Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Hundred and One Rules in Arabic Grammar! The word ما =============== The word ما has different meanings, depending on the context. It could mean "what," and in this case you are expected to have a demonstarative pronoun or a definite noun following it. What is this? ما هذا؟ What is his job? ما عملـُهُ؟ When the question word ** ما** is followed by a verb in the past tense, it changes its own function to a negation particle.