Time (zamān) is introduced in three divisions: past, present, and future. The time associated with an action is central to interpreting verbs.
Word / formMeaning / explanation
كَتَبَhe wrote; past.
يَكْتُبُhe writes; present or habitual.
سَيَكْتُبُhe will write; future.
Arabic has a basic past-tense verb form, whereas the imperfect can refer to present or future time. Particles such as سَـ can make the future meaning explicit.
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Introduction to ʿIlm al-Ṣarf and Basic Terminology
Time (zamān) is introduced in three divisions: past, present, and future. The time associated with an action is central to interpreting verbs.
Word / formMeaning / explanation
كَتَبَhe wrote; past.
يَكْتُبُhe writes; present or habitual.
سَيَكْتُبُhe will write; future.
Arabic has a basic past-tense verb form, whereas the imperfect can refer to present or future time. Particles such as سَـ can make the future meaning explicit.