The Future Tense In Arabic Language (فعل المستقبل)

 The Future Tense In Arabic Language (فعل المستقبل)

By: Yusuf Basirat Bolanle

In our previous lessons, we have explained that the tenses in Arabic language are divided into three main categories, which are: The Past Tense, the Present Tense and The Command tense. However, there are other tenses which are as important as the above mentioned tenses, even if they are not particularly added to the main categories of verb as a result of them having a lot to do with the tenses in the main categories as mentioned above. One of them is "The Future Tense" (فعل المستقبل). 

What is The Future Tense in Arabic language?

Future tense in Arabic language is known as (فعل المستقبل). In  Arabic language, a future tense is a word that is referring to an action to be performed in the future time in a sentence, either nearest or far away time. It is the action that will be performed after the time of the speaking or discussion. 

How do we formed a future tense in Arabic language?

In Arabic language, a future tense can be formed with the use of the present tense together with some prefixes which enable the transformation of the present tense into the future tense. These prefixes are two in number. They are (س) and (سوف). When the two prefixes are attached to the present tense form of verb in the beginning, then, the future tense is formed. 

Discussion on the two prefixes of the future tense

As mentioned above that the two prefixes of the future tense are (س) (sin) and (سوف) (sawfa). They both give the meaning of (will) and (shall) in English language. The (س) is used to describe an action that will happen or that will be performed in a close or relatively close time in the future, while the (سوف) is used for actions that will occur in a longer or far away time. Most of the time, people use the two interchangeably, but the fact still remains that the (س) is used for closer future action while the (سوف) is used for a far future action. However, both of them are working together with the present tense to give the meaning of the future tense.

The future tense with the prefix (س) (Sin)

(س) as said earlier, when used as a prefix to a present tense means (will) or (shall) and it is used to describe an action that will happen in a close future to the time or after the time we are speaking.  The following are examples of the future tense with the prefix (س):

Examples of Future tense with Prefix (س)

 

فعل المستقبل	س	فعل المضارع
The Future Tense	The Prefix Sin	The Present Tense
سيكتب He will write	س Will	يكتب He writes/writing
سنجلس We shall sit	س Shall/will	نجلس We sit/sitting
سأقرأ I will read	س Will	أقرأ I read/reading
َستفتح She will open	س Will	تفتح She opens/opening
سيسمع He will hear	س Will	يسمع He hears/hearing
ِسنفهم We will understand	س Will/shall	نفهم We understand/ understanding
َسأنام I will sleep	س Will	أنام I sleep/ am sleeping
سيذهب He will go	س Will	يذهب He goes/going
ِسنستغفر We shall/will seek forgiveness	س Will/shall	نستغفر We seek/seeking forgiveness
ِستلعب She will play	س Will	تلعب She plays/playing
ِسينسى He will forget	س Will	ينسي He forgets/forgetting

Looking at the above examples, we will discovered that the first column consists of the present tense with no prefix (س) but only begin with one of the alphabets of the present tense which are (أ، ن، ي، ت).

The second column as seen above consists of the prefix (س), which either means (will) or (shall). While the last column consists of the present tense and the prefix (س). This prefix is either translated as (will) or (shall) in the statement, together with the verbs attached to them, all depend on the type of statement we are making.

The future tense with the prefix (سوف) (Sawfa)

(سوف) literally mean (soon). It indicates that the action we are talking about will happen in the future with no specific time associated. The happening of the event using sawfa may take months, years, decades or even centuries. When sawfa is used to express a future occurrence, it is probably mean the action won't happen in a very close time as opposed the use of (س). Allah says in Surah At-takathu (كلا سوف تعلمون) (No, you will soon know), what will be soon known according to the surah will happen probably on the day of judgement as mentioned in the last Aayaat of same surah. This use of soon doesn't mean it is happening so soon after the discussion time, but may probably take years, days, months and so on.

Examples of Future tense with the prefix (سوف) (Sawfa)

 

فعل المستقبل	سوف	فعل المضارع
The Future Tense	The Prefix Sawfa	The Present Tense
سوف تعلمون You will/will soon know	سوف Will	تعلمون You know/knowing
سوف أسافر I will/will soon travel	سوف Will	أسافر I travel/I am travelling
سوف يفهم He will soon understand	سوف Will soon	يفهم He understands
َسوف نزور We shall visit	سوف Will	نزور We visit/are visiting
سوف ينتهى It will/will soon finish	سوف Will	ينتهى It finishes
ِسوف نرى We shall see	سوف Will/shall	نرى We see/are seeing
َسوف تدرس She will/will soon study	سوف Will	تدرس She studies/studying
سوف يستغفر He will/will soon seek forgiveness	سوف Will	يستغفر He seeks forgiveness/ Seeking forgiveness
ِسوف يعطيك He will/will soon give you	سوف Will	يعطيك He gives/giving you
ِسوف يرضى He will/will soon please	سوف Will	يرضى He pleases/pleasing
ِسوف أتعلم I will/will soon learn	سوف Will	أتعلم I learn/learning

In the examples above, the first column contains the present tense with no prefix attached to the verbs. The second column consists of the prefix (سوف) which means either (will) or (shall) and in most cases, it may mean (will soon) or (shall soon) as used in some of the Qur'anic verses like Suratu At-takathur, which says: (كلا سوف تعلمون), literally means (Nay, you will soon know) and so on.

The last column consists of the present tense and the prefix (سوف) attached to them which change their meaning from present tense to the future tense.

Note carefully: 

1- A prefix is a word attached or joined to another word in the beginning to complete its meaning or to give a required meaning to the said word

2- The use of "soon" in the interpretation of (سوف) doesn't necessarily mean the action will happen in a very close time. The time is not specify and can take up to years, months or even decades or centuries before the action can take place. That is why (سوف) is in the best position to use whenever we intend to express relatively or actually far or longer action that will or may happen in the future.