These eight original questions test word use, connectors and natural phrasing. Write your answer first, then open each one.
This set belongs to the SPM Arabic subject guide. Use the links at the end for any skill you miss.
Questions
1. Which sentence is meaningful and correct? (a) أشربُ كتابًا (b) أقرأُ كتابًا
Answer
(b). The verb أقرأُ (“I read”) fits the noun كتابًا. In (a), “I drink a book” has no sense.
2. Use the word مدرسة in a sentence that answers who, where and why.
Answer
Sample: أذهبُ إلى المدرسةِ كلَّ يومٍ لأتعلّمَ. “I go to school every day to learn.” Check for a doer, a place and a reason.
3. Choose the connector for contrast: أحبُّ القهوةَ ___ لا أشربُها ليلًا. (لأنّ / لكنّني / ثمّ)
Answer
لكنّني. “I like coffee, but I do not drink it at night.” The second idea goes against the first.
4. Choose the connector for a reason: بقيتُ في البيتِ ___ الطقسَ ممطرٌ. (لذلك / لأنّ / أو)
Answer
لأنّ. The second part gives the reason. لأنّ is followed by the noun الطقسَ.
5. Complete with a result connector: الامتحانُ غدًا، ___ أدرسُ الآنَ.
Answer
لذلك. “The exam is tomorrow, therefore I study now.” The exam is the cause and studying is the result.
6. Correct the literal phrase: صباحٌ جيّدٌ.
Answer
صباحُ الخيرِ. The fixed greeting is used instead of a word-by-word translation of “good morning”.
7. A learner writes عندي جوعٌ for “I am hungry”. Give the natural form and say why.
Answer
أنا جائعٌ. Arabic describes hunger as a state of the person, using the adjective, not as something the person possesses.
8. Write two sentences using يكتب, one with “I” and one with a named girl as the subject.
Answer
Sample: أكتبُ الواجبَ في البيتِ. And: تكتبُ سلمى رسالةً. The first person prefix is أ, and the third person feminine prefix is ت. Objects take the فتحة.
If you got these wrong
- Questions 1, 2, 8: revisit using a vocabulary item in a meaningful sentence.
- Questions 3, 4, 5: revisit choosing a connector.
- Questions 6, 7: revisit literal translation and natural expression.
For timed repeats, use the practice session builder. If you want a teacher to go through your answers with you, see online one-to-one Arabic tuition.