Lecture on the Arabic Verb "كان"

Introduction

• Topic: The verb "كان"
• Importance: Used to indicate past tense in Arabic, similar to "was" in English.
  • Note: Arabic lacks a present-tense "to be" verb, relying on other structures for present-tense statements.

Conjugation of "كان"

• Suffixes: Conjugated with suffixes like other past tense verbs.
• Pronouns: Common pronouns in colloquial speech are used.
  • Conjugation Example:
    • أنا كنتُ (I was)
    • هو كان (He was)
    • هي كانت (She was)

Hollow Verb

• Definition: Arabists term "كان" a 'hollow verb' (الفعل الأجوف).
  • Characteristics:
    • Contains a medial vowel ('alif') that can disappear or change form.
    • In third-person forms (هم، هي، هو), the 'alif' remains.
    • In first and second person forms, the 'alif' does not appear.

Usage of "كان"

• Situating Events in the Past:

  • Example:
    • "He was the only student in the library."
    • Arabic: هو كان الطالب الوحيد في المكتبة.
  • Forms a جملة فعلية (verbal sentence) to express past actions.

• Past Continuous and "Used to":

  • English Equivalent: Past continuous or "used to."
  • Examples:
    • "I was working at home."
      • Arabic: أنا كنت أعمل في البيت.
    • "She used to live in Egypt."
      • Arabic: هي كانت تسكن في مصر.
  • Structure: Use conjugated "كان" and a present-tense verb to indicate past actions or habitual past actions.

Conclusion

• Key Takeaway: Understanding the conjugation and use of "كان" is crucial to situating actions and events in the past in Arabic.
• Note: Mastery of hollow verbs will aid in understanding more complex verb forms.