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Top Mistakes that Ruin Your Arabic!
Make sure to follow this checklist to avoid the MOST COMMON MISTAKES when it comes to writing sentences in Arabic! These are some of the top mistakes that students repeatedly make and can ruin their efforts, despite using brilliant vocabulary. I'm dedicating this checklist to all the hard -working learners of Arabic out there!
đWriting Checklist:
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â Â Nominal sentence structure: Always starts with a definite noun. What makes a definite noun in Arabic? (Things like: Al- definite article + noun, a proper name, a pronoun, a relative noun, an annexed noun, a demonstrative...)
ۧÙŰÙÙŰ§Ű©Ù ŰŹÙÙ ÙÙÙŰ©Ù.
In English: Life in beautiful. In Arabic, we are literally saying: The + life is beautiful. Notice that we always start a nominal sentence with a definite noun "The life", unlike English, where you can start without "Life"!
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â Use a definite noun to speak about common and known things, places or habits, and likes and dislikes:
ŰŁÙ Ű§Ű±ÙŰłÙ Ű§Ù۱ÙÙÙۧ۶ÙŰ©:
âI play THE sportsâ, literally, and not âI play sportsâ as you would commonly say in English.
ŰŁÙŰÙŰšÙÙ Ű§ÙŰŽÙÙÙÙۧŰȘÙŰ©:
 âI like THE chocolateâ and not âI like chocolateâ as you would commonly say in English.
ŰŁŰ°ÙÙÙŰšÙ Ű„ÙÙ Ű§ÙŰčÙÙ ÙÙ:
âI go to THE workâ and not âI got to workâ as you would commonly say in English.
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â Â Subject-verb agreement
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â Â Verb conjugation (use Reverso conjugate or a similar tool for help with conjugation)
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â  Verb tense: Am I speaking in the present or past for example? Thatâs another common mistakes. Often students start in one tense and then use a different one, throwing off the coherence of the paragraph.
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â ïžÂ Use corresponding particles or prepositions/ phrasal verbs, ex:
ۧÙŰłÙŰȘÙÙ ÙŰȘÙŰčÙŰȘÙ + ŰšÙÙÂ
âis-tam-taâ-tu   +  bi_ + noun (I enjoyed swimming = ۧÙŰłÙŰȘÙÙ ÙŰȘÙŰčÙŰȘÙ ŰšÙۧÙŰłÙÙۚۧŰÙŰ©Ù )
ۧÙŰÙŰȘÙÙÙÙÙŰȘÙ + ŰšÙÙ (I celebrated New Year = ۧÙŰÙŰȘÙÙÙÙÙŰȘÙ ŰšÙ۱ÙŰŁÙŰłÙ Ű§ÙŰłÙÙÙÙŰ©Ù )
Did you know that you can often check that in an Arabic/Arabic dictionary online? It will list the prepositions that go with that verb. Below is a screenshot from a dictionary.
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Check out my video on how to look up words in an Arabic-Arabic dictionary, a skill that's very essential for learners. Find out why it's just as important Arabic-English.
â Â Adjective-noun harmony
Adjectives follow noun in terms of gender and number, as well as definiteness and indefiniteness.
(For non-human plural use a singular feminine noun)
ۧÙŰšÙÙÙŰȘÙ Ű§ÙÙÙŰšÙ۱Ù     The big house
ۧÙŰšÙÙÙŰȘۧÙÙ Ű§ÙÙÙŰšÙ۱ۧÙÙ   The two big houses
ۧÙŰšÙÙÙŰȘÙ Ű§ÙÙÙŰšÙ۱ÙŰ©Â Â Â Â Â The big houses
ۧÙÙÙŰȘÙ Ű·ÙÙÙÙ    The tall boy/lad
ۧÙÙÙŰȘŰ§Ű©Ù Ű·ÙÙÙÙÙŰ©Â Â Â Â Â The tall girl
ۧÙÙÙŰȘÙÙۧÙÙ Ű·ÙÙŰ§Ù Â The tall boys/lads
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â ïžÂ Following common patterns of expression and avoiding literal translation, ex:
Use ŰčÙÙÙŰŻÙÂ only for possession (at someone's possession/ to have or at a certain time or place:
ŰčÙÙÙŰŻÙ Ű§ÙÙ ÙŰșÙŰšÙ [âinda al-maghiib] at sunset
ŰčÙÙÙŰŻÙ Ű§ÙŰ·ÙÙŰšÙŰšÙ [âinda al-Èabiib] at the doctor
BUT NOT for present perfect!!
I have eaten = ŰčÙÙŰŻÙÙ ŰŁÙÙÙÙÙŰȘÙÂ Â [âindii akaltu] = WRONG XXX
! ŰŁÙÙÙÙÙŰȘÙÂ [akaltu]Â Simply use the past
Remember we have two tenses only in Arabic, past and present; the imperative is derived from the present. You can say three if you want to categorize the imperative as a separate category. Bottom line is we don't have the present perfect, neither the continuous! Use the present for the present continuous instead and the past for the present perfect. Don't pull it off with literal translation and make sure you learn the basics of grammar and tenses in Arabic.
I am eating:
ŰŁÙۧ ŰąÙÙÙÙ
['Anaa 'aakulu]
Donât always trust Google translate. For example, a âfun fairâ is translated in Arabic as : Ù ÙŰȘÙŰčÙŰ© ÙÙŰČÙÙÙŰ©Â [mutâah naziihah] đ, which in Arabic is laughable and actually means âhonest funâ!!! A more appropriate term to use would be something like: Ù ÙÙÙ۱ÙŰŹŰ§Ù ŰȘÙ۱ÙÙÙÙÙÙ [mahrajaan tarfiihiyy].
Another funny translation I have come across was for mixed nuts: Ù ÙÙÙŰłÙÙ۱ۧŰȘ Ù ÙŰŽÙÙÙÙÙŰ©   [mukassaraat mushkilah], which means nuts problems or problematic nuts đ , instead of Ù ÙÙÙŰłÙÙ۱ۧŰȘ Ù ÙŰŽÙÙÙÙÙÙŰ©Â [mukassaraat mushakkalah]. The error was simply in the voweling and stress in the second word, which changed the meaning from âmixedâ or something with a variety, to a âproblemâ. Isnât it nuts?! :D
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â Â Final check for structure and coherence. Make sure you always read and review your writing. Quality versus quantity always wins, so does patience and perseverance!
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â Finally and most importantly, one last advice from an Arabic teacher to you. Please, please (Iâm saying it twice!) use a journal and write down your mistakes and teacher feedback if you have one. Otherwise, you will continue to make the same mistakes. Itâs important to record your learning and self reflect on it.
Using a learning journal helps you track your progress over time. By documenting what you learn each day, you can easily see how far you've come and identify areas that need more practice. This not only boosts your motivation but also allows you to set clear and achievable goals.
A journal serves as a valuable resource for revision. When you write down new vocabulary, grammar rules, and sentence structures, you create a personalized reference book. This makes it easier to review and reinforce your knowledge whenever you need to.
Another benefit is the opportunity to analyse your learning patterns. By reflecting on what works well for you and what doesn't, you can adjust your study methods to be more effective. This kind of self-awareness is key to becoming a more efficient and independent learner.
In conclusion, keeping a learning journal is a powerful tool that enhances your language acquisition. It helps you learn from your mistakes, track your progress, and refine your study techniques. So, start journaling today and see the difference it makes in your Arabic learning journey!
If you're a super busy individual, you can collect notes digitally in a picture file or folder on your mobile device and review them when you have time. However, I strongly recommend maintaining a proper journal and writing by hand, as the act of writing is highly effective in training your brain to retain information by linking physical movement with concepts.
Writing by hand engages multiple senses and motor skills, which helps reinforce the information in your brain. This process is known as encoding, where the brain converts the information into a memory trace. When you write, you involve neural circuits that connect the brain's motor regions with the cognitive areas responsible for processing information. This multi-sensory engagement enhances the encoding process, making it easier to transfer information from short-term to long-term memory.
Short-term memory has a limited capacity and can hold information for only a brief period, typically around 20 to 30 seconds. To move information into long-term memory, it must be rehearsed and encoded effectively. Writing by hand aids this process by providing a physical and cognitive rehearsal of the information, which strengthens the memory trace.
Additionally, the act of journaling encourages reflection and deeper processing of the information. This reflection is critical for consolidating memories, which is the process where short-term memories are transformed into long-lasting ones. Over time, repeated review and writing can help reinforce these connections, making it easier to recall the information when needed.
In summary, while collecting notes digitally can be convenient for busy individuals, the practice of writing by hand offers significant cognitive benefits that enhance memory retention and facilitate the transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory.
Download my exclusive learning journal by clicking below:
Other mistakes students commonly make when learning Arabic
To find out more about what other mistakes students commonly make when learning Arabic, more to do with their attitude and approach to learning, please check out my video below:
Mastering Arabic requires dedication and attention to detail, but by being aware of common mistakes and potential pitfalls, you can significantly enhance your learning experience. Remember, every error is an opportunity to improve. Keep a learning journal to track your progress, jot down feedback, and reflect on your journey. This proactive approach will help you avoid repeating mistakes and ensure steady progress. Stay patient, practice consistently, and donât hesitate to seek guidance when needed. With perseverance and the right strategies, you'll find yourself crafting accurate and fluent Arabic sentences in no time. Happy learning!
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