Arabic in 60 Steps

1.  Phrases

In these units you will come across many examples of nouns with their adjectives. This will help you to express more detail when you want to describe something. The descriptions here mostly indicate colour and size.

2.  Prepositions (حَرُوفُ الجَرِّ)

These units all show how and when prepositions can be used in simple sentences.Beware that in speech, vowels on letters aren’t always pronounced, for example, at the end of a sentence. As a result, you will not always be able to hear the grammatical effect that prepositions have on the words that follow.

3.  Nominal Sentences (الجُمْلَةُ الاِسْمِيَّة)

Watching these units will help you to distinguish between phrases and short, complete sentences. You will also hear some basic, new words to add to your growing vocabulary. 

4.  The Verbal Sentence (الجُمْلَةُ الفِعْلِيَّة)

The verbal sentences in these videos will reinforce what you have been taught about sentence structure when introducing verbs. 
Remember that you will not hear the vowels that appear at the end of final words in a sentence, as it is not customary to do this in speech. However, you will still be able to follow who is completing the action (the subject of the verb) and understand what is being done (the object of the verb). The verbs included here are in the past tense.

5.  Present Tense Verbs (الفِعْلُ المُضَارِع)

These units gently introduce present tense verbs into conversation. The sentences in these units are a little longer now that more grammar is being covered. However, you will still be able to follow the most common structure of verbal sentences, which is verb>subject>object. Listen carefully to identify who is undertaking the action.

6.  The Active/ Subject (الفَاعِل)

These units include dialogue mentioning the subject of the verb, the one who completes the action being described. Review the active participles included in these units and see if you can work out the verbs they are derived from so you can add to your steadily increasing vocabulary.

Some units cover ordinal numbers. They not only follow the basic active participle pattern, but they also help you to tell the time in Arabic.

7.  The Passive / Object (المَفْعُولُ)

The ‘a’ sound is the most common indicator for the object of the verb. Listen out for the verbs used in this dialogue so that you may easily identify their objects. This is an intermediate level unit in Arabic Workshop so you will be exposed to plenty of new vocabulary.

8.  Passive Verbs (الفِعْلُ المَبْنِي للمَجْهُول)

These advanced level units include some use of passive verbs in the present tense. Listen closely to identify them and their conjugation.

9.  Hollow Verbs (الفِعْلُ الأَجْوَف)

These units contain a number of examples of hollow verbs. This listening practice provides a great opportunity to learn and review how these special verbs are conjugated, according to the individual who is doing the action.

10.  Kaana and Her Sisters (كَانَ وَأَخَوَاتُهَا)

‘Kaana’ is another example of a hollow verb but has a particular effect on some words in a sentence where it is used. There are other verbs, referred to as ‘the sisters of kaana’ which have the same impact. You will hear examples of this in the following level 10 unit. 

11.  Negative Past & “Jazm” Verbs (الأَفْعَلُ المجَْزُومَة)

You have already studied present tense verbs in chapter 5. Present tense verbs are adapted and used to express the negative past. The changed verb gives us the ‘majzoom’ – known as the ‘jussive’ in English. These have been used in the following units with the particle لمْ. Majzoom verbs are used in other grammatical constructs as well, so will be covered again in later chapters. 

12.  Negative Future and the “Nasb” Verbs (الأَفْعَالُ المَنْصُوْبَة)

Similarly to the previous chapter, expressing the future is based on some adjustments made to the present tense verb. The changes made to these verbs gives us the ‘mansub’ tense, also known as the ‘subjunctive’ or ‘a’ case. These units cover the usage of mansub verbs with particles أنْ and لنْ, giving us examples of intent to do something as well as the negative future.

لن has been covered at a higher level in the Arabic Workshop curriculum so the level 12 unit may sound more advanced than you are currently used to. Focus on the usage of لنْ and relax if you don’t understand most of what is being said. The Muhammad Ali unit is one of our favourites!

13.  Pronouns (ضَمَائِر)

Pronouns can be used to refer to people or things because of how the Arabic language treats words according to gender. These units contain examples of how subject (detached) and object (attached) personal pronouns are used comfortably in everyday speech. Pay close attention to follow who, or what, is being spoken about!

14.  Saying “have”

There are a number of commonly used ways to express possession of something. These units include examples of sentences using عند in particular.

15.  Question Words (حُرُوْفُ الاِسْتِفْهَامِ)

In most instances, you will hear question words at the beginning of a sentence. These question words have fixed vowelling themselves but sometimes impact the vowels found at the end of the words that follow. Listen carefully to hear how negative particles are combined with question words to form a negative question.

16. Beginning Weak Verbs (الفِعْلُ المِثَال)

Beginning weak verbs, or الفعل المثال, are indicated by the first letter of the root verb being و or ي. In these units, you will find examples of these verbs in the past tense which have been conjugated in different ways.

17.  Final Weak Verbs (الأَفعالُ النَاقِصَة)

Final weak verbs, or الأفعال الناقصة, are verbs which end in either و or ا or ي in their root form. They are conjugated differently according to the subject of the verb and its final letter. Once you become familiar with the patterns, it gets easier to detect how the verbs change. Listen to the following dialogues to hear examples of these verbs used alongside a number of other verb styles.

18.  Idaafah (الإضَافَة)

The idaafah construction shows us the association of two nouns, often the possession of one thing by another. As you have been taught, there are two parts to an idaafah. Whilst listening to the following dialogues, you need to identify which two nouns are being connected to master this grammatical concept.

19.  Inna and her Sisters (إِنَّ و أَخَوَاتُها)

Much like the verb كان and her sisters had an impact on surrounding words in the sentence, we see إنّ and her sisters causing changes to take place also. Remember that إنّ is used to emphasise or confirm something, so what follows is significant!

20.  Sound Plurals (جَمْعُ السالِم)

Sound masculine and feminine plurals are created by affixing the appropriate following marker to the end of a noun: 

ـونَ ، ـينَ ، ـاتٌ ، ـاتٍ

The slightly longer و ي ا sounds you hear in them will help you distinguish them from words that are singular. Remember that any adjectives following the noun they are describing will also be spoken in the plural.  

21.  Intro to Broken Plurals (المَدْخَلُ إِلى جَمْعِ التَكْسِير)

Broken plurals can be a little harder to spot because the structure of the word in its singular form has entirely changed. However, there are a number of set patterns for broken plurals which help us. In these units listen out for the patterns:

فعول ، أفعال ، فِعال ، أفعلاء ، فُعُل ، مفاعل ، مفاعيل

22.  More On Gender

The Arabic Workshop units you have watched so far have included a lot of dialogue illustrating how the language deals with gender in the various parts of speech, that is, in nouns and verbs. These units will recap the grammar you have covered so far and include some examples of words in Arabic that are less obviously feminine. Listen out for the ـاء ending in particular.

23.  The Dual Noun

24.  The Dual Verb

25.  Plural Verbs (أفعال الجمع)

Once you have understood how verbs are conjugated from their root form, it becomes easier to pick up on the small changes that are made to reflect the subject, gender and number. Previously you watched videos which focussed on the singular. In these units, you will hear examples of verbs conjugated in the plural.

26.  Form II Verbs (وَزَنُ فَعَّلَ)

The doubled up sound from the ‘shaddah’ in form II verbs makes it easier to distinguish from the regular form I verbs you have been practising until now. فعّلَ — يُفَعِّلُ These units contain examples of both past and present form II verbs in dialogue. Listen carefully for the vowel changes in the present tense.

27.  4 and 5 Letter Root Words

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28. Forms III and IV  (وَزْنانُ فَاعَلَ وَ أَفْعَلَ)

One of the beautiful things about the Arabic language is its methodical nature! Recognise the pattern for these form III and IV verbs, then identifying them becomes simpler. 

فاعَلَ — يُفاعِلُ

أفْعَلَ — يُفْعِلُ

They are distinguished by the added letter to the root verb in the past tense, and the vowel changes in the present tense.

29. Forms V and VI  (وَزْنانُ تَفَعَّلَ و تَفَاعَلَ)

As we continue to progress in verb forms, you will no doubt be able to identify the similarities in pattern for yourself. 

تَفَعَّلَ — يَتفعَّلُ

تَفاعَل — يَتفاعَلُ

Just as we have seen previously, your ear will become used to hearing the adjustments made for the verb to reflect subject, gender and number. The first step is to recognise and understand the pattern. Now that you are more than halfway through the verb forms, you will have acquired an extensive vocabulary which will support you as you watch these intermediate and higher level videos.

30. Forms VII, VIII and X  (أوزان اِنْفَعَلَ و اِفْتَعَلَ و اِسْتَفْعَلَ)

With verb forms VII, VIII and X, we see more letters being added to the original root verb. 

اِنْفَعَلَ — يَنْفَعِلُ

اِفْتَعَلَ — يَفْتَعِلُ

اِسْتَفْعَلَ — يَسْتَفْعِلُ

As with all previously covered verb forms, recognising their pattern is key to identifying them when you hear them in speech.

31. Form IX and colours (وزن افْعَلَّ والأَلْوَان)

Form IX verbs come with another pattern for you to learn! A number of colours, but not all, are derived from these verbs which helps when you’re listening out for them. These units include a variety of colours for you to add to your growing vocabulary. 

32.  The Imperative Verb (فِعْلُ الأَمْر)

Largely, you will be able to hear and distinguish this category of verbs through the intonation of the person speaking – listen out for a commanding or instructional tone. فِعل أمر , otherwise known as the imperative, is derived from the present tense and resembles the majzoom tense in some respects. Remember, the nature of these verbs means they will only be used in the 2nd person, so think about this as you watch these units.

33.  Relative clauses

Relative pronouns almost behave like adjectives in the way they are selected. They mirror the preceding noun in gender and number. These units include a range of relative pronouns and clauses. 

34.  Realisable ‘if’ Clauses

35.  Hypothetical ‘if’ Clauses

In this unit you will hear the لوْ ….لَـ construction which you know is used to convey ‘if’ for an unfulfilled condition in the past. It therefore makes sense that the verb following لوْ is in the past tense.

36.  Numbers 1-10

Knowing your numbers and being able to count is essential in any language. Arabic numbers have been grouped according to the way the number affects the counted noun grammatically. This will become clearer over the next few chapters. These units provide you with a variety of contexts where numbers are used, from swapping phone numbers to recalling facts. Whilst listening, think about which numbers agree with the counted noun in gender and which do not. 

37.  Numbers : multiples of 10

These are quite easy to recognise because they are formed using the unit number along with the sound plural markers we have encountered before. Whilst watching these units, remember how the number itself changes case and how you have been taught to express the counted noun for multiples of 10.

38.  Numbers 11-99

More number rules! A number of factors to consider with these numbers – is the counted noun singular or plural? What is its case? Is it definite or indefinite? How is gender represented in the counted noun and the number itself? Bear all this in mind to prepare yourself and get maximum benefit whilst watching these videos.   

39.  100+ numbers and dates

In your final chapter on cardinal numbers, we will be looking at calendar dates and larger figures. Watch carefully and consider the order numbers are spoken when expressing the year, for example, when telling someone your date of birth. 

40.  Mamnoo’ minas Sarf (المَمْنُوعُ مِن الصَرْف)

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41.  Elative (الاِسْمُ التَفْضِيل)

The basic elative pattern, which is used to express the superlative or when comparing something, is the same as the pattern you will recognise from masculine colours – أفْعَلُ 

Its final vowel will vary according to the position of the word in the sentence. Depending on its usage, remember the grammatical impact you will expect to hear on the noun following it.

42. Broken plurals pt.2 (جَمْعُ التَكْسِير – الجُزْءُ الثَانِي)

As mentioned before, the structure of the singular word almost entirely changes with some patterns for broken plurals. This can make them harder to spot if you don’t already know the word. In these units, listen out for the following patterns فواعل, أفعلة, أفعُل in addition to some that we have covered before.

43. Maf’ool mutlaq (المَفْعُولُ المُطْلَق)

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44.  Doubled Verbs (الأَفْعالُ المُضَعَّفَة)

The doubled up sound from the shaddah in these verbs will make them easier for you to pick out as you watch these videos. These verbs are conjugated to subject, number and gender like all previous verbs we have covered and require slight adjustments to reflect these things. 

45.  Fractions (الكُسُور)

Understanding fractions in Arabic will help you in maths lessons and expressing time. It also comes into good use when sharing cake and pizza! 

46.  Adverbs & the haal clause (الظُرُوفُ و الحال)

These adverbs are characterised by the fatha tanween sound that you hear at the end of the word. This is fixed. There are, however, other words that display the fatha tanween so to identify the haal clause in particular, remember to check whether the word conveys the sense of how an act occurs.

47. The vocative & the five nouns (النِداءُ و الأسْماءُ الخَمْسَة)

The vocative يا has some very simple rules and is used frequently in dialogue amongst Arabs when addressing one another. It isn’t the cultural norm in the western world but you will definitely hear it a lot in Arabic so don’t be afraid to use it to get the attention of the one you’re speaking to!

48.  Laa naafiya lil jins (لا النافية للجنس)

There are other ways in which لا is used to negate what follows in the sentence but here it is used to categorically negate the meaning. You will be used to hearing a verb following لا but with this rule you will hear a noun ending with a fatha sound. Given what it is trying to convey, you may notice the speaker’s intonation changing. 

49. Tamyeez (تَمْييز)

Similar to what we heard with haal clauses, تمْييز characterised by the fixed fatha tanween sound that you hear at the end of the word – whose purpose is to define or limit something that is ambiguous.

50. Ammaa…fa… (…أمَّا…فَـ)

This simple construction has no grammatical effect on the other words in its sentence. أمّا conveys the meaning “as for…” and is used to bring attention to what is being said or spoken about. It’s explanation follows and is introduced with the particle فَـ

51.  Using Iyyaaka (إيّاكَ)

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