For autodidact students exploring Arabic, this lesson focuses on how Arabic expresses the future tense - what English accomplishes with “will”. Unlike English which uses a modal verb, Arabic employs two primary strategies: the particle سَوْفَ (sawfa) for more distant or emphatic future, and the prefix سَـ (sa-) for near or simple future. Both precede present tense verbs to create future meaning.
Understanding these future markers is essential for Arabic communication. Where English says “I will write”, Arabic says سَأَكْتُبُ (sa-aktubu) literally “future-I-write” or سَوْفَ أَكْتُبُ (sawfa aktubu) “future I-write”. The choice between سوف and س often relates to temporal distance or emphasis rather than grammatical necessity.
Link to course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “will” mean in Arabic? Arabic expresses future tense through particles and prefixes rather than a separate verb. The particle سَوْفَ (sawfa) and prefix سَـ (sa-) both convert present tense verbs into future tense, similar to how “will” functions in English.
This lesson presents 15 examples in Section A demonstrating both future markers in various contexts, followed by additional examples in the narrative genre section.
-
سَوْفَ (sawfa) indicates future, often more distant or formal -
سَـ (sa-) prefix indicates future, often nearer or conversational -
Both attach to present tense verbs -
Neither changes for person, gender, or number -
Choice between them is often stylistic
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
40.1 سَأَذْهَبُ (sa-adhhabu) will-I-go إِلَى (ilā) to الْمَدْرَسَةِ (al-madrasati) the-school غَداً (ghadan) tomorrow
40.2 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will يَدْرُسُ (yadrusu) he-studies الطِّبَّ (aṭ-ṭibba) the-medicine فِي (fī) in الْجَامِعَةِ (al-jāmiʿati) the-university
40.3 سَتَكْتُبُ (sa-taktubu) will-she-write رِسَالَةً (risālatan) letter-ACC إِلَى (ilā) to صَدِيقَتِهَا (ṣadīqatihā) friend-her
40.4 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will نُسَافِرُ (nusāfiru) we-travel إِلَى (ilā) to مِصْرَ (miṣr) Egypt الشَّهْرَ (ash-shahra) the-month الْقَادِمَ (al-qādima) the-coming
40.5 سَيَأْكُلُونَ (sa-yaʾkulūna) will-they-eat الْعَشَاءَ (al-ʿashāʾa) the-dinner مَعاً (maʿan) together اللَّيْلَةَ (al-laylata) tonight
40.6 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will أَقْرَأُ (aqraʾu) I-read هَذَا (hādhā) this الْكِتَابَ (al-kitāba) the-book كَامِلاً (kāmilan) complete-ACC
40.7 سَتَصِلُ (sa-taṣilu) will-arrive الطَّائِرَةُ (aṭ-ṭāʾiratu) the-airplane بَعْدَ (baʿda) after سَاعَةٍ (sāʿatin) hour
40.8 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will يَكُونُ (yakūnu) he-is الطَّقْسُ (aṭ-ṭaqsu) the-weather جَمِيلاً (jamīlan) beautiful-ACC غَداً (ghadan) tomorrow
40.9 سَنَبْدَأُ (sa-nabdaʾu) will-we-begin الْعَمَلَ (al-ʿamala) the-work فِي (fī) in السَّاعَةِ (as-sāʿati) the-hour الثَّامِنَةِ (ath-thāminati) the-eighth
40.10 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will تَنْجَحُ (tanjaḥu) you-succeed فِي (fī) in الامْتِحَانِ (al-imtiḥāni) the-exam بِالتَّأْكِيدِ (bi-t-taʾkīdi) with-the-certainty
40.11 سَيَشْتَرِي (sa-yashtarī) will-he-buy سَيَّارَةً (sayyāratan) car-ACC جَدِيدَةً (jadīdatan) new-ACC الْعَامَ (al-ʿāma) the-year الْقَادِمَ (al-qādima) the-coming
40.12 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will أُخْبِرُكَ (ukhbiruka) I-tell-you بِكُلِّ (bi-kulli) with-all شَيْءٍ (shayʾin) thing لَاحِقاً (lāḥiqan) later
40.13 سَتَتَعَلَّمُ (sa-tataʿallamu) will-she-learn اللُّغَةَ (al-lughata) the-language الْعَرَبِيَّةَ (al-ʿarabiyyata) the-Arabic بِسُرْعَةٍ (bi-surʿatin) with-speed
40.14 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will يُصْبِحُونَ (yuṣbiḥūna) they-become أَطِبَّاءَ (aṭibbāʾa) doctors-ACC مَاهِرِينَ (māhirīna) skilled-ACC فِي (fī) in الْمُسْتَقْبَلِ (al-mustaqbali) the-future
40.15 سَأَنْتَظِرُكَ (sa-antaẓiruka) will-I-wait-you أَمَامَ (amāma) in-front-of الْمَكْتَبَةِ (al-maktabati) the-library غَداً (ghadan) tomorrow صَبَاحاً (ṣabāḥan) morning
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
40.1 سَأَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْمَدْرَسَةِ غَداً sa-adhhabu ilā al-madrasati ghadan “I will go to school tomorrow”
40.2 سَوْفَ يَدْرُسُ الطِّبَّ فِي الْجَامِعَةِ sawfa yadrusu aṭ-ṭibba fī al-jāmiʿati “He will study medicine at the university”
40.3 سَتَكْتُبُ رِسَالَةً إِلَى صَدِيقَتِهَا sa-taktubu risālatan ilā ṣadīqatihā “She will write a letter to her friend”
40.4 سَوْفَ نُسَافِرُ إِلَى مِصْرَ الشَّهْرَ الْقَادِمَ sawfa nusāfiru ilā miṣr ash-shahra al-qādima “We will travel to Egypt next month”
40.5 سَيَأْكُلُونَ الْعَشَاءَ مَعاً اللَّيْلَةَ sa-yaʾkulūna al-ʿashāʾa maʿan al-laylata “They will eat dinner together tonight”
40.6 سَوْفَ أَقْرَأُ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ كَامِلاً sawfa aqraʾu hādhā al-kitāba kāmilan “I will read this book completely”
40.7 سَتَصِلُ الطَّائِرَةُ بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ sa-taṣilu aṭ-ṭāʾiratu baʿda sāʿatin “The airplane will arrive in an hour”
40.8 سَوْفَ يَكُونُ الطَّقْسُ جَمِيلاً غَداً sawfa yakūnu aṭ-ṭaqsu jamīlan ghadan “The weather will be beautiful tomorrow”
40.9 سَنَبْدَأُ الْعَمَلَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّامِنَةِ sa-nabdaʾu al-ʿamala fī as-sāʿati ath-thāminati “We will begin work at eight o’clock”
40.10 سَوْفَ تَنْجَحُ فِي الامْتِحَانِ بِالتَّأْكِيدِ sawfa tanjaḥu fī al-imtiḥāni bi-t-taʾkīdi “You will certainly succeed in the exam”
40.11 سَيَشْتَرِي سَيَّارَةً جَدِيدَةً الْعَامَ الْقَادِمَ sa-yashtarī sayyāratan jadīdatan al-ʿāma al-qādima “He will buy a new car next year”
40.12 سَوْفَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَاحِقاً sawfa ukhbiruka bi-kulli shayʾin lāḥiqan “I will tell you everything later”
40.13 سَتَتَعَلَّمُ اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ بِسُرْعَةٍ sa-tataʿallamu al-lughata al-ʿarabiyyata bi-surʿatin “She will learn Arabic quickly”
40.14 سَوْفَ يُصْبِحُونَ أَطِبَّاءَ مَاهِرِينَ فِي الْمُسْتَقْبَلِ sawfa yuṣbiḥūna aṭibbāʾa māhirīna fī al-mustaqbali “They will become skilled doctors in the future”
40.15 سَأَنْتَظِرُكَ أَمَامَ الْمَكْتَبَةِ غَداً صَبَاحاً sa-antaẓiruka amāma al-maktabati ghadan ṣabāḥan “I will wait for you in front of the library tomorrow morning”
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
40.1 سَأَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْمَدْرَسَةِ غَداً sa-adhhabu ilā al-madrasati ghadan
40.2 سَوْفَ يَدْرُسُ الطِّبَّ فِي الْجَامِعَةِ sawfa yadrusu aṭ-ṭibba fī al-jāmiʿati
40.3 سَتَكْتُبُ رِسَالَةً إِلَى صَدِيقَتِهَا sa-taktubu risālatan ilā ṣadīqatihā
40.4 سَوْفَ نُسَافِرُ إِلَى مِصْرَ الشَّهْرَ الْقَادِمَ sawfa nusāfiru ilā miṣr ash-shahra al-qādima
40.5 سَيَأْكُلُونَ الْعَشَاءَ مَعاً اللَّيْلَةَ sa-yaʾkulūna al-ʿashāʾa maʿan al-laylata
40.6 سَوْفَ أَقْرَأُ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ كَامِلاً sawfa aqraʾu hādhā al-kitāba kāmilan
40.7 سَتَصِلُ الطَّائِرَةُ بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ sa-taṣilu aṭ-ṭāʾiratu baʿda sāʿatin
40.8 سَوْفَ يَكُونُ الطَّقْسُ جَمِيلاً غَداً sawfa yakūnu aṭ-ṭaqsu jamīlan ghadan
40.9 سَنَبْدَأُ الْعَمَلَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّامِنَةِ sa-nabdaʾu al-ʿamala fī as-sāʿati ath-thāminati
40.10 سَوْفَ تَنْجَحُ فِي الامْتِحَانِ بِالتَّأْكِيدِ sawfa tanjaḥu fī al-imtiḥāni bi-t-taʾkīdi
40.11 سَيَشْتَرِي سَيَّارَةً جَدِيدَةً الْعَامَ الْقَادِمَ sa-yashtarī sayyāratan jadīdatan al-ʿāma al-qādima
40.12 سَوْفَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَاحِقاً sawfa ukhbiruka bi-kulli shayʾin lāḥiqan
40.13 سَتَتَعَلَّمُ اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ بِسُرْعَةٍ sa-tataʿallamu al-lughata al-ʿarabiyyata bi-surʿatin
40.14 سَوْفَ يُصْبِحُونَ أَطِبَّاءَ مَاهِرِينَ فِي الْمُسْتَقْبَلِ sawfa yuṣbiḥūna aṭibbāʾa māhirīna fī al-mustaqbali
40.15 سَأَنْتَظِرُكَ أَمَامَ الْمَكْتَبَةِ غَداً صَبَاحاً sa-antaẓiruka amāma al-maktabati ghadan ṣabāḥan
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
These are the grammar rules for expressing future tense in Arabic.
Arabic creates future tense by adding particles or prefixes to present tense verbs. The two main future markers are سَوْفَ (sawfa) and سَـ (sa-), both meaning “will” in English.
سَوْفَ (sawfa): -
Separate particle placed before the verb -
Often indicates more distant or emphatic future -
More formal in register -
Does not change for person, gender, or number -
Example: سَوْفَ أَكْتُبُ (sawfa aktubu) “I will write”
سَـ (sa-) prefix: -
Attaches directly to the beginning of the verb -
Often indicates nearer future or simple future intention -
More common in everyday speech -
Becomes part of the verb form -
Example: سَأَكْتُبُ (sa-aktubu) “I will write”
Conjugation with future markers: The verb itself still conjugates for person, gender, and number, but the future marker remains constant: -
سَأَذْهَبُ (sa-adhhabu) “I will go” -
سَتَذْهَبُ (sa-tadhhabu) “you (m.) will go” -
سَتَذْهَبِينَ (sa-tadhhabīna) “you (f.) will go” -
سَيَذْهَبُ (sa-yadhhabu) “he will go” -
سَتَذْهَبُ (sa-tadhhabu) “she will go” -
سَنَذْهَبُ (sa-nadhhabu) “we will go” -
سَتَذْهَبُونَ (sa-tadhhabūna) “you (pl.) will go” -
سَيَذْهَبُونَ (sa-yadhhabūna) “they will go”
Negation of future: To negate future tense, use لَنْ (lan) + subjunctive: -
لَنْ أَذْهَبَ (lan adhhaba) “I will not go” -
Note: لَنْ replaces both سوف and س when negating
Common Mistakes: -
Using سوف with past tense verbs (only use with present) -
Forgetting that س attaches directly to the verb with no space -
Confusing لَنْ (will not) with لَا (does not/do not) -
Using both سوف and س together (choose one)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The distinction between سَوْفَ and سَـ in Modern Standard Arabic reflects subtle differences in temporal distance and formality. In classical texts and formal writing, سَوْفَ appears more frequently, carrying a sense of certainty and emphasis about future events. In contemporary usage, especially in journalism and everyday communication, the سَـ prefix dominates due to its brevity and efficiency.
Regional dialects handle future tense differently. Egyptian Arabic uses ḥa- (ح), Levantine uses raḥ (رح) or b- (ب), and Gulf dialects use various forms. Understanding MSA future markers provides a foundation for recognizing these dialectal variations.
In religious contexts, particularly in the Quran, سَوْفَ often appears in divine promises or warnings, lending it a sense of gravity and certainty. The phrase إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّه (in shāʾ Allah) “if God wills” frequently accompanies future statements in both formal and informal Arabic, reflecting cultural attitudes toward uncertainty and divine providence.
The Arabic conceptualization of future differs from English in its explicit acknowledgment of uncertainty. While English “will” can express both intention and prediction, Arabic speakers often qualify future statements with phrases acknowledging that future events ultimately depend on factors beyond human control.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From “ألف ليلة وليلة” (Alf Layla wa-Layla - One Thousand and One Nights), traditional compilation:
F-A: Interlinear Analysis
قَالَتْ (qālat) said-she شَهْرَزَادُ (Shahrazādu) Scheherazade سَوْفَ (sawfa) will أَحْكِي (aḥkī) I-narrate لَكَ (laka) to-you حِكَايَةً (ḥikāyatan) story-ACC عَجِيبَةً (ʿajībatan) wonderful-ACC
وَلَكِنْ (wa-lākin) and-but سَتَنْتَظِرُ (sa-tantaẓiru) will-you-wait حَتَّى (ḥattā) until اللَّيْلَةِ (al-laylati) the-night الْقَادِمَةِ (al-qādimati) the-coming
فَسَوْفَ (fa-sawfa) so-will تَسْمَعُ (tasmaʿu) you-hear مَا (mā) what لَمْ (lam) not تَسْمَعْ (tasmaʿ) you-heard مِثْلَهُ (mithlahu) like-it مِنْ (min) from قَبْلُ (qablu) before
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
قَالَتْ شَهْرَزَادُ: سَوْفَ أَحْكِي لَكَ حِكَايَةً عَجِيبَةً، وَلَكِنْ سَتَنْتَظِرُ حَتَّى اللَّيْلَةِ الْقَادِمَةِ، فَسَوْفَ تَسْمَعُ مَا لَمْ تَسْمَعْ مِثْلَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ. “Scheherazade said: I will narrate to you a wonderful story, but you will wait until tomorrow night, for you will hear what you have never heard the like of before.”
F-C: Original Script
قَالَتْ شَهْرَزَادُ: سَوْفَ أَحْكِي لَكَ حِكَايَةً عَجِيبَةً، وَلَكِنْ سَتَنْتَظِرُ حَتَّى اللَّيْلَةِ الْقَادِمَةِ، فَسَوْفَ تَسْمَعُ مَا لَمْ تَسْمَعْ مِثْلَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ. qālat Shahrazādu: sawfa aḥkī laka ḥikāyatan ʿajībatan, wa-lākin sa-tantaẓiru ḥattā al-laylati al-qādimati, fa-sawfa tasmaʿu mā lam tasmaʿ mithlahu min qablu.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This passage demonstrates both future markers: سَوْفَ appears twice for emphasis and dramatic effect, while سَـ appears once in the compound future construction. The repetition of سوف creates suspense, appropriate to Scheherazade’s storytelling tradition. Note the use of لَمْ + jussive (tasmaʿ) for past negation contrasting with the future promises.
F-E: Literary Context
The One Thousand and One Nights exemplifies classical Arabic narrative style where future tense creates suspense and maintains narrative tension. Scheherazade’s strategic use of future promises kept the sultan engaged night after night, making the future tense literally life-saving in this context.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
40.16 سَيَزُورُ (sa-yazūru) will-visit الرَّئِيسُ (ar-raʾīsu) the-president الْمَدِينَةَ (al-madīnata) the-city يَوْمَ (yawma) day الْخَمِيسِ (al-khamīsi) the-Thursday
40.17 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will تُفْتَحُ (tuftaḥu) be-opened الْمَدْرَسَةُ (al-madrasatu) the-school الْجَدِيدَةُ (al-jadīdatu) the-new الشَّهْرَ (ash-shahra) the-month الْقَادِمَ (al-qādima) the-coming
40.18 سَتُعْلِنُ (sa-tuʿlinu) will-announce الْحُكُومَةُ (al-ḥukūmatu) the-government عَنْ (ʿan) about خُطَّةٍ (khuṭṭatin) plan جَدِيدَةٍ (jadīdatin) new لِلتَّعْلِيمِ (li-t-taʿlīmi) for-the-education
40.19 سَيَبْدَأُ (sa-yabdaʾu) will-begin الْمُؤْتَمَرُ (al-muʾtamaru) the-conference الدَّوْلِيُّ (ad-dawliyyu) the-international فِي (fī) in الْعَاصِمَةِ (al-ʿāṣimati) the-capital قَرِيباً (qarīban) soon
40.20 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will يُشَارِكُ (yushāriku) participate أَكْثَرُ (aktharu) more مِنْ (min) than مِئَةِ (miʾati) hundred عَالِمٍ (ʿālimin) scientist فِي (fī) in الْمُؤْتَمَرِ (al-muʾtamari) the-conference
40.21 سَتُوَقِّعُ (sa-tuwaqqiʿu) will-sign الدَّوْلَتَانِ (ad-dawlatāni) the-two-countries اتِّفَاقِيَّةَ (ittifāqiyyata) agreement تِجَارِيَّةً (tijāriyyatan) commercial-ACC مُهِمَّةً (muhimmatan) important-ACC
40.22 سَيُنَاقِشُ (sa-yunāqishu) will-discuss الْوُزَرَاءُ (al-wuzarāʾu) the-ministers الْمَشَارِيعَ (al-mashārīʿa) the-projects الاقْتِصَادِيَّةَ (al-iqtiṣādiyyata) the-economic غَداً (ghadan) tomorrow
40.23 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will تَصِلُ (taṣilu) arrive الْمُسَاعَدَاتُ (al-musāʿadātu) the-aids الطِّبِّيَّةُ (aṭ-ṭibbiyyatu) the-medical إِلَى (ilā) to الْمَنَاطِقِ (al-manāṭiqi) the-areas الْمُتَضَرِّرَةِ (al-mutaḍarrirati) the-affected
40.24 سَتَبُثُّ (sa-tabuththu) will-broadcast الْقَنَاةُ (al-qanātu) the-channel بَرْنَامَجاً (barnāmajan) program-ACC خَاصّاً (khāṣṣan) special-ACC عَنِ (ʿani) about الْحَدَثِ (al-ḥadathi) the-event
40.25 سَيَحْضُرُ (sa-yaḥḍuru) will-attend آلَافُ (ālāfu) thousands الزُّوَّارِ (az-zuwwāri) the-visitors-GEN الْمَعْرِضَ (al-maʿriḍa) the-exhibition الدَّوْلِيَّ (ad-dawliyya) the-international
40.26 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will تُطْلِقُ (tuṭliqu) launch الشَّرِكَةُ (ash-sharikatu) the-company مُنْتَجَهَا (muntajahā) product-her الْجَدِيدَ (al-jadīda) the-new الأُسْبُوعَ (al-usbūʿa) the-week الْمُقْبِلَ (al-muqbila) the-approaching
40.27 سَتَسْتَمِرُّ (sa-tastamirru) will-continue الْمُفَاوَضَاتُ (al-mufāwaḍātu) the-negotiations لِعِدَّةِ (li-ʿiddati) for-several أَيَّامٍ (ayyāmin) days إِضَافِيَّةٍ (iḍāfiyyatin) additional
40.28 سَيُعْرَضُ (sa-yuʿraḍu) will-be-shown الْفِيلْمُ (al-fīlmu) the-film الْوَثَائِقِيُّ (al-wathāʾiqiyyu) the-documentary عَلَى (ʿalā) on التِّلْفِزْيُونِ (at-tilfīzyūni) the-television اللَّيْلَةَ (al-laylata) tonight
40.29 سَوْفَ (sawfa) will يُؤَثِّرُ (yuʾaththiru) affect هَذَا (hādhā) this الْقَرَارُ (al-qarāru) the-decision عَلَى (ʿalā) on مَلَايِينِ (malāyīni) millions النَّاسِ (an-nāsi) the-people-GEN
40.30 سَتَنْتَهِي (sa-tantahī) will-end فَتْرَةُ (fatratu) period التَّسْجِيلِ (at-tasjīli) the-registration يَوْمَ (yawma) day الْجُمُعَةِ (al-jumuʿati) the-Friday الْقَادِمِ (al-qādimi) the-coming
Part B: Natural Sentences
40.16 سَيَزُورُ الرَّئِيسُ الْمَدِينَةَ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ sa-yazūru ar-raʾīsu al-madīnata yawma al-khamīsi “The president will visit the city on Thursday”
40.17 سَوْفَ تُفْتَحُ الْمَدْرَسَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ الشَّهْرَ الْقَادِمَ sawfa tuftaḥu al-madrasatu al-jadīdatu ash-shahra al-qādima “The new school will be opened next month”
40.18 سَتُعْلِنُ الْحُكُومَةُ عَنْ خُطَّةٍ جَدِيدَةٍ لِلتَّعْلِيمِ sa-tuʿlinu al-ḥukūmatu ʿan khuṭṭatin jadīdatin li-t-taʿlīmi “The government will announce a new plan for education”
40.19 سَيَبْدَأُ الْمُؤْتَمَرُ الدَّوْلِيُّ فِي الْعَاصِمَةِ قَرِيباً sa-yabdaʾu al-muʾtamaru ad-dawliyyu fī al-ʿāṣimati qarīban “The international conference will begin in the capital soon”
40.20 سَوْفَ يُشَارِكُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مِئَةِ عَالِمٍ فِي الْمُؤْتَمَرِ sawfa yushāriku aktharu min miʾati ʿālimin fī al-muʾtamari “More than a hundred scientists will participate in the conference”
40.21 سَتُوَقِّعُ الدَّوْلَتَانِ اتِّفَاقِيَّةَ تِجَارِيَّةً مُهِمَّةً sa-tuwaqqiʿu ad-dawlatāni ittifāqiyyata tijāriyyatan muhimmatan “The two countries will sign an important commercial agreement”
40.22 سَيُنَاقِشُ الْوُزَرَاءُ الْمَشَارِيعَ الاقْتِصَادِيَّةَ غَداً sa-yunāqishu al-wuzarāʾu al-mashārīʿa al-iqtiṣādiyyata ghadan “The ministers will discuss the economic projects tomorrow”
40.23 سَوْفَ تَصِلُ الْمُسَاعَدَاتُ الطِّبِّيَّةُ إِلَى الْمَنَاطِقِ الْمُتَضَرِّرَةِ sawfa taṣilu al-musāʿadātu aṭ-ṭibbiyyatu ilā al-manāṭiqi al-mutaḍarrirati “Medical aid will reach the affected areas”
40.24 سَتَبُثُّ الْقَنَاةُ بَرْنَامَجاً خَاصّاً عَنِ الْحَدَثِ sa-tabuththu al-qanātu barnāmajan khāṣṣan ʿani al-ḥadathi “The channel will broadcast a special program about the event”
40.25 سَيَحْضُرُ آلَافُ الزُّوَّارِ الْمَعْرِضَ الدَّوْلِيَّ sa-yaḥḍuru ālāfu az-zuwwāri al-maʿriḍa ad-dawliyya “Thousands of visitors will attend the international exhibition”
40.26 سَوْفَ تُطْلِقُ الشَّرِكَةُ مُنْتَجَهَا الْجَدِيدَ الأُسْبُوعَ الْمُقْبِلَ sawfa tuṭliqu ash-sharikatu muntajahā al-jadīda al-usbūʿa al-muqbila “The company will launch its new product next week”
40.27 سَتَسْتَمِرُّ الْمُفَاوَضَاتُ لِعِدَّةِ أَيَّامٍ إِضَافِيَّةٍ sa-tastamirru al-mufāwaḍātu li-ʿiddati ayyāmin iḍāfiyyatin “The negotiations will continue for several additional days”
40.28 سَيُعْرَضُ الْفِيلْمُ الْوَثَائِقِيُّ عَلَى التِّلْفِزْيُونِ اللَّيْلَةَ sa-yuʿraḍu al-fīlmu al-wathāʾiqiyyu ʿalā at-tilfīzyūni al-laylata “The documentary film will be shown on television tonight”
40.29 سَوْفَ يُؤَثِّرُ هَذَا الْقَرَارُ عَلَى مَلَايِينِ النَّاسِ sawfa yuʾaththiru hādhā al-qarāru ʿalā malāyīni an-nāsi “This decision will affect millions of people”
40.30 سَتَنْتَهِي فَتْرَةُ التَّسْجِيلِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ الْقَادِمِ sa-tantahī fatratu at-tasjīli yawma al-jumuʿati al-qādimi “The registration period will end next Friday”
Part C: Target Language Text Only
40.16 سَيَزُورُ الرَّئِيسُ الْمَدِينَةَ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ sa-yazūru ar-raʾīsu al-madīnata yawma al-khamīsi
40.17 سَوْفَ تُفْتَحُ الْمَدْرَسَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ الشَّهْرَ الْقَادِمَ sawfa tuftaḥu al-madrasatu al-jadīdatu ash-shahra al-qādima
40.18 سَتُعْلِنُ الْحُكُومَةُ عَنْ خُطَّةٍ جَدِيدَةٍ لِلتَّعْلِيمِ sa-tuʿlinu al-ḥukūmatu ʿan khuṭṭatin jadīdatin li-t-taʿlīmi
40.19 سَيَبْدَأُ الْمُؤْتَمَرُ الدَّوْلِيُّ فِي الْعَاصِمَةِ قَرِيباً sa-yabdaʾu al-muʾtamaru ad-dawliyyu fī al-ʿāṣimati qarīban
40.20 سَوْفَ يُشَارِكُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مِئَةِ عَالِمٍ فِي الْمُؤْتَمَرِ sawfa yushāriku aktharu min miʾati ʿālimin fī al-muʾtamari
40.21 سَتُوَقِّعُ الدَّوْلَتَانِ اتِّفَاقِيَّةَ تِجَارِيَّةً مُهِمَّةً sa-tuwaqqiʿu ad-dawlatāni ittifāqiyyata tijāriyyatan muhimmatan
40.22 سَيُنَاقِشُ الْوُزَرَاءُ الْمَشَارِيعَ الاقْتِصَادِيَّةَ غَداً sa-yunāqishu al-wuzarāʾu al-mashārīʿa al-iqtiṣādiyyata ghadan
40.23 سَوْفَ تَصِلُ الْمُسَاعَدَاتُ الطِّبِّيَّةُ إِلَى الْمَنَاطِقِ الْمُتَضَرِّرَةِ sawfa taṣilu al-musāʿadātu aṭ-ṭibbiyyatu ilā al-manāṭiqi al-mutaḍarrirati
40.24 سَتَبُثُّ الْقَنَاةُ بَرْنَامَجاً خَاصّاً عَنِ الْحَدَثِ sa-tabuththu al-qanātu barnāmajan khāṣṣan ʿani al-ḥadathi
40.25 سَيَحْضُرُ آلَافُ الزُّوَّارِ الْمَعْرِضَ الدَّوْلِيَّ sa-yaḥḍuru ālāfu az-zuwwāri al-maʿriḍa ad-dawliyya
40.26 سَوْفَ تُطْلِقُ الشَّرِكَةُ مُنْتَجَهَا الْجَدِيدَ الأُسْبُوعَ الْمُقْبِلَ sawfa tuṭliqu ash-sharikatu muntajahā al-jadīda al-usbūʿa al-muqbila
40.27 سَتَسْتَمِرُّ الْمُفَاوَضَاتُ لِعِدَّةِ أَيَّامٍ إِضَافِيَّةٍ sa-tastamirru al-mufāwaḍātu li-ʿiddati ayyāmin iḍāfiyyatin
40.28 سَيُعْرَضُ الْفِيلْمُ الْوَثَائِقِيُّ عَلَى التِّلْفِزْيُونِ اللَّيْلَةَ sa-yuʿraḍu al-fīlmu al-wathāʾiqiyyu ʿalā at-tilfīzyūni al-laylata
40.29 سَوْفَ يُؤَثِّرُ هَذَا الْقَرَارُ عَلَى مَلَايِينِ النَّاسِ sawfa yuʾaththiru hādhā al-qarāru ʿalā malāyīni an-nāsi
40.30 سَتَنْتَهِي فَتْرَةُ التَّسْجِيلِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ الْقَادِمِ sa-tantahī fatratu at-tasjīli yawma al-jumuʿati al-qādimi
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
The news report genre demonstrates formal usage of future tense markers. Notice the prevalence of passive voice constructions with future tense (سَيُعْرَضُ “will be shown”, سَوْفَ تُفْتَحُ “will be opened”), which is characteristic of Arabic news writing. The سَـ prefix appears more frequently in news reports for its efficiency, while سَوْفَ is reserved for emphasis or when discussing more significant future events.
The dual form appears in example 40.21 (الدَّوْلَتَانِ “the two countries”), showing how future markers work with all number forms. Many examples use the passive voice, formed by changing the vowel pattern while maintaining the future marker. Time expressions (غَداً “tomorrow”, قَرِيباً “soon”, الأُسْبُوعَ الْمُقْبِلَ “next week”) frequently accompany future statements in news contexts.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Latinum Institute has been creating language learning materials since 2006, focusing on making classical and modern languages accessible to autodidact learners. This Arabic course follows a systematic approach based on the 1000-word universal vocabulary list, ensuring comprehensive coverage of essential linguistic concepts.
Our methodology employs interlinear glossing—presenting word-by-word translations with grammatical annotations—to make Arabic script immediately accessible while building understanding of the language’s structure. This approach allows learners to engage with authentic texts from the earliest lessons.
Each lesson is self-contained, drawing from the full breadth of Arabic vocabulary to create natural, meaningful examples. The construed text method, proven effective for classical language learning, adapts perfectly to Arabic’s rich morphological system.
For more lessons and resources, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
See our reviews at: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
The course acknowledges Arabic’s diglossia—the distinction between Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) taught here and regional dialects. While focusing on MSA provides access to formal communication, media, and literature across the Arab world, learners should be aware that spoken Arabic varies significantly by region.
Understanding Arabic opens doors to a rich literary tradition spanning over 1400 years, from pre-Islamic poetry through contemporary literature. It provides access to primary sources in fields ranging from mathematics and astronomy to philosophy and medicine, where Arabic scholarship preserved and expanded human knowledge during the medieval period.
---