In Arabic, the time of the verb is marked by prefixes and suffixes that differ from present (imperfect) and past (perfect). The present or imperfect is used with actions that are still in progress or with repeated actions, e.g. things that you do everyday or usually, etc.

Examples of the imperfect tense:

أدرس اللغة العربية.

“I study Arabic.”

نسكن في مدينةبغداد.

“We live in Baghdad”

يشاهدون التليفزيون في المساء.

“They watch television in the evening.”

In Arabic, there are not any distinct forms used to distinguish the present simple, present continuous, or present perfect, as the case in English. There is only one form used for the present, and it is marked with prefixes and suffixes that differ from one pronoun to another. The following table gives the appropriate suffixes used to mark the present or imperfect in Arabic.

The present tense in negated by the particle (لا) which must be used immediately before the verb.