Negating the Future Tense

Lesson objective

In this lesson, you will learn how to say that a future action will not happen.

To make the future tense negative, place ma-…-š around ġadi, ġadya, or ġadyin. The main verb remains after the negative future form.

weš ġadi t-safr? — Will you travel?
lla, ma-ġadi-š n-safr. — No, I will not travel.

Saying “will never”

To express will never, do not use the normal future form. Use: ma 3mmr + person ending + present-tense verb without ka-

ma 3mmri n-kmi. — I will never smoke.
ma 3mmrna n-safru b l-lil. — We will never travel at night.

Saying “not yet” in the future

Use mazal ma or baqi ma with the future tense.

mazal ma ġadyin n-n3su. — We will not go to sleep yet.
baqi ma ġadi n-tzuwj. — I will not get married yet.