Grammatical Problems of translation

Translation of Verb “BE” (i.e. am, is, are/was, were/be, been)

Problem 1: Literal translation of am, is, are

When am, is and are are main verbs in a sentence, some students translate then as يكون which is not acceptable as a good translation.

Solution Delete 'am, is, are’ to change the English verbal sentences into Arabic nominal ones: i.e. into a topic and a comment مبتدأ وخبر

Am, is, are as modals The present progressive: I am studying now. أنا أكون أدرس الآن x أنا أدرس الآن

What is the equivalent of (am, is, are + verb + ing) in Arabic?

The progressive tense markers, Verb “be” and the 'ing' ending for the main verbs have no equivalent in Arabic grammar.

The past passive voice: I was given another change. أنا كنت أعطيت فرصة أخرى What do you think is an acceptable rendering in Arabic can be?

Unlike am, is, are, the past simple of -be- was- and -were', can be translated literally into كان both as main as well as auxiliary verbs:

As main verbs: e. g.

As auxiliaries: the past progressive: e. g.

Yet literal translation is unfavourable when these verbs are used as auxiliaries to form the past passive voice, as illustrated in the following examples:

c. The past passive voice: e. g. Not acceptable Acceptable

Possible

Translation of Verb –DO- As a main verb, -do- does not pose a grammatical problem. However, as an auxiliary, it poses more than one problem:

Do in negatives Do in negatives does not have an equivalent in Arabic. In “do not”, only not is translated as لا in Arabic. He does not like coffee إنه لا يحب القهوة Some people do not smile بعض الناس لا يبتسمون

Problem 2 and solution: -Did- in the negative: The not in – did not – is translated as لم or ما

Exercise Translate Please, I beg you, do not do that!

Problem 3 and solution: -Do- in questions: Verb -do- is used to form the questions of all English verbs except 'be-, -have- and modal verbs. Do in questions is translated as هل in the present and the past.

Do as substitutive verb -Do- is used as a substitute verb replacing a whole clause to avoid repetition, especially as an answer to a question.

Next class Continuation – Do -