Pseudo-verbs carry the meaning of a verb in English. However, in Arabic, they are based on a non-verbal construction and usually consist of a preposition. They are treated as nouns in Arabic in which they are conjugated in the present tense by adding the possessive suffix. Some examples of pseudo-verbs are:
| بِدُّه To want | |
| عِندُه To have/own | |
| إِلُه (To have (family relation | |
| مَعُه (To have (in possession |
|
عِندُه |
بِدّه To want |
الضَمير المُتَّصِل Suffix |
استَمِع Listen |
| عِندي I have | بِدّي I want | ـي (ii) | |
| عِندنا We have | بِدّنا We want | ـنا (naa) | |
| عِندَك You (m.) have | بِدَّك You (m.) want | ـَك (ak) | |
| عِندِك You (f.) have | بِدِّك You (f.) want | ـِك (ik) | |
| عِندكُم You (pl.) have | بِدّكُم You (pl.) want | ـكُم (kum) | |
| عِندُه He has | بِدُّه He wants | ـُه (u) | |
| عِندها She has | بِدّها She wants | ـها (haa) | |
| عِندهُم They have | بِدّهُم They want | ـهُم (hum) |
Examples: Read and listen to the following sentences. Note the usage of pseudo-verbs in context:
Present tense المُضارِع:
In present tense, the pseudo-verb is used by itself in the sentence without any other verb modifying the tense.
| English | العامية Colloquial Jordanian |
استَمِع Listen |
| Do you (pl.) have a paper and a pen? | مَعكُم وَرَقة وقَلَم؟ | |
| This is our new company in Amman. | سَمَر بِدّها تروح عَالبَترا في نِهاية الأُسْبوع. | |
| We have a cousin living in America. | إِِلنا ابِن عَم بِعيش بأَمريكا. |
Past tense الماضي:
Pseudo-verbs in the past tense are simply formed by preceding it with the verb was (كان). For example:
| English | العامية Colloquial Jordanian |
استَمِع Listen |
| My sister had a small house inʿaqaba. | أُختي كان عِندها بيت صَغير في العَقَبة. | |
| My friends (f.) wanted to travel during spring break. | صاحباتي كان بِدهُم يسافروا في عُطلِة الرَّبيع. | |
| What did you (m.) want to say? | شو كان بدَّك تِحكي؟ |
Future tense المُستَقبَل:
رَح / حـَ are used to indicate future tense. However, since a present tense verb must always follow رَح / حـَ , the verb يكون is added, followed by a pseudo-verb, to make it grammatically correct.
| English | العامية Colloquial Jordanian |
استَمِع Listen |
| They will have a trip next week. | رَح يكون عِندهُم رِحلة الأُسبوع الجاي. | |
| After traveling, you will want to rest. | بَعد السَّفَر، رَح يكون بِدِّك تِرتاحي. | |
| I will have the work laptop with me tomorrow. | لابتوب الشُّغُل حَيكون مَعي بُكرة. |
