Imperfect Tense: Third Person Masculine

Arabic verbs are like Lego sets. You start with a basic three-letter root. Then you add specific pieces to show who is acting. For the third person masculine, the magic piece is the letter ya (ي). This letter always goes at the very start. It acts like a uniform. It tells everyone that a male subject is performing the action. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. The ya is the green light for "He" or "They." Without it, your sentence just won't move. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired, so don't sweat it too much!

1. 1Building these verbs is a simple four-step process.
2. 2Find your three-letter root, like k-t-b (to write).
3. 3Place the prefix ya- (يـَ) at the beginning.
4. 4Put a sukūn (zero vowel) on the first root letter.
5. 5Add a vowel to the second root letter.
6. 6For a single person ("He"), the verb ends with a damma (u sound). For example, yaktubu. For a group ("They"), you add ūna (ـونَ) to the end. This creates yaktubūna. It is like adding an "s" in English, but much more rhythmic. Think of the -ūna ending like a party invitation. It is only for the plural group!

Use this pattern for anything happening in the present moment. If you see a man drinking coffee, use yashrabu. Use it for things that happen regularly. If your friend George runs every morning, use yajrī. It is perfect for professional settings too. Imagine a job interview. You want to describe what your previous boss does. You would say huwa yudīru (He manages). It also works for general facts. "The sun rises" uses this same masculine ya- prefix. It is your go-to for storytelling about others.

Do not use this for completed actions. If the man already finished his coffee, you need the Past Tense. Do not use the ya- prefix for yourself. If you are the one drinking, the prefix changes to a-. Also, avoid this prefix for women. If a lady is performing the action, the ya- usually turns into a ta-. It is a common trip-up. Think of it like wearing the wrong shoes to a wedding. It still works, but people will notice! Finally, don't use it for commands. Telling someone "Drink!" is a different structure entirely.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the ya- prefix entirely. Beginners often just say the root. That sounds like "He write" instead of "He writes." Another classic error is dropping the n in the plural ūna. You might hear people say yaktubū, but in formal Arabic, that n is vital. Don't mix up the middle vowel either. Some verbs use a, some use i, and some use u. It feels like a guessing game at first. Don't worry, your ear will get used to the music of the language. Even university students get these vowels mixed up sometimes!

Let's compare ya- (He) with ta- (She/You). They look very similar on paper. The only difference is one tiny dot or two. yaktubu is "He writes." taktubu is "She writes" or "You write." It is a small change with a huge impact. Also, compare it to the Past Tense. In the past, the "who" information comes at the end. In the present (Imperfect), the "who" information comes at the start. It is like the difference between a trailer and the end credits of a movie. One tells you what is coming; the other tells you what happened.