4.2 Grammar: Phrases and Sentences; Comparatives; Adverbs; Future Tense and Expressing Reason

Grammar (1)

Definite and Indefinite Structures

Study the following examples to distinguish between phrases and sentences.

Activity (4): Choose the Translation

Choose the right translation for each of the following sentences.

Grammar (2)

Comparatives and Superlatives

Study the following examples:

The comparative form in Arabic is derived from the adjective in a predictable pattern as you see in the previous examples. In comparison, you should use the proposition من after the adjective while in the superlative form, you will use the identifier noun like in أحسن مطعم “best restaurant” and أكبر ولاية “biggest state”.

Study the following table on comparative and superlative forms:

Activity (5): Make Comparative Sentences

With your classmates. Create comparative sentences using the following prompts.

Activity (6): Survey: Ask your classmates and then report your findings to class. 

Ask your classmates and then report your findings to class. 

        في رأيك …؟ بالنسبة لك …؟

1. ما هي أحسن جامعة في العالم؟
2. ما هي أبرد ولاية في أمريكا؟
3. ما هو أحسن فيلم هذه السنة؟
4. ما هو أصعب يوم في الأسبوع؟
5. ما هو أحسن مطعم في المدينة؟
6. ما هي أجمل مدينة في أمريكا؟
7. من أحسن ممثل/ ممثلة  actor في هوليوود؟

Grammar (3)

Adverbs

Study the following list of adverbs

Grammar Notes

The adverb in Arabic is usually derived from the adjective by adding a Tanween in the end. They describe the degree, frequency, or manner of the verb. Note the difference between these sentences.

• You note that the adjective describes the noun while the adverb describes the verb.
• Some adverbs describe adjectives as well like جداً “very” or أيضاً “also”.
• Adverbs usually come after adjectives or verbs but some of them can freely move around the sentence like دائماً “always,” أحياناً “sometimes,” and عادةً “usually”.
• The following expressions are equivalent:

Activity (7): Choose the Adjective

Choose the appropriate adjective that best fits in each of the following sentences.

Activity (8): Activities Survey

Find someone who. Survey your classmates to know if they do these activities. Report your findings to class in complete sentences.

Grammar (4)

Future Tense

Future tense in Arabic is formulated by adding the prefix  ســ or the separate word سوف   in front of a present tense verb. They can be used interchangeably. The use of سوف can imply a further distant and unplanned future while the use of سـ can be more immediate future. The negation of the future is formed by adding the word لَن before the present tense while removing the future marker.

Common words and phrases that mark the future tense include:

Practice the verb “will travel” and its negation form:

Activity (9): Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate future verb using the root clues provided between brackets.

Activity (10): Future Plans

Ask your classmates about their future plans then report your findings to class. You can use the following prompts.

Grammar (5)

“Because/Because of” Sentences

To express reason, you can use either لأنّ  or بِسبب. These are used differently as لأنّ “because” should be followed by a complete sentence while بِسبب “because of” is followed by a noun or a nominal phrase but should not be a full sentence. Study the differences between these pairs of sentences:

Grammar Notes

Note that لأنّ merges with the following pronoun, in which case is an object pronoun. Study the following table:

Activity (11): بسبب vs. لأنّ 

Use بسبب or لأنّ to best complete the sentences below.

Activity (12): Make Sentences with لأنّ or بسبب

Write complete sentences using لأنّ or بسبب guided by picture and vocabulary clues.

Picture	Prompt
	1- أصحابي – مكتبة – امتحان
	2-طلاب – فصل – كورونا
	3-السكن – آلاسكا – الثلج
	4-كلية الهندسة – يعمل – مهندس
	5-السفر – فلوريدا – ديزني

Activity (13): Asking Questions with لماذا

Ask your classmates questions in Arabic using لماذا and report your findings to class. You can use the following prompts.

1. Why do you study Arabic?
2. Where do you like to travel? Why?
3. In what area do you live? Do you like it? Why?
4. Where do you like to work? Why?
5. What is the best season in your opinion? Why?
6. Where do you want to live in the future? Why?