EmSAT Arabic Flashcards

In Arabic, how do you express future tense?

Answer: By using سـ or سوف before the present tense verb

Future tense in Arabic is expressed by adding 'سـ' (sa-) immediately before the present tense verb for near future, or 'سوف' (sawfa) before it for more distant future. For example: سأكتبُ (I will write), سوف أكتبُ (I shall write).

What is 'المجهول' (al-majhul) in Arabic verbs?

Answer: The passive voice form

الفعل المجهول is the passive voice in Arabic. It is formed by changing the vowel pattern of the verb (u-i pattern: فُعِلَ for past, يُفعَلُ for present). The subject is unknown or omitted.

What is 'السجع' (as-saj') in Arabic rhetoric?

Answer: Rhymed prose — prose with rhyming word endings

السجع is rhymed prose in Arabic — a form of artistic writing where the ends of sentences rhyme with each other, similar to rhyme in poetry but in prose form. It was widely used in classical Arabic literature and the Quran.

Which of the following words contains 'همزة القطع' (hamzat al-qat')?

Answer: أكل

همزة القطع is always pronounced regardless of its position in speech. 'أكل' (he ate) contains hamzat al-qat'. 'اسم' and 'ابن' and 'اتصل' contain hamzat al-wasl which drops in connected speech.

What is 'الفعل الناقص' in Arabic?

Answer: A verb with a weak letter (و or ي) as its last root letter

الفعل الناقص (defective verb) is a verb whose third root letter is a weak letter (و or ي), such as 'دعا' (to call) or 'مشى' (to walk). These verbs undergo spelling changes in conjugation.

What is 'الطباق' (at-tibaq) in Arabic rhetoric?

Answer: Using two opposite words together for contrast

الطباق is the rhetorical device of antithesis — using two contrasting or opposite words together. For example: 'الليل والنهار' (night and day), or 'يُحيي ويُميت' (gives life and causes death).