Arabic vs. English: 7 Key Grammar Differences Every Learner Should Know

Sep 20

If you are an Arabic speaker learning English, you have probably noticed that English grammar feels very different from Arabic grammar. This is completely normal! Arabic and English come from different language families, so the rules for building sentences, using verbs, and forming words do not always match.

By understanding these differences, you can avoid common mistakes and become more confident in speaking, reading, and writing English. In this article, we’ll explore 7 of the most important grammar differences between Arabic and English, with clear examples to help you learn faster.

1. Word Order (Sentence Structure)

Arabic: Sentences often start with the verb, following the Verb–Subject–Object (VSO) pattern.
English: Sentences usually start with the subject, following the Subject–Verb–Object (SVO) pattern.

Example:

Arabic: أكلَ الطالبُ التفاحة → Ate the student the apple.
English: The student ate the apple.
Tip for learners: Always remember to start your sentence with the subject in English.

2. Articles (a, an, the)

Arabic: Has the definite article "الـ" (equivalent to “the”), but no indefinite articles like “a” or “an.”
English: Uses a, an, the, depending on whether the noun is specific or general.

Common mistake:

"I bought book."

Correct:

"I bought a book."
Tip for learners: Use a/an when introducing something for the first time, and the when talking about something specific.

3. Verb Tenses

Arabic: Mainly uses three tenses (past, present, future) with fewer variations.
English: Has 12 tenses, including continuous and perfect forms.
Common mistake:

"I eat now."

Correct:

"I am eating now."
Tip for learners: Pay special attention to the difference between simple tenses and continuous tenses in English.

4. Gender in Nouns and Adjectives

Arabic: Nouns and adjectives change based on gender (masculine/feminine).
English: Nouns and adjectives are mostly gender-neutral.

Example:

Arabic: طالب مجتهد / طالبة مجتهدة
English: Hardworking student (same for male or female).
Tip for learners: In English, adjectives do not change. Learn one form and use it with everyone.

5. Pronouns

Arabic: Has many pronoun forms depending on gender (he/she), number (singular, dual, plural), and case.
English: Simpler system with only a few pronouns (I, you, he, she, we, they).

Common mistake: Confusing “he” and “she,” since in Arabic both can be represented by one verb ending.

Correct:

He is my brother.
She is my sister.
Tip for learners: Practice pronouns with pictures of people until you use he and she correctly.

6. Plurals

Arabic: Has singular, dual, and plural forms. Many plurals are irregular (called broken plurals).
English: Only has singular and plural, usually by adding –s or –es.

Example:

Arabic: كتاب / كتابان / كتب
English: Book / Books
Tip for learners: Remember: in English there is no dual form. Use two books instead of bookan.

7. Negation

Arabic: Uses several negation particles (لا، لم، لن، ما) depending on tense and meaning.
English: Usually adds “not” with helping verbs.

Example:

Arabic: لن أذهب → I will not go.
English: "I don’t like tea."
Tip for learners: In English, always use a helping verb (do, does, did, will) with “not” to make negative sentences.

Conclusion

Learning English as an Arabic speaker can feel challenging, but once you understand these 7 major grammar differences, you will start noticing patterns and making fewer mistakes.