
C
cast cast cast
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
cling clung clung
clothe clothed / clad clothed / clad
come came come
cost cost cost
creep crept crept
crossbreed crossbred crossbred
cut cut cut
D
daydream daydreamed / daydreamt daydreamed / daydreamt
deal dealt dealt
dig dug dug
disprove disproved disproved / disproven
dive (jump head-first) dove / dived dived
dive (scuba diving) dived / dove dived
do did done
draw drew drawn
dream dreamed / dreamt dreamed / dreamt
drink drank drunk -5-
drive drove driven
dwell dwelt / dwelled dwelt / dwelled
E

eat ate eaten

F
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
fit (tailor, change size) fitted / fit fitted / fit
fit (be right size) fit / fitted fit / fitted
flee fled fled
fling flung flung
fly flew flown
forbid forbade forbidden
forecast forecast forecast
forego (also forgo) forewent foregone
foresee foresaw foreseen
foretell foretold foretold
forget forgot forgotten / forgot
forgive forgave forgiven
forsake forsook forsaken
freeze froze frozen
frostbite frostbit frostbitten
G
get got gotten / got
give gave given
go went gone
grind ground ground
grow grew grown
H
hand-feed hand-fed hand-fed
handwrite handwrote handwritten
hang hung hung
have had had
hear heard heard
hew hewed hewn / hewed
hide hid hidden
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
I
inbreed inbred inbred
inlay inlaid inlaid
input input / inputted input / inputted
interbreed interbred interbred
interweave interwove / interweaved interwoven / interweaved
interwind interwound interwound -5-
J
jerry-build jerry-built jerry-built
K

keep kept kept

kneel knelt / kneeled knelt / kneeled
knit knitted / knit knitted / knit
know knew known
L
lay laid laid
lead led led
lean leaned / leant leaned / leant
leap leaped / leapt leaped / leapt
learn learned / learnt learned / learnt
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay lain
lie (not tell truth) REGULAR lied lied
light lit / lighted lit / lighted
lip-read lip-read lip-read
lose lost lost
M
make made made
mean meant meant
meet met met
miscast miscast miscast
misdeal misdealt misdealt
misdo misdid misdone
mishear misheard misheard
mislay mislaid mislaid
mislead misled misled
mislearn mislearned / mislearnt mislearned / mislearnt
misread misread misread
misset misset misset
misspeak misspoke misspoken
misspell misspelled / misspelt misspelled / misspelt
misspend misspent misspent
mistake mistook mistaken
misteach mistaught mistaught
misunderstand misunderstood misunderstood
miswrite miswrote miswritten
mow mowed mowed / mown
O
offset offset offset
outbid outbid outbid
outbreed outbred outbred
outdo outdid outdone
outdraw outdrew outdrawn
outdrink outdrank outdrunk -5-
outdrive outdrove outdriven
outfight outfought outfought
outfly outflew outflown

outgrow outgrew outgrown

outleap outleaped / outleapt outleaped / outleapt
outlie (not tell truth) REGULAR outlied outlied
outride outrode outridden
outrun outran outrun
outsell outsold outsold
outshine outshined / outshone outshined / outshone
outshoot outshot outshot
outsing outsang outsung
outsit outsat outsat
outsleep outslept outslept
outsmell outsmelled / outsmelt outsmelled / outsmelt
outspeak outspoke outspoken
outspeed outsped outsped
outspend outspent outspent
outswear outswore outsworn
outswim outswam outswum
outthink outthought outthought
outthrow outthrew outthrown
outwrite outwrote outwritten
overbid overbid overbid
overbreed overbred overbred
overbuild overbuilt overbuilt
overbuy overbought overbought
overcome overcame overcome
overdo overdid overdone
overdraw overdrew overdrawn
overdrink overdrank overdrunk
overeat overate overeaten
overfeed overfed overfed
overhang overhung overhung
overhear overheard overheard
overlay overlaid overlaid
overpay overpaid overpaid
override overrode overridden
overrun overran overrun
oversee oversaw overseen
oversell oversold oversold
oversew oversewed oversewn / oversewed
overshoot overshot overshot
oversleep overslept overslept
overspeak overspoke overspoken
overspend overspent overspent
overspill overspilled / overspilt overspilled / overspilt
overtake overtook overtaken
overthink overthought overthought -5-
overthrow overthrew overthrown
overwind overwound overwound
overwrite overwrote overwritten

P
partake partook partaken
pay paid paid
plead pleaded / pled pleaded / pled
prebuild prebuilt prebuilt
predo predid predone
premake premade premade
prepay prepaid prepaid
presell presold presold
preset preset preset
preshrink preshrank preshrunk
proofread proofread proofread
prove proved proven / proved
put put put
Q
quick-freeze quick-froze quick-frozen
quit quit / quitted quit / quitted
R
read read (sounds like "red") read (sounds like "red")
reawake reawoke reawaken
rebid rebid rebid
rebind rebound rebound
rebroadcast rebroadcast / rebroadcasted rebroadcast / rebroadcasted
rebuild rebuilt rebuilt
recast recast recast
recut recut recut
redeal redealt redealt
redo redid redone
redraw redrew redrawn
refit (replace parts) refit / refitted refit / refitted
refit (retailor) refitted / refit refitted / refit
regrind reground reground
regrow regrew regrown
rehang rehung rehung
rehear reheard reheard
reknit reknitted / reknit reknitted / reknit
relay (for example tiles) relaid relaid
relay (pass along) REGULAR relayed relayed
relearn relearned / relearnt relearned / relearnt
relight relit / relighted relit / relighted
remake remade remade
repay repaid repaid
reread reread reread
rerun reran rerun
resell resold resold
resend resent resent -5-
reset reset reset
resew resewed resewn / resewed
retake retook retaken

reteach retaught retaught

retear retore retorn
retell retold retold
rethink rethought rethought
retread retread retread
retrofit retrofitted / retrofit retrofitted / retrofit
rewake rewoke / rewaked rewaken / rewaked
rewear rewore reworn
reweave rewove / reweaved rewoven / reweaved
rewed rewed / rewedded rewed / rewedded
rewet rewet / rewetted rewet / rewetted
rewin rewon rewon
rewind rewound rewound
rewrite rewrote rewritten
rid rid rid
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
roughcast roughcast roughcast
run ran run
S
sand-cast sand-cast sand-cast
saw sawed sawed / sawn
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
sew sewed sewn / sewed
shake shook shaken
shave shaved shaved / shaven
shear sheared sheared / shorn
shed shed shed
shine shined / shone shined / shone
shit shit / shat / shitted shit/ shat / shitted
shoot shot shot
show showed shown / showed
shrink shrank / shrunk shrunk
shut shut shut
sight-read sight-read sight-read
sing sang sung
sink sank / sunk sunk
sit sat sat
slay (kill) slew / slayed slain / slayed
slay (amuse) REGULAR slayed slayed -5-
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid
sling slung slung

slink slinked / slunk slinked / slunk

slit slit slit
smell smelled / smelt smelled / smelt
sneak sneaked / snuck sneaked / snuck
sow sowed sown / sowed
speak spoke spoken
speed sped / speeded sped / speeded
spell spelled / spelt spelled / spelt
spend spent spent
spill spilled / spilt spilled / spilt
spin spun spun
spit spit / spat spit / spat
split split split
spoil spoiled / spoilt spoiled / spoilt
spoon-feed spoon-fed spoon-fed
spread spread spread
spring sprang / sprung sprung
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
stink stunk / stank stunk
strew strewed strewn / strewed
stride strode stridden
strike (delete) struck stricken
strike (hit) struck struck / stricken
string strung strung
strive strove / strived striven / strived
sublet sublet sublet
sunburn sunburned / sunburnt sunburned / sunburnt
swear swore sworn
sweat sweat / sweated sweat / sweated
sweep swept swept
swell swelled swollen / swelled
swim swam swum
swing swung swung
T
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
telecast telecast telecast
tell told told
test-drive test-drove test-driven
test-fly test-flew test-flown
think thought thought
throw threw thrown -5-
thrust thrust thrust
tread trod trodden / trod
typecast typecast typecast

typeset typeset typeset

typewrite typewrote typewritten
U
unbend unbent unbent
unbind unbound unbound
unclothe unclothed / unclad unclothed / unclad
underbid underbid underbid
undercut undercut undercut
underfeed underfed underfed
undergo underwent undergone
underlie underlay underlain
undersell undersold undersold
underspend underspent underspent
understand understood understood
undertake undertook undertaken
underwrite underwrote underwritten
undo undid undone
unfreeze unfroze unfrozen
unhang unhung unhung
unhide unhid unhidden
unknit unknitted / unknit unknitted / unknit
unlearn unlearned / unlearnt unlearned / unlearnt
unsew unsewed unsewn / unsewed
unsling unslung unslung
unspin unspun unspun
unstick unstuck unstuck
unstring unstrung unstrung
unweave unwove / unweaved unwoven / unweaved
unwind unwound unwound
uphold upheld upheld
upset upset upset
W
wake woke / waked woken / waked
waylay waylaid waylaid
wear wore worn
weave wove / weaved woven / weaved
wed wed / wedded wed / wedded
weep wept wept
wet wet / wetted wet / wetted
whet REGULAR whetted whetted
win won won
wind wound wound
withdraw withdrew withdrawn
withhold withheld withheld
withstand withstood withstood
wring wrung wrung -5-
write wrote Written
Englishpage.com (1998-2005)

English Bibliographies
1. …… . (2003), October 22. The Jordan Times. Amman:

Jordan: Jordan Press Foundation.
2. …… . (2003). Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
Cambridge: (Cambridge University Press).
3. Alkhuli, M. (2004). English Phonetics and Phonology.
(Amman: Dar Alfalah).
4. Alkhuli,M. (1999). Comparative Linguistics: English and
Arabic. (Amman: Alfarah).
5. Azar, B.S. (1999). Understanding and Using English. (New
York: Prentice Hall).
6. Aziz,Y. (1989). A Contrastive Grammar of English and
Arabic. (Baghdad: Al-Watania).
7. Farghal, M., and A. Shunnaq. (1999). Translation with
Reference to English and Arabic: a Practical Guide. (Irbid:
Dar Al-Hilal for Translation).
8. Foley, M., and Hall, D. Advanced Learners' Grammar.
(London: Longman).
9. Murphy, R. (1994). English Grammar in Use. Cambridge:
(Cambridge University Press).
10. Quirk, R. et al. (1985). A University English Grammar.
(London: Longman).
11. Swan, M. (1995). Practical English Usage. (New York:
Oxford University Press).
12. Salim ( 2006). Arabic Present Tense. speak7.com.
Arabic References
‫المصادر العربية‬ -5-

‫‪December 1, 2006‬‬ ‫‪THE PRESENT TENSE BETWEEN ENGLISH AND ARABIC: ACOMPARTIVE STUDY‬‬
‫‪ .1‬الجازم ‪ ،‬علي و أمين‪ ،‬مصطفى‪ :‬النحو الواضح في قواعد اللغة‬

‫العربية ‪ – .... /‬دار المعارف )‪.(1983‬‬
‫‪ .2‬عبد الحميد‪ ،‬محي الدين‪ :‬التحفة السنية بشرح المقدمة الجرومية ‪/‬‬
‫بيروت – المكتبة العصرية )‪.(2000‬‬
‫الخلصة‬
‫الدف من هذا البحث هو توضيح الزمن الضارع من إختلفاتٍ‬
‫وتشاباتٍ بي كلتا اللغتي العربية والنليزية‪ .‬لتيسر على الطلبة تعلمَ اللغة‬ ‫‪-5-‬‬
‫الكتسبة بالشكل الصحيح‪.‬‬

‫‪Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com‬‬
‫‪December 1, 2006‬‬ ‫‪THE PRESENT TENSE BETWEEN ENGLISH AND ARABIC: ACOMPARTIVE STUDY‬‬
‫يوضح الفصل الول من البحث الشكال الربعة للزمن الضارع ف‬

‫اللغة النليزية ؛ الضارع البسيط و الضارع الستمر و الضارع التام و التام‬
‫الستمر‪ .‬فاللغة النليزية كغيها من اللغات تلك الكثي من الشاكل‬
‫للمتعلمي الجانب‪ .‬بعض هذه الشاكل سهلة الشرح ؛ كأشكال هذه‬
‫الزمنه الذكورة‪ .‬أو أملءُ هذه الزمنة‪ .‬ولكن هناك مشاكلُ أخرى من‬
‫الصعب تعلمها حت على الطلبة التقدمي أو حت على بعض الدرسي‪ ،‬من‬
‫المثلة على هذه؛ إستخدامات لكلٍ من هذه الزمنة‪ .‬مثلً‪ :‬الزمن الضارع‬
‫البسيط يكن إستخدامه ف التعبي عن الستقبل و الاضي ليس فقط ف التعبي‬
‫عن الزمن الال فحسب‪ .‬لذلك يوضح هذا الفصل إستخدامات الزمن‬
‫الضارع ف اللغة النليزية بطريقةٍ سهلةٍ ويسيةٍ ومفهومةٍ للقراءِ ف متلفِ‬
‫مُستوياتِهم‪.‬‬
‫يوضح الفصل الثان من هذا البحث بطريقةٍ سهل ٍة وبسيطةٍ كيفية‬
‫تصريف الفعل ‪ ،‬وكيف أن الفعل ف اللغة العربية يتلفُ شكل ُة مع إختلف‬
‫الفاعل‪ .‬ليس هذا فحسب‪ ،‬بل و يظهر حالت الفعل الضارع ف اللغة‬
‫العربية من مبن ومعربٍ و إستخدامات الزمن الضارع ف اللغة العربية‪ .‬أما‬
‫الفصل الثالث من هذا البحث فيوضح الختلفات والتشابات بي كلتا‬
‫اللغتي العربية والنليزية للزمن الضارع ‪ .‬مستخدما ف ذلك توضيحاتٍ و‬
‫أمثلةٍ لتصبحَ مبينةً و جليةً للقارئ‪.‬‬
‫الهلية‬ ‫الزرقاء‬ ‫جامعة‬ ‫‪-5-‬‬
‫‪Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com‬‬

‫الـمـضـارع‬ ‫الـزمـن‬
‫فـ ـي‬
:‫اللغة العربية والنج ليز ية‬
‫دراسة مقارنة‬
:‫إعداد‬
‫عبد البصير جمال أحمد عيد‬
2006 ‫كانون الول لعام‬/‫ديسمبر‬
-5-

The Present Tense Between English and Arabic A Comparative by Abdulbaseer Jamal Eid

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The Present Tense Between English and Arabic A Comparative by Abdulbaseer Jamal Eid

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ZARQA PRIVATE UNIVERSITY

<The Present Tense

‫بسم الله الرحمن‬

‫{ يَا أّيهَا النّاسُ إِنّا َخلَ ْقنَاكُم‬

I became a student in Zarqa Private

ْ‫كرٍ وَأُنثَى وَ جَ َعلْناكُم‬

I have graduated from my University and I

Now I am still working on myself. I am

}ٌ‫ِإنّ الَ َعلِمٌ َخبِير‬

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

‫صدق الله العظيم‬

"13" ‫ آيه رقم‬/ ‫سورة الحجرات‬

To those people who mean something to me…

To those who have touched my life in one way or another…

To those who make me smile when I really need it….

My Dear Father, Mother…

To My friends whom I have non-forgettable moments with them…

Those who share me the moments of pleasure and labor…

Abed Al-Qader,Khaleel, Qabas …

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

I dedicate this work.

I am very much indebted to my supervisor, Dr. Mua'yyed

Special thanks are addressed to all the people who have

My appreciation goes also to my family for their support,

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

The first chapter shows the four forms of the present

The second chapter shows the main types of the

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

The third chapter shows the differences and

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

List of Contents Page

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

Chapter 2.The Present Tense in Arabic………………………………. 13

Chapter 3. The Similarities and the Differences between the

Chapter 4. The Conclusion……………………………………………………….. 26

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

Table 1.1 The Form of the Present Simple Tense………………………………… 2

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

In English we, have For Basic Tenses that refer to the

It is important not to confuse the name of a verb tense with

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

1.2 Present Simple Tense:

The natural and most frequent use of the present tense is in

1.2.2. The Form of the Present Simple Tense:

FORM SYMPOL EXAMPLE FUNCTIONS

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

Affirmative Question Negative

1.2.3. Spelling of the third person singular forms:

Most verbs: work-works

Table 1.3 Spelling of the third person singular

1.2.4. Pronunciation of the third person singular forms:

"The present allomorphs are also similar to the plural

Submitted by:Abed Al-Baseer Jamal Eid | abedaed85@yahoo.com

1.2.5. The Use of the Present Simple Tense:

According to the definition of the Present Simple Tense

1.2.5.1. Present Simple refer to the Present Time:

To express scientific statement of fact indicating that

1. The earth revolves around the sun.

With English Verbs that are not usually used in the

There are a number of verbs in English that we cannot

Verbs of existing or being be, consist of, contain, exist.

We use Present Simple to describe series of events and actions:

13. Iplay tennis every week.