Fluentis Start learning free

Learn / Arabic / الفعل الماضي

Intermediate

الفعل الماضي

Talk about completed past actions using the past tense.

Lesson

The past tense (الماضي) describes completed actions. Verbs conjugate with suffixes.

Verb كَتَبَ (kataba — to write):

كتبتُ (katabtu) — I wrote
كتبتَ (katabta) — you (m.) wrote
كتبَ (kataba) — he wrote
كتبنا (katabna) — we wrote

The base past form is the "he" form (3rd person masculine).

Vocabulary

Arabic	English	Example
أمس	Yesterday	ذهبت أمس إلى السوق.
كتبتُ	I wrote	كتبت رسالة.
ذهبتُ	I went	ذهبت إلى المدرسة.
أكلتُ	I ate	أكلت الفطور.
الأسبوع الماضي	Last week	سافرت الأسبوع الماضي.
رأيتُ	I saw	رأيت صديقي.

Pronunciation

Word	Phonetic	Tip
كتبتُ	ka-TAB-tu	The suffix "-tu" marks "I"
ذهبتُ	dha-HAB-tu	The "dh" is like "th" in "this"
أمس	ams	Means "yesterday"

Grammar tip

Root system: Most Arabic verbs are built on three consonants. كتب (k-t-b) relates to writing: كَتَبَ (wrote), كِتاب (book), مَكتَب (office/desk).

Practise this lesson

Create a free Fluentis account to practise الفعل الماضي with interactive exercises, quizzes and an AI conversation tutor.

Start free

← التسوق الروتين اليومي →