Impersonal Verbs and Expressions in Arabic

Level I 1. Abjad Writing System 2. Romanization of the Arabic Abjad 3. Cursive Features of Arabic Letters 4. Vowels in Arabic 5. Stressed Consonants 6. Hamzah 7. Open-T vs. Tied-T 8. Syllable Stress in Arabic Level II 1. The Definite Article الـ (al) 2. Double Vowel Ending – تَـنْويـن (Tanwīn) 3. Gender 4. Personal Pronouns 5. Word Patterns in Arabic 6. Introduction to Grammatical Cases 7. Dual & Plural Level III 1. Sentences 2. Demonstrative Pronouns 3. Phrases 4. Grammatical Cases of Nouns & Adjectives 5. Past Tense 6. Adjectives 7. Cardinal Numbers Level IV 1. Present Tense 2. Negation 3. Prepositions 4. Interrogatives 5. Relative Pronouns 6. Conjunctions 7. Active & Passive Participles 8. Ordinal Numbers Level V 1. Giving Commands & The Imperative 2. Irregular Verbs I 3. Verbal Nouns 4. Degrees of Comparison 5. Special-Use Particles, Nouns, & Pronouns 6. Progressive & Perfect Tenses 7. Nouns of Place, Instrument, & Intensity 8. Adverbs Level VI 1. Passive Voice 2. Irregular Verbs II 3. Impersonal Verbs & Expressions 4. إِنَّ (’inna), كـانَ (kāna), كـادَ (kāda) & ظَـنَّ (ẓanna) 5. Specification & Disambiguation 6. The Five Nouns 7. Circumstantial Adverb 8. Absolute Object & Causal Object

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In this lesson, we examine some common impersonal verbs and expressions in Arabic.

Impersonal Expressions Using عَـلـى (‘alā) + attached pronoun

One common impersonal expression in Arabic is formed using the preposition عَـلـى (‘alā) ‘on,’ suffixed by an attached pronoun and followed by either a verbal noun or أَنْ (‘an) + present verb. The expression can be translated as “it is incumbent upon me/him/her/us/them to ….”

عَـلـى (‘alā) + attached pronoun +	Verbal noun (or)
	أَنْ + present verb

When the preposition عَـلـى (‘alā) ‘on’ is suffixed by an attached pronoun, it is written as follows:

	Singular	Dual	Plural
1^st person (m/f)	عَـلَـيَّ ‘alayya	عَـلَـيْـنـا ‘alaynā
2^nd person masculine	عَـلَـيْـكَ ‘alayka	عَـلَـيْـكُـما ‘alaykumā	عَـلَـيْـكُـم ‘alaykum
2^nd person feminine	عَـلَـيْـكِ ‘alayki	عَـلَـيْـكُـما ‘alaykumā	عَـلَـيْـكُـنَّ ‘alaykunna
3^rd person masculine	عَـلَـيْـهِ ‘alayhi	عَـلَـيْـهِـمـا ‘alayhimā	عَـلَـيْـهِـم ‘alayhim
3^rd person feminine	عَـلَـيْـهـا ‘alayhā	عَـلَـيْـهِـمـا ‘alayhimā	عَـلَـيْـهِـنَّ ‘alayinna

Here are some examples:

.عَـلَـيْـكَ الاعْـتِـمـادُ (أَنْ تَـعْـتَـمِـدَ) عَـلـى نَـفْـسِـكَ
‘alayka -l-i‘timādu (’an ta‘tamida) ‘alā nafsik.
You should rely on yourself.

.عَـلَـيْـهِ أَنْ يَـكـونَ أَكْـثَـرَ حَـذَرًا
‘alayhi ’an yakūna ’akthara ḥadharan.
He should bemore careful.

.عَـلَـيْـنـا الْـحِـفـاظُ (أَنْ نُـحـافِـظَ) عَـلـى نَـظـافَـةِ الْـمَـديـنَـةِ
‘alaynā -l-ḥifāẓu (’an nuḥāfiẓa) ‘alā naẓāfati -l-madīnah.
We should maintain the cleanliness of the city.

Other Impersonal Verbs & Expressions in Arabic

Other common impersonal verbs and expressions in Arabic include:

Verb or Expression	Example
مِن اللّازِمِ min al-lāzimi it is necessary	.مِـن اللّازِمِ شُـرْبُ مـا يَـكْـفـي مِـنَ الْـمـاءِ min al-lāzimi shurbu mā yakfī min (a) -l-mā’. *It is necessary* to drink enough water.
مِن الواجِبِ min al-wājibi it is necessary	.مِـن الـواجِـبِ أَنْ تَـصِـلَ فـي الْـوَقْـتِ الْـمُـحَـدَّدِ min al-wājibi ’an taṣila fī -l-waqti -l-muḥaddad. *It is necessary* that you arrive at the specified time.
مِن الضَّرورِيِّ min aḍ-ḍarūriyyi it is necessary	.مِـن الـضَّـرورِيِّ اِتِّـخـاذُ الْـخُـطْـوَةِ الـتَّـالِـيَـةِ min aḍ–ḍarūriyyi -ttikhādhu -l-khuṭwati -t-tāliyah. *It is necessary* to take the next step.
يَـجِـبُ yajibu must, should	.يَـجِـبُ (عَـلَـيْـكَ) أَنْ تَـنـامَ مُـبَـكِّـرًا yajibu (‘alayka) ’an tanāma mubakkiran. *You should* sleep early.
يَـنْـبَـغـي yanbaghī must, should	.يَـنْـبَـغـي أَنْ نَـدْرُسَ الاقْـتِـراحَ بِـعِـنـايَـةٍ yanbaghī ’an nadrusa -l-iqtirāḥa bi-‘ināyah. *We should* study the proposal carefully.
يُـفْـتَـرَضُ yuftaraḍu it is supposed	.يُـفْـتَـرَضُ أَنْ يَـكـونَ الْـمَـحَـلُّ مَـفْـتـوحًـا الْآنَ yuftaraḍu ’an yakūna -l-maḥallu maftūḥan (i) -l-’ān. *It is supposed* that the shop is open now.
مِـنَ الْـمَـفْـروضِ min al-mafrūḍi it is supposed	.مِـنَ الْـمَـفْـروضِ أَنْ نَـجْـتَـمِـعَ الْـيَـوْمَ min al-mafrūḍi ’an najtami‘a -l-yawm. *It is supposed* that we meet today.
مِـنَ الْـمَـفْـتَـرَضِ min al-muftaraḍi it is supposed	.مِـنَ الْـمُـفْـتَـرَضِ أَنْ تَـهْـدَأَ الْأُمـورُ min al-muftaraḍi ’an tahda’a -l-’umūr. *It is supposed* that things will calm down.
يُـمْـكِـنُ yumkinu it is possible	.يُـمْـكِـنُ أَنْ تَـتَـغَـيَّـرَ الـظُّـروف yumkinu ’an tataghayyara -ẓ-ẓurūf. *It is possible* that the circumstances will change.
مِـن الْـمُـمْـكِـنِ min al-mumkini it is possible	.مِـن الْـمُـمْـكِـنِ أَنْ تَـعْـمَـلَ عَـنْ بُـعْـدٍ min al-mumkini ’an ta‘mala ‘an bu‘d. *It is possible* for you to work remotely.
مِـن الْـمُـرَجَّـحِ min al-murajjaḥi it is likely	.مِـن الْـمُـرَجَّـحِ أَنْ تَـنْـتَـهـيَ الْـمَـعْـرَكَـةُ قَـريـبًـا min al-murajjaḥi ’an tantahiya -l-ma‘rakatu qarīban. *It is likely* that the battle will end soon.
مِن الـمُحْـتَـمَـلِ min al-muḥtamali it is probable	.مِـن الـمُحْـتَـمَـلِ أَنْ تُـمْـطِـرَ غَـدًا min al-muḥtamali ’an tumṭira ghadan. *It is probable* that it will rain tomorrow.
مِـن الْـمـُسـْتَـحْـسَـنِ min al-mustaḥsani it is preferable	.مِـن الْـمـُسـْتَـحْـسَـنِ أَنْ تَـبْـدَأَ بِـسُـرْعَـةٍ min al-mustaḥsani ’an tabda’a bi-sur‘ah. *It is preferable* that you start quickly.
مِـن الـطَّـبـيـعِـيِّ min aṭ-ṭabī‘iyyi it is normal	.مِـن الـطَّـبـيـعِـيِّ أَنْ تَـشْـعُـرَ بِـبَـعْـضِ الْأَلَـمِ min aṭ-ṭabī‘iyyi ’an tash‘ura bi-ba‘ḍi -l-’alam. *It is normal* that you feel some pain.
مِـن الْـمُـسْـتَـحـيـلِ min al-mustaḥīli it is impossible	.مِـن الْـمُـسْـتَـحـيـلِ تَـجـاهُـلُ الـتَّـحَـدِّيـاتِ الْـقـادِمَـةِ min al-mustaḥīli tajāhulu -t-taḥaddiyāti -l-qādimah. *It is impossible* to ignore the upcoming challenges.
مِـن الـسَّـهْـلِ min as-sahli it is easy	.مِـن الـسَّـهْـلِ فَـهْـمُ الْأَحْـداثِ الْأَخـيـرَةِ min as-sahli fahmu-l-’aḥdāthi -l-’akhīrah. *It is easy* to understand recent events.
مِـن الـصَّـعْـبِ min aṣ-ṣa‘bi it is difficult	.مِـن الـصَّـعْـبِ تَـبْـريـرُ مـا حَـصَـلَ min aṣ-ṣa‘bi tabrīru mā ḥaṣal. *It is difficult* to justify what happened.
مِـن الْـمُـتَـوَقَّـعِ min al-mutawaqqa‘i it is expected	.مِـن الْـمُـتَـوَقَّـعِ أَنْ يَـسْـتَـمِـرَّ الْـمَـطَـرُ لِـسـاعـاتٍ min al-mutawaqqa‘i ’an yastamirra -l-maṭaru li-sā‘āt. *It is expected* that the rain will continue for hours.
مِـن الْـمُـنْـتَـظَـرِ min al-muntaẓari it is expected	.مِـن الْـمُـنْـتَـظَـرِ إِعْـلانُ الْـقَـرارِ قَـريـبًـا min al-muntaẓari ’i‘lānu -l-qarāri qarīban. *It is expected* the announcement of the decision soon.
مِـن الْـجَـديـرِ بِـالـذِّكْـرِ min al-jadīr bi-dh-dhikri it is worth mentioning	.مِـن الْـجَـديـرِ بِـالـذِّكْـرِ الـتَّـطَوُّرُ الْـكَـبـيـرُ مُـؤَخَّـرًا min al-jadīr bi-dh-dhikri -t-taṭawwuru -l-kabīru mu’akh kharan. *It is worth mentioning* the great progress recently.

All of the verbs and expressions above are followed by either a verbal noun or أَنْ (’an) + present verb. Some impersonal expressions can be followed by أَنَّ (’anna) + nominal sentence.

مِـن الْـمَـفْـهـومِ min al-mafhūmi it is understood	.مِـن الْـمَـفْـهـومِ أَنَّ الْـجَـمـيـعَ كـانَ حـاضِـرًا min al-mafhūmi ’anna -l-jamī‘a kāna ḥāḍiran. *It is understood* that everyone was present.
مِـن الْـواضِـحِ min al-wāḍiḥi it is clear	.مِـن الْـواضِـحِ أَنَّ الْـمَـنْـزِلَ يَـحْـتـاجُ إِلـى تَـنْـظـيـف min al-wāḍiḥi ’anna -l-manzila yaḥtāju ’ilā tanẓīf. *It is clear* that the house needs cleaning.
مِـن الْـمَـعْـروفِ min al-ma‘rūfi it is known	.مِـن الْـمَـعْـروفِ أَنَّ الـتَّـدْخـيـنَ مُـضِـرٌّ بِـالـصِّـحَّـةِ min al-ma‘rūfi ’anna -t-tadkhīna muḍirrun bi-ṣ-ṣiḥḥah. *It is known* that smoking is harmful to health.

Negation of Impersonal Verbs & Expressions in Arabic

The negation of expressions that begin with مِـن (min) is formed by preceding the expression with لَـيْـسَ (laysa). The negation of present verbs is formed by preceding the verb with لا (lā). Here are some examples:

مِـن الْـمُـمْـكِـنِ min al-mumkini it is possible	.لَـيْـسَ مِـن الْـمُـمْـكِـنِ أَنْ تَـعْـمَـلَ عَـنْ بُـعْـدٍ laysa min al-mumkini ’an ta‘mala ‘an bu‘d. *It is not possible* for you to work remotely.
مِـن الْـمَـفْـهـومِ min al-mafhūmi it is understood	.لَـيْـسَ مِـن الْـمَـفْـهـومِ أَنَّ الْـجَـمـيـعَ كـانَ حـاضِـرًا laysa min al-mafhūmi ’anna -l-jamī‘a kāna ḥāḍiran. *It is not understood* that everyone was present.
يَـجِـبُ yajibu must, should	.لا يَـجِـبُ (عَـلَـيْـكَ) أَنْ تَـنـامَ مُـبَـكِّـرًا lā yajibu (‘alayka) ’an tanāma mubakkiran. *You do not have to* sleep early.
يُـفْـتَـرَضُ yuftaraḍu it is supposed	.لا يُـفْـتَـرَضُ أَنْ يَـكـونَ الْـمَـحَـلُّ مَـفْـتـوحًـا الْآنَ lā yuftaraḍu ’an yakūna -l-maḥallu maftūḥan (i) -l-’ān. *It is not supposed* that the shop is open now.

Next: إِنَّ (’inna), كـانَ (kāna), كـادَ (kāda) & ظَـنَّ (ẓanna)

Back to: Irregular Verbs II

Other lessons in Level VI:

Level VI – Advanced II (C2)

1. Passive Voice

2. Irregular Verbs II

3. Impersonal Verbs & Expressions

4. إِنَّ (’inna), كـانَ (kāna), كـادَ (kāda) & ظَـنَّ (ẓanna)

5. Specification & Disambiguation

6. The Five Nouns

7. Circumstantial Adverb

8. Absolute Object & Causal Object

Modern Standard Arabic 6.3. Impersonal Verbs & Expressions

Table of Contents

Impersonal Expressions Using عَـلـى (‘alā) + attached pronoun

Other Impersonal Verbs & Expressions in Arabic

Negation of Impersonal Verbs & Expressions in Arabic

Level VI – Advanced II (C2)