3.1: Transitioning to CA- Verb tenses

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In MSA, there are additions, known as prefixes and suffixes, added to the root when the verb is conjugated in the present tense. These remain largely the same in CA, but in some dialects (ECA, LCA), بَ is added at the beginning of the verb to indicate habitual action. For example:

MSA: آكُلُ التُفَاحَ في الصَبَاحِ

CA: بَآكُل التُفاحْ في الصَباحْ

Let’s read and listen to more examples of present tense conjugations in MSA and CA:

المعنى Meaning	الفعل المضارع في العامية Present Tense (CA)	الفعل المضارع في الفصحى Present Tense (MSA)	الضمائر المنفصلة Independent Pronouns
I understand	بَافْهَم / بَفْهَم	أَفْهَمُ	أنا
read (m.s.2)	بَتَقرا	تَقْرَأُ	إنتَ (أنتَ MSA)
write (f.s.2)	بِتِكْتِبي	تَكْتُبِين	إنتِ (أنتِ MSA)
he eats	بِيَاكُل	يَأْكُلُ	هو
she plays	بِتِلْعَب	تَلعَبُ	هي
we drink	بِنِشْرَب	نَشْرَبُ	إحنا (نحن MSA)
you (all) cook	بِتُطْبُخُوا	تَطْبُخونَ	إنتو (أنتم MSA)

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): "Islamic Architecture: Indoor Sitting Space" by KinfofColeslaw