6.3: Common Time Expressions Used with the Past Tense
- Page ID
- 278260
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- Define common time expressions used with the past tense.
- Explain how to use connecting words to describe sequences in past events.
- Apply these expressions to verbs you are studying through examples.
Common Phrases Used With the Past Tense
When using the past tense (الماضي) in Arabic, certain time expressions and phrases help indicate that an action took place in the past. These phrases give context to past actions, whether they happened yesterday, last week, a long time ago, or at a specific moment. Understanding how to use time expressions correctly is essential for narrating past events in Arabic. These expressions provide context for past actions, helping learners express when something happened and how events relate to one another.
-
Time Expressions
These phrases indicate when an action happened, check the table to learn about them:
| Example Sentence | English Meaning | Arabic Phrase |
|---|---|---|
|
ذهبتُ إلى السوق أمس |
Yesterday |
أمس |
|
درستُ اللغة العربية الأسبوع الماضي |
Last week |
الأسبوع الماضي |
|
سافرتُ إلى مصر السنة الماضية |
Last year |
السنة الماضية |
|
زرتُ جدتي قبل يومين |
Before + a time duration |
قبل يومين (قبل + اسم) |
|
خرجتُ من المنزل منذ ساعة |
since / ago |
منذُ |
|
شربتُ القهوة في الصباح |
In the morning |
في الصباح |
|
قرأتُ كتاباً في المساء |
In the evening |
في المساء |
-
Connecting Words Used with the Past Tense
These expressions show the relationship between two past events or describe how past actions happened in sequence.
|
Example Sentence |
English Meaning |
Arabic Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| كنتُ أمشي في الحديقة عندما شاهَدْتُ صديقي |
When |
عندما (عند ما) |
| وصلتُ إلى المنزل ثم تَناوَلْتُ العشاء |
After |
بعد أن |
| غادرتُ قبل أن يبدأ الفيلم |
Before + أنْ + present tense verb |
قبل أن |
|
شاهدتُ هذا الفيلم مِن قِبل |
Previously / Before |
مِنْ قبل |
| كنتُ أكتب الدرس بينما كانت أختي تشاهد التلفاز |
While |
بينما |
| استيقظتُ صباحاً، ثم ذهبتُ إلى العمل |
Then |
ثمَّ |
-
Common Expressions That Indicate Past Actions
These expressions help give extra detail when telling a past story, describing how something happened, or adding emphasis.
|
Example Sentence |
English Meaning |
Arabic Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| كنتُ أمشي في الشارع في ذلك الوقت |
At that time |
في ذلك الوقت |
| درستُ الفرنسية منذ فترة طويلة |
A long time ago |
منذ فترة طويلة |
| ذات يوم، قررتُ أن أقود السيارة وحدي |
One day |
ذات يوم |
| شاهدْتُ صديقي فجأةً في السوق |
Suddenly |
فجأةً |
| لحسن الحظ، وصلَ الطبيب في الوقت المناسب |
Fortunately |
لحسن الحظ |
This section provides students with common examples of past-time expressions with key verbs to strengthen your understanding of past-tense narration in Arabic.
Activities
Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)
Query \(\PageIndex{2}\)
Query \(\PageIndex{3}\)
Check Your Understanding
- Write about your last vacation: Where did you go? What did you do? Use at least three-time expressions and four past-tense verbs from the list.
- Work with a partner. One partner asks a question, and the other responds using the past tense. switch roles after each question.
sample questions:
أين كنتَ أمس؟
ماذا فعلتَ الأسبوع الماضي؟
هل احتفلتَ بعيد ميلادك السنة الماضية؟
متى سافرتَ آخر مرة؟
ماذا تناولتَ في العشاء أمس؟
من زرتَ خلال عطلة الصيف؟
هل درستَ للامتحان قبل يومين؟
- Share notes on your partner’s responses with the class afterward to reinforce comprehension and listening skills.