In previous posts, I explained two cases of the present/imperfect tense. The default case in which present tense verbs take short /o/ (الضمة) which is called (المضارع المرفوع), and the subjunctive (المضارع المنصوب); in which verbs take short /a/ (الفتحة), and if the verb ends in one of suffixes (ون، ان، ين), the final (ن) is deleted.

The final case is called the jussive (المضارع المجزوم); in which verbs take no vowels at all (السكون), and if the verb ends in one of suffixes (ون، ان، ين), the final (ن) is deleted.

This case comes when the present tense verb is preceded by one of two particles:

لم = ‘did not’ used to negate the past tense.

لا = ‘do not’ expresses prohibition.

لم أدرسْ اللغة العربية.

“I did not study Arabic.”

لا تعملْ في المساء حتى تستطيعَ أن تدرسَ في النهار.

“Do not work in the evening in order to be able to study during day time!”

It should be noted that there are 2 usages of (لا), the first one is for negation, and after it the verb is in the imperfect case (المضارع المرفوع); and (لا) for prohibition which means ‘don’t’, and present tense verbs are in the jussive case (المضارع المجزوم) after it.

الأصدقاء لم يسافروا إلى مصر في العام الماضي؟

“The friends did not travel to Egypt last year?”

لا تتأخروا على الموعد.

“Do not be late for the appointment!”