ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> <title>The active participle ('3E 'DA'9D) in Egyptian Arabic</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" /> <meta name="description" content="The usage of the active participle in Egyptian Arabic, including examples, how to derive the active participle from verbs, and a table of commonly-used active participles." /> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-29877981-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script> </head> <body> <div id="content"> <div id="head"> <span class="title">Arabic learning resources</span> <ul id="menu"> <li><a href="index.html">home</a></li> <li><a href="vocab.html">vocabulary</a></li> <li><a href="grammar.html">grammar</a></li> <li><a href="faq.html">faq</a></li> <li><a href="about.html">about</a></li> <li><a href="links.html">links</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="body"> <h1>The active participle in Egyptian Arabic</h1><br /> <ul> <li><a href="#intro">Introduction</a></li> <li><a href="#deriv">Derivation of the active participle</a></li> <li><a href="#list">List of commonly-used active participles</a></li> <li><a href="#ex">Examples of usage</a></li></ul><br /> <hr /> <br /><h2><a name="intro"></a>Introduction</h2><br /> <p>Active participles act as adjectives, and so they must agree with their subject. An active participle can be used in several ways: (1) to describe a state of being (understanding; knowing), (2) to describe what someone is doing right now (going, leaving), and (3) to indicate that someone/something is in a state of <i>having done</i> something (having put something somewhere, having lived somewhere for a period of time).</p> <div class="example"><span class="arabic">#F' A'GE 'DDJ 'F* (*BHDG</span> (ana <span class="bold">faahim</span> ill-inta bit'uulu) <br />I <span class="bold">understand</span> what you're saying.<br /> <br /><span class="arabic">GJ F'JE)</span> (heyya <span class="bold">nayma</span>) <br />She is <span class="bold">sleeping</span>.<br /> <br /><span class="arabic">-'77 'D5H1)</span> (<span class="bold">HaaTiT</span> iS-Suura) <br />I've <span class="bold">put up</span> the picture.</div><br /> <p>For some verbs, active participles are not used, while for others, they are used frequently and <span class="italic">must</span> be used instead of the present continuous tense if you want to describe a current action. If you mess up and use an imperfect-tense verb where you should use an active participle (or vice versa), it can change your sentence's meaning completely!</p> <table class="zebra"> <tr class="bottomborder"><td><span class="bold">Active participle</span></td><td></td><td><span class="bold">Imperfect tense</span></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">#F' D'(3) (/D)</span> (ana labsa badla)</td><td rowspan="2">vs.</td><td><span class="arabic">(D(3 (/D)</span> (balbis badla)</td></tr> <tr class="bottomborder odd"><td>I am wearing a suit (right now).</td><td>I wear a suit (on a regular basis).</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">#F' 1'J- 'DF'/J</span> (ana raayiH in-naadi)</td><td rowspan="2">vs.</td><td><span class="arabic">(1H- 'DF'/J</span> (baruuH in-naadi)</td></tr> <tr class="bottomborder"><td>I'm going to the club; I'm on my way there right now.</td><td>I go to the club (regularly).</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">9'ED 'JG</span> <span dir="ltr">(3aamil eih?)</span></td><td rowspan="2">vs.</td><td><span class="arabic">(*9ED 'JG</span> (biti3mel eih?)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>An idiomatic way of asking someone, "What's up?"</td><td>What are you doing (right now)? <span class="italic">-or-</span> What do you do (as a career)?</td></tr></table><br /> <hr /><br /> <h2><a name="deriv"></a>Derivation of the active participle</h2><br /> <p>Active participles are derived in fairly regular ways from their root verbs.</p> <table class="zebra"> <tr class="bottomborder"><td><span class="bold">Type of verb</span></td><td><span class="bold">Passive participle</span></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>Form 1 sound verbs (of the type <span class="arabic">A9D</span> fi3il)</td><td><span class="arabic">A'9D</span> (faa3il)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">91A</span> <span dir="ltr">(3irif) to know</span></span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">9'1A</span> <span dir="ltr">(3aarif) in a state of knowing</span></span></td></tr> <tr class="bottomborder odd"><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">AGE</span> (fihim) to understand</span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">A'GE</span> (faahim) in a state of understanding</span></td></tr> <tr><td>Form 1 geminate/doubled verbs (of the type <span class="arabic">A9Q</span> fa33)</td><td><span class="arabic">A'99</span> (faa3i3)</td></tr> <tr class="bottomborder"><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">-7Q</span> (HaTT) to put</span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">-'77</span> (HaaTiT) in a state of having put</span></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>Form 1 defective verbs (of the type <span class="arabic">A9J</span> fi3i or fa3a)</td><td><span class="arabic">A'9J</span> (faa3i)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">E4J</span> (miai) to go</span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">E'4J</span> (maaai) going</span></td></tr> <tr><td>Form 1 hollow verbs (of the type <span class="arabic">A'9</span> faa3)</td><td><span class="arabic">A'J9</span> (faayi3)</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">1'-</span> (raaH) to go</span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">1'J-</span> (raayiH) going</span></td></tr> <tr><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">:'(</span> (!aab) to be absent</span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">:'J(</span> (!aayib) in a state of being absent</span></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>Most other triliteral verb forms</td><td>Substitute "mi" for the "yi" of the imperfect howwa verb conjugation</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">1HQ-</span> (rawwaH) to go home</span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">E1HQ-</span> (mirawwaH) going home</span></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">3'A1</span> (saafir) to travel</span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">E3'A1</span> (misaafir) traveling</span></td></tr> <tr class="odd bottomborder"><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">'3*FI</span> (istanna) to wait</span></td><td><span class="indented"><span class="arabic">E3*FJ</span> (mistanni) waiting*</span></td></tr> </table><br /> <p><span class="emphasis">* Note:</span> When the imperfect howwa conjugation of the verb in question ends in -a, as with "istanna - yistanna," the ending -a is replaced by -i in the active participle, as with "mistanni."</p> <br /><hr /> <br /><h2><a name="list"></a>List of commonly-used active participles</h2><br /> <p>Generally speaking, the most commonly-used active participles fall into the categories of motion or action (going, coming, leaving, carrying), location (living, staying), and mental state (seeing, understanding, wanting). Here is a table of some of these active participles:</p> <table class="zebra"> <tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td><span class="bold">Masculine singular</span></td><td><span class="bold">Feminine singular</span></td><td><span class="bold">Plural</span></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>coming</td><td><span class="arabic">,'J</span> (gayy)</td><td><span class="arabic">,'J)</span> (gayya)</td><td><span class="arabic">,'JJF</span> (gayyiin)</td></tr> <tr><td>going</td><td><span class="arabic">1'J-</span> (raayiH)</td><td><span class="arabic">1'J-)</span> (rayHa)</td><td><span class="arabic">1'J-JF</span> (rayHiin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>going/walking</td><td><span class="arabic">E'4J</span> (maaai)</td><td><span class="arabic">E'4J)</span> (maaya)</td><td><span class="arabic">E'4JJF</span> (maayiin)</td></tr> <tr><td>leaving</td><td><span class="arabic">.'1,</span> (xaarig)</td><td><span class="arabic">.'1,)</span> (xarga)</td><td><span class="arabic">.'1,JF</span> (xargiin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>returning</td><td><span class="arabic">1',9</span> (raagi3)</td><td><span class="arabic">1',9)</span> (rag3a)</td><td><span class="arabic">1',9JF</span> (rag3iin)</td></tr> <tr><td>going home</td><td><span class="arabic">E1HQ-</span> (mirawwaH)</td><td><span class="arabic">E1HQ-)</span> (mirawwaHa)</td><td><span class="arabic">E1HQ-JF</span> (mirawwaHiin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>traveling</td><td><span class="arabic">E3'A1</span> (misaafir)</td><td><span class="arabic">E3'A1)</span> (misafra)</td><td><span class="arabic">E3'A1JF</span> (misafriin)</td></tr> <tr><td>going up</td><td><span class="arabic">7'D9</span> (Taali3)</td><td><span class="arabic">7'D9)</span> (Tal3a)</td><td><span class="arabic">7'D9JF</span> (Tal3iin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>going down</td><td><span class="arabic">F'2D</span> (naazil)</td><td><span class="arabic">F'2D)</span> (nazla)</td><td><span class="arabic">F'2DJF</span> (nazliin)</td></tr> <tr><td>carrying</td><td><span class="arabic">4'JD</span> (aaayil)</td><td><span class="arabic">4'JD)</span> (aayla)</td><td><span class="arabic">4'JDJF</span> (aayliin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>standing</td><td><span class="arabic">H'BA</span> (waa'if)</td><td><span class="arabic">H'BA)</span> (wa'fa)</td><td><span class="arabic">H'BAJF</span> (wa'fiin)</td></tr> <tr><td>sitting</td><td><span class="arabic">B'9/</span> ('aa3id)</td><td><span class="arabic">B'9/)</span> ('a3da)</td><td><span class="arabic">B'9/JF</span> ('a3diin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>awake</td><td><span class="arabic">5'-J</span> (SaaHi)</td><td><span class="arabic">5'-J)</span> (SaHya)</td><td><span class="arabic">5'-JJF</span> (SaHyiin)</td></tr> <tr><td>sleeping</td><td><span class="arabic">F'JE</span> (naayim)</td><td><span class="arabic">F'JE)</span> (nayma)</td><td><span class="arabic">F'JEJF</span> (naymiin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>taking</td><td><span class="arabic">H'./</span> (waaxid)</td><td><span class="arabic">H'./)</span> (waxda)</td><td><span class="arabic">H'./JF</span> (waxdiin)</td></tr> <tr><td>eating</td><td><span class="arabic">H'CD</span> (waakul)</td><td><span class="arabic">H'CD)</span> (wakla)</td><td><span class="arabic">H'CDJF</span> (wakliin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>waiting</td><td><span class="arabic">E3*FJ</span> (mistanni)</td><td><span class="arabic">E3*FJ)</span> (mistanniyya)</td><td><span class="arabic">E3*FJJF</span> (mistanniyyiin)</td></tr> <tr><td>living (in a place)</td><td><span class="arabic">3'CF</span> (saakin)</td><td><span class="arabic">3'CF)</span> (sakna)</td><td><span class="arabic">3'CFJF</span> (sakniin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>living (in general)</td><td><span class="arabic">9'J4</span> <span dir="ltr">(3aayia)</span></td><td><span class="arabic">9'J4)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3ayaa)</span></td><td><span class="arabic">9'J4JF</span> <span dir="ltr">(3ayaiin)</span></td></tr> <tr><td>remember</td><td><span class="arabic">A'C1</span> (faakir)</td><td><span class="arabic">A'C1)</span> (fakra)</td><td><span class="arabic">A'C1JF</span> (fakriin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>know</td><td><span class="arabic">9'1A</span> <span dir="ltr">(3aarif)</span></td><td><span class="arabic">9'1A)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3arfa)</span></td><td><span class="arabic">9'1AJF</span> <span dir="ltr">(3arfiin)</span></td></tr> <tr><td>understand</td><td><span class="arabic">A'GE</span> (faahim)</td><td><span class="arabic">A'GE)</span> (fahma)</td><td><span class="arabic">A'GEJF</span> (fahmiin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>want</td><td><span class="arabic">9'J2</span> <span dir="ltr">(3aayiz)</span></td><td><span class="arabic">9'J2)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3ayza)</span></td><td><span class="arabic">9'J2JF</span> <span dir="ltr">(3ayziin)</span></td></tr> <tr><td>see</td><td><span class="arabic">4'JA</span> (aaayif)</td><td><span class="arabic">4'JA)</span> (aayfa)</td><td><span class="arabic">4'JAJF</span> (aayfiin)</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>hear</td><td><span class="arabic">3'E9</span> (saami3)</td><td><span class="arabic">3'E9)</span> (sam3a)</td><td><span class="arabic">3'E9JF</span> (sam3iin)</td></tr> </table> <br /><hr /> <br /><h2><a name="ex"></a>Examples of usage</h2><br /> <p>Here are some examples of situations in which you could use the active participle. Note that generally you can leave out the subject pronoun that would go with the active participle, as long as it's clear who you're talking about.</p> <table class="zebra"> <tr><td colspan="2">I'm about to go out to the supermarket, and I tell the people I'm with,</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">#F' E'4J)  9'J2JF -',)</span> (ana maaya, 3ayziin Haaga?)</td><td>I'm going out, do you want anything?</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>Someone asks you how you are, and you say,</td><td></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">*9('F) 4HJ)  #F' H'./) (1/</span> (ta3baana awaya, ana waxda bard)</td><td>A little sick, I've caught a cold.</td></tr> <tr><td>A teacher asks a student a question, and he responds,</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">E4 A'C1 'D,H'(</span> (mia faakir il-gawaab)</td><td>I don't remember the answer.</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>Someone asks you a question, and you reply,</td><td></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">#F' E4 9'1A</span> (ana mia 3aarif)</td><td>I don't know.</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">You're walking down a flight of stairs, and your friend downstairs calls you to ask where you are. You say,</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">F'2D) 9DI 7HD</span> (nazla 3ala Tuul)</td><td>I'm going right down.</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>You're on the way to the movie theater, so you tell someone,</td><td></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">#F' 1'J-) 'D3JFE'</span> (ana rayHa s-senema)</td><td>I'm going to the movie theater.</td></tr> <tr><td>Someone asks you where you live, and you say,</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">#F' 3'CF AJ E51 'D,/J/)</span> (ana saakin fi maSr ig-gediida)</td><td>I live in Heliopolis.</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>Someone asks you where your parents live, and you say,</td><td></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">9'J4JF AJ #E1JC' EF .E3 3FJF</span> <span dir="ltr">(3ayaiin fi amriika min xamas siniin)</span></td><td>They've been living in the US for five years.</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">You see a friend of yours standing somewhere waiting, and you ask her,</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">H'BA)\E3*FJ) GF' EF 'E*I</span> (wa'fa/mistanniyya hina min imta?)</td><td>How long have you been standing/waiting here?</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td>You hear a weird noise and ask someone with you,</td><td></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">3'E9 -',)</span> (saami3 Haaga?)</td><td>Do you hear something?</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">You've been waiting for a friend, and then when you see him arrive:</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">#GH ,'J</span> (aho gayy)</td><td>There he comes.</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td colspan="2">You see something incredible, and say:</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic" dir="rtl">E4 E5/B 9JFJ'!</span> (mia misadda' 3eineiyya!)</td><td>I don't believe my eyes!</td></tr> </table> <br /><p><span class="emphasis">Note:</span> It's common to use <span class="arabic">D3)</span> (lissa), "still," before an active participle to mean that an action has just been completed. You can think of it as saying, "I'm still in the state of just having (done whatever)."</p> <div class="example"><span class="arabic">D3) H'CD)</span> (lissa wakla)<br />I've just eaten.</div> <br /> <br /><span class="back">&larr; <a href="grammar.html">Main grammar page</a></span> <span class="forward"><a href="g_pass.html">The passive particle</a> &rarr;</span> <br /> </div> <div id="footer"> <p><a href="mailto:webmaster%20(at)%20desert-sky%20(dot)%20net">Contact</a></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>