Session 28 — Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Talking About Plans¶

20-hour method — Phase 2, Session 8
Duration: ~2 hours
Main objective: combine the past, present, and future so you can talk about what happened, what is happening, and what you plan to do.

At this point, the important skill is no longer learning isolated grammar. It is learning to move through time naturally in conversation.

By the end, you should be able to say:

Yesterday I worked. Today I'm working from home. Tomorrow I'm going to see a friend.

1. 0:00–0:15 — Three time frames¶

You already know:

Yesterday¶

mbāre7

yesterday

mbāre7 re7et 3a sh-shoghol.

Yesterday I went to work.

Today¶

elyōm

today

elyōm beshteghil.

Today I work / I'm working.

Tomorrow¶

bokra

tomorrow

bokra ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

Tomorrow I'm going to go to work.

The three words to memorize:

mbāre7 — elyōm — bokra

yesterday — today — tomorrow

2. 0:15–0:30 — The future marker¶

The basic Levantine future pattern is:

ra7 + present verb

Examples:

ra7 rou7.

I'm going to go.

ra7 ākul.

I'm going to eat.

ra7 eshrob.

I'm going to drink.

ra7 shūf.

I'm going to see/watch.

ra7 eshteghil.

I'm going to work.

This is one of the most useful patterns you have learned so far.

Compare¶

Time	Levantine	English
Past	re7et	I went
Present	brou7	I go / I'm going
Future	ra7 rou7	I'm going to go

3. 0:30–0:45 — The three forms¶

Let's use eat.

Present¶

bākul.

I eat / I'm eating.

Past¶

akalet.

I ate.

Future¶

ra7 ākul.

I'm going to eat.

Now drink:

beshrob.

I drink.

sherebet.

I drank.

ra7 eshrob.

I'm going to drink.

Now see/watch:

bshūf.

I watch.

shoft.

I watched.

ra7 shūf.

I'm going to watch.

4. 0:45–1:00 — Tomorrow¶

بكرا — bokra¶

tomorrow

Examples:

bokra ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

Tomorrow I'm going to go to work.

bokra ra7 eshteghil min el-bēt.

Tomorrow I'm going to work from home.

bokra ra7 shūf film.

Tomorrow I'm going to watch a movie.

bokra ra7 rou7 3a l-gym.

Tomorrow I'm going to go to the gym.

5. 1:00–1:15 — “Tonight”¶

الليلة — il-lēle¶

tonight

Very useful:

il-lēle ra7 shūf film.

Tonight I'm going to watch a movie.

il-lēle ra7 bṭbukh 3asha.

Tonight I'm going to cook dinner.

il-lēle ra7 nām بكير.

Tonight I'm going to sleep early.

6. 1:15–1:30 — “Later”¶

بعدين — ba3dēn¶

You already know this as then.

It can also be used conversationally for:

later

For example:

ba3dēn bshūf.

I'll see later.

ba3dēn b7kī ma3ak.

I'll talk to you later.

This is an important conversational chunk.

7. 1:30–1:45 — “Next week”¶

الأسبوع الجاي — l-usbū3 il-jāy¶

next week

l-usbū3 il-jāy ra7 rou7 3a Beirut.

Next week I'm going to Beirut.

l-usbū3 il-jāy ra7 eshteghil kteer.

Next week I'm going to work a lot.

l-usbū3 il-jāy ra7 shūf ṣḥābi.

Next week I'm going to see my friend.

جاي — jāy¶

coming / next

You will encounter jāy frequently.

8. 1:45–2:00 — “This weekend”¶

هالويك إند — hal-weekend¶

this weekend

In everyday Levantine speech, English loanwords are common, especially for modern concepts.

hal-weekend ra7 rou7 3a l-ba7er.

This weekend I'm going to the sea.

You can also simply say:

hal-usbū3...

this week

9. 2:00–2:15 — Future plans¶

The key expression:

شو رح تعمل؟ — shu ra7 ta3mel?

What are you going to do?

Break it down:

shu = what

ra7 = future marker

ta3mel = you do

Literally:

What are you going to do?

Answer:

ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

I'm going to work.

ra7 rou7 3a l-gym.

I'm going to the gym.

ra7 shūf ṣa7bi.

I'm going to see my friend.

10. 2:15–2:30 — “Where are you going to go?”¶

la-wēn ra7 trou7?

Where are you going to go?

Possible answers:

ra7 rou7 3a Beirut.

I'm going to Beirut.

ra7 rou7 3a l-bēt.

I'm going home.

ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

I'm going to work.

ma بعرف وين ra7 rou7.

I don't know where I'm going to go.

We'll focus on the positive forms first.

11. 2:30–2:45 — “What are you going to eat?”¶

shu ra7 tākul?

What are you going to eat?

Answers:

ra7 ākul jāj.

I'm going to eat chicken.

ra7 ākul samak.

I'm going to eat fish.

ra7 ākul salṭa.

I'm going to eat salad.

ma بعرف shu ra7 ākul.

I don't know what I'm going to eat.

12. 2:45–3:00 — “What are you going to drink?”¶

shu ra7 teshrob?

What are you going to drink?

ra7 eshrob ahwe.

I'm going to drink coffee.

ra7 eshrob may.

I'm going to drink water.

ra7 eshrob shāy.

I'm going to drink tea.

13. 3:00–3:15 — Future with your daily routine¶

Take the routine from Session 25.

Present¶

bfi2 s-sā3a sab3a.

I wake up at seven.

Future¶

bokra ra7 fī2 s-sā3a sab3a.

Tomorrow I'm going to wake up at seven.

Present¶

bākul fṭūr.

I eat breakfast.

Future¶

bokra ra7 ākul fṭūr.

Tomorrow I'm going to eat breakfast.

Present¶

brou7 3a sh-shoghol.

I go to work.

Future¶

bokra ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

Tomorrow I'm going to go to work.

Present¶

beshteghil.

I work.

Future¶

bokra ra7 eshteghil.

Tomorrow I'm going to work.

14. 3:15–3:30 — Three days, three tenses¶

This is the central exercise of today's session.

Yesterday¶

mbāre7 re7et 3a sh-shoghol.

Yesterday I went to work.

Today¶

elyōm brou7 3a sh-shoghol.

Today I go to work.

Tomorrow¶

bokra ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

Tomorrow I'm going to go to work.

Say these three sentences as one sequence.

The goal is to make your brain automatically associate:

mbāre7 → past

elyōm → present

bokra → future

15. 3:30–3:45 — More three-way transformations¶

Eat¶

mbāre7 akalet.

Yesterday I ate.

elyōm bākul.

Today I eat / I'm eating.

bokra ra7 ākul.

Tomorrow I'm going to eat.

Drink¶

mbāre7 sherebet ahwe.

Yesterday I drank coffee.

elyōm beshrob ahwe.

Today I drink coffee.

bokra ra7 eshrob ahwe.

Tomorrow I'm going to drink coffee.

Watch¶

mbāre7 shoft film.

Yesterday I watched a movie.

elyōm bshūf film.

Today I'm watching a movie.

bokra ra7 shūf film.

Tomorrow I'm going to watch a movie.

16. 3:45–4:00 — “I want to…”¶

You already know:

beddi

I want.

Combine it with the future.

beddi rou7 3a Beirut.

I want to go to Beirut.

beddi shūf film.

I want to watch a movie.

beddi ākul.

I want to eat.

beddi eshrob ahwe.

I want to drink coffee.

Now add ra7 when you're talking about a future plan:

ra7 rou7 3a Beirut.

I'm going to Beirut.

beddi rou7 3a Beirut.

I want to go to Beirut.

The first is primarily a plan/intention.

The second expresses desire.

17. 4:00–4:15 — “I have to…”¶

A very useful expression:

lāzem

must / have to

Examples:

lāzem rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

I have to go to work.

lāzem eshteghil.

I have to work.

lāzem ākul.

I have to eat.

lāzem rou7 3a l-bēt.

I have to go home.

Future:

bokra lāzem rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

Tomorrow I have to go to work.

This gives you a powerful structure:

lāzem + verb

18. 4:15–4:30 — “Maybe”¶

يمكن — yimken¶

maybe

yimken rou7 3a Beirut.

Maybe I'll go to Beirut.

yimken shūf ṣa7bi.

Maybe I'll see my friend.

yimken ma rou7.

Maybe I won't go.

This is useful because real conversations aren't always certain.

19. 4:30–4:45 — Making plans¶

Now combine:

bokra

tomorrow

ra7

future

lāzem

have to

beddi

I want

yimken

maybe

Examples:

bokra ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

Tomorrow I'm going to work.

bokra lāzem rou7 3a sh-shoghol.

Tomorrow I have to go to work.

bokra beddi rou7 3a l-gym.

Tomorrow I want to go to the gym.

yimken rou7 3a l-ba7er.

Maybe I'll go to the sea.

20. 4:45–5:00 — Future time expressions¶

Build your time vocabulary.

Levantine	Transliteration	English
اليوم	elyōm	today
بكرا	bokra	tomorrow
بعد بكرا	ba3d bokra	the day after tomorrow
هالأسبوع	hal-usbū3	this week
الأسبوع الجاي	l-usbū3 il-jāy	next week
هالويك إند	hal-weekend	this weekend
الليلة	il-lēle	tonight
بعدين	ba3dēn	later
هلّق	halla2	now

The most important:

elyōm

bokra

il-lēle

ba3dēn

l-usbū3 il-jāy

21. 5:00–5:15 — Making an appointment¶

Now we move from general plans to practical conversation.

emta fāḍi?

When are you free?

فاضي — fāḍi¶

free / available

Answer:

ana fāḍi bokra.

I'm free tomorrow.

ana fāḍi il-lēle.

I'm free tonight.

ma ana fāḍi bokra.

I'm not free tomorrow.

22. 5:15–5:30 — “Let's…”¶

A very useful conversational expression:

yalla...

come on / let's...

You already know yalla.

Examples:

yalla nrou7.

Let's go.

yalla nākul.

Let's eat.

yalla neshrob ahwe.

Let's drink coffee.

yalla neshūf film.

Let's watch a movie.

You will hear this constantly in Levantine Arabic.

23. 5:30–5:45 — Accepting and declining a plan¶

Let's go.¶

yalla nrou7.

Good.¶

ṭayyeb.

Okay / good.

Sounds good.¶

mni7.

Good.

I can't.¶

ma b2dar.

I can't.

Why?¶

lēsh?

Why?

Because I have to work.¶

la2anno lāzem eshteghil.

Because I have to work.

You now have a miniature real-world conversation.

24. 5:45–6:00 — Dialogue: making plans¶

A¶

shu ra7 ta3mel bokra?

What are you going to do tomorrow?

B¶

ra7 eshteghil ṣob7.

I'm going to work in the morning.

A¶

w-ba3d sh-shoghol?

And after work?

B¶

ba3d sh-shoghol ra7 rou7 3a l-gym.

After work I'm going to go to the gym.

A¶

w-ba3dēn?

And afterwards?

B¶

ba3dēn ra7 rou7 3a l-bēt.

Then I'm going home.

A¶

yimken neshūf film il-lēle?

Maybe we can watch a movie tonight?

B¶

eh, mni7.

Yes, good.

25. 6:00–6:15 — Yesterday / today / tomorrow conversation¶

This is your main exercise.

A¶

shu 3melt mbāre7?

What did you do yesterday?

B¶

mbāre7 ishtaghlet w-raja3et 3a l-bēt.

Yesterday I worked and came home.

A¶

shu 3am ta3mel elyōm?

What are you doing today?

B¶

elyōm beshteghil w-ba3dēn btmarran.

Today I'm working and then exercising.

A¶

shu ra7 ta3mel bokra?

What are you going to do tomorrow?

B¶

bokra ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol, w-ba3d sh-shoghol ra7 shūf ṣa7bi.

Tomorrow I'm going to work, and after work I'm going to see my friend.

This is exactly the kind of conversation you should now begin practicing spontaneously.

26. 6:15–6:30 — Important distinction: plan vs desire¶

Compare:

beddi rou7.

I want to go.

ra7 rou7.

I'm going to go.

lāzem rou7.

I have to go.

yimken rou7.

Maybe I'll go.

These four expressions are extremely useful:

Arabic	Meaning
beddi rou7	I want to go
ra7 rou7	I'm going to go
lāzem rou7	I have to go
yimken rou7	Maybe I'll go

Don't translate them word-for-word. Learn them as chunks.

27. 6:30–6:45 — Translation challenge¶

Translate these without looking back.

1¶

Tomorrow I'm going to work.

2¶

Tonight I'm going to watch a movie.

3¶

Tomorrow I want to go to the gym.

4¶

I have to work.

5¶

Maybe I'll go to Beirut.

6¶

When are you going to work?

7¶

What are you going to eat?

8¶

Where are you going to go?

9¶

Are you free tomorrow?

10¶

Let's go.

11¶

I can't.

12¶

Yesterday I went to work.

13¶

Today I'm working.

14¶

Tomorrow I'm going to work.

28. 6:45–7:00 — Transformation drill¶

Take this:

re7et 3a Beirut.

I went to Beirut.

Change it to:

Today¶

brou7 3a Beirut.

Tomorrow¶

ra7 rou7 3a Beirut.

Now:

shoft film.

Change it to:

Today¶

bshūf film.

Tomorrow¶

ra7 shūf film.

Now:

akalet jāj.

Change it to:

Today¶

bākul jāj.

Tomorrow¶

ra7 ākul jāj.

Do this with all five verbs:

re7et
akalet
sherebet
shoft
ishtaghlet

29. 7:00–7:15 — Build your actual tomorrow¶

Now describe your real plans for tomorrow.

Use:

bokra...

Then tell me:

What time will you wake up?
What will you eat?
Will you work?
Where will you go?
What will you do after work?
What will you do in the evening?
What time will you sleep?

Example structure:

bokra ra7 fī2 s-sā3a _____.

ba3dēn ra7 _____.

s-sā3a _ ra7 ___.

ba3d sh-shoghol ra7 _____.

bil-masa ra7 _____.

bnām s-sā3a _____.

30. 7:15–7:30 — One-minute future challenge¶

Speak for one full minute about tomorrow.

Rules:

Don't use English.
Don't stop to search for perfect grammar.
Use ra7 at least 5 times.
Use bokra at least twice.
Use ba3dēn at least twice.
Use lāzem, beddi, or yimken at least once.

If you don't know a word, simplify.

For example, if you don't know "I'm going to meet a colleague":

ra7 shūf ṣa7bi.

I'm going to see my friend.

Simple is acceptable.

31. 7:30–7:45 — Rapid-fire questions¶

Answer immediately.

shu ra7 ta3mel bokra?¶

What are you going to do tomorrow?

emta ra7 tfi2?¶

When are you going to wake up?

shu ra7 tākul?¶

What are you going to eat?

shu ra7 teshrob?¶

What are you going to drink?

la-wēn ra7 trou7?¶

Where are you going to go?

emta ra7 ترجع 3a l-bēt?¶

When are you going to come home?

shu ra7 ta3mel bil-masa?¶

What are you going to do in the evening?

emta ra7 tnām?¶

When are you going to sleep?

Try to answer each in one sentence, immediately.

32. 7:45–8:00 — Final three-day challenge¶

Now tell the same story across three days.

Yesterday¶

Use past:

mbāre7...

Today¶

Use present:

elyōm...

Tomorrow¶

Use future:

bokra ra7...

For example:

mbāre7 re7et 3a sh-shoghol. elyōm beshteghil min el-bēt. bokra ra7 rou7 3a sh-shoghol w-ba3dēn ra7 shūf ṣa7bi.

Yesterday I went to work. Today I'm working from home. Tomorrow I'm going to go to work and then I'm going to see my friend.

This is your Session 28 speaking test.

Session 28 — Core vocabulary¶

Levantine	Transliteration	English
اليوم	elyōm	today
بكرا	bokra	tomorrow
بعد بكرا	ba3d bokra	day after tomorrow
الليلة	il-lēle	tonight
هلّق	halla2	now
بعدين	ba3dēn	later / then
الأسبوع الجاي	l-usbū3 il-jāy	next week
فاضي	fāḍi	free
لازم	lāzem	must / have to
بدي	beddi	I want
يمكن	yimken	maybe
رح	ra7	future marker
يلا	yalla	let's / come on
شو	shu	what
إمتى	emta	when
لوين	la-wēn	where to
ليش	lēsh	why
منيح	mni7	good
ما بقدر	ma b2dar	I can't
شوف	shūf	see/watch

The 15 chunks to memorize¶

mbāre7...
Yesterday...

elyōm...
Today...

bokra...
Tomorrow...

ra7 rou7.
I'm going to go.

ra7 ākul.
I'm going to eat.

ra7 eshrob.
I'm going to drink.

ra7 shūf.
I'm going to see/watch.

shu ra7 ta3mel?
What are you going to do?

la-wēn ra7 trou7?
Where are you going to go?

shu ra7 tākul?
What are you going to eat?

beddi rou7.
I want to go.

lāzem rou7.
I have to go.

yimken rou7.
Maybe I'll go.

emta fāḍi?
When are you free?

yalla nrou7.
Let's go.

Homework¶

1. Record three short stories¶

Make three recordings:

A — Yesterday: 45–60 seconds
B — Today: 45–60 seconds
C — Tomorrow: 45–60 seconds

The objective is to force your brain to switch tense.

2. The 3 × 5 drill¶

Take five verbs:

go — eat — drink — work — watch

For each one, produce:

past → present → future

Example:

re7et → brou7 → ra7 rou7

Do all five without looking.

3. Ask someone about their plans¶

Practice these questions aloud:

shu ra7 ta3mel bokra?

la-wēn ra7 trou7?

shu ra7 tākul?

emta ra7 trou7?

emta fāḍi?

Session 28 checkpoint¶

You now have a basic three-tense framework:

Time	Marker / form	Example
Yesterday	past	mbāre7 re7et
Today	present	elyōm brou7
Tomorrow	ra7 + present	bokra ra7 rou7

And you can express four different attitudes toward a future action:

ra7 rou7 — I'm going to go.

beddi rou7 — I want to go.

lāzem rou7 — I have to go.

yimken rou7 — Maybe I'll go.

The next step should be not another large grammar lesson, but increasing your ability to interact.

Session 29¶

We'll work on conversation and question formation: asking and answering questions about people, places, things, time, reasons, and preferences, while recycling the past/present/future you've learned in Sessions 25–28.

The target will be moving from:

“I can say a sentence.”

to:

“I can keep a simple conversation going.”