ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> <title>The Arabic verb forms ('D#H2'F)</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" /> <meta name="description" content="The ten Arabic verb forms or measures: their associated meanings, and a table of all the verb forms' conjugations, active/passive participles, and verbal nouns (maSdars)." /> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-29877981-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 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Each form has a basic meaning associated with the general meaning of the root being used. Here's a more detailed breakdown, using <span class="arabic">A9D</span> (fa3ala, to do) as an example. (This is all taken from old handouts I got at the AUC, so it's not my original work.)</p> <span class="bold">Form 1 - <span class="arabic">A9D</span> (fa3ala)</span> <br />Expresses the general verbal meaning of the root in question <br /><br /><table class="zebra"> <colgroup class="column"></colgroup> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="bold">Root</span></td><td><span class="bold">Form 1 verb</span></td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">. 1 ,</span> (x-r-j) - leaving, departing</td><td><span class="arabic">.1,</span> (xaraja) - to leave, go out</td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">, E 9</span> (j-m-3) - joining, uniting</td><td><span class="arabic">,E9</span> (jama3a) - to gather, collect</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">9 E D</span> <span dir="ltr">(3-m-l) - doing, making</span></td><td><span class="arabic">9ED</span> <span dir="ltr">(3amala) - to work, to do, to make</span></td></tr> <tr class="odd"><td><span class="arabic">B 7 9 </span> (q-T-3) - cutting</td><td><span class="arabic">B79</span> (qaTa3a) - to cut, cut off</td></tr> <tr><td><span class="arabic">( 9 /</span> (b-3-d) - separating, distance&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><span class="arabic">(9/</span> (ba3ada) - to be far from</td></tr> </table> <br /><span class="bold">Form 2 - <span class="arabic">A9QD</span> (fa33ala)</span> <br />Built on form 1 by doubling the middle radical of the form 1 verb (adding a shadda to it) <br />Often is a <span class="italic">causative</span> version of the form 1 verb <div class="example"><span class="arabic">.1,</span> (xaraja) means "to go out"; <span class="arabic">.1Q,</span> (xarraja) means "to make (s.o.) go out; to graduate (s.o.)"</div> <br />Often an <span class="italic">intensive</span> version of the form 1 verb (especially if the form 1 verb is transitive) <div class="example"><span class="arabic">,E9</span> (jama3a) means "to collect, gather"; <span class="arabic">,EQ9</span> (jamma3a) means "to amass, to accummulate"</div> <br /><span class="bold">Form 3 - <span class="arabic">A'9D</span> (faa3ala)</span> <br />Built on form 1 by adding an alif between the first and second radicals of the form 1 verb <br />Usually gives an <span class="italic">associative</span> meaning to the form 1 verb; describes someone doing the act in question to or with someone else <div class="example"><span class="arabic">9ED</span> <span dir="ltr">(3amala) means "to work";</span> <span class="arabic">9'ED</span> <span dir="ltr">(3aamala) means "to treat or deal with (s.o.)"</span></div> <br /><span class="bold">Form 4 - <span class="arabic">#A9D</span> (af3ala)</span> <br />Built on form 1 by prefixing an alif to the form 1 verb and putting a sukuun over the first radical <br />Similar to form 2 in that it is usually a <span class="italic">causative</span> version of the form 1 verb <div class="example"><span class="arabic">.1,</span> (xaraja) means "to go out"; <span class="arabic">.1Q,</span> (xarraja) means "to graduate (s.o.)"; <span class="arabic">#.1,</span> (axraja) means "to expel, to evict; to produce"</div> <br /><span class="bold">Form 5 - <span class="arabic">*A9QD</span> (tafa33ala)</span> <br />Built on form 2 by adding the prefix <span class="arabic">*@</span> to the form 2 verb <br />Often a <span class="italic">reflexive</span> version of the form 2 verb <div class="example"><span class="arabic">.1Q,</span> (xarraja) means "to graduate (s.o.)"; <span class="arabic">*.1,</span> (taxarraja) means "to graduate" (Note: form 5 is usually intransitive)</div> <br /><div>Sometimes an <span class="italic">intensive</span> version of a form 1 verb</div> <div class="example"><span class="arabic">,E9</span> (jama3a) means "to collect, gather"; <span class="arabic">*,EQ9</span> (tajamma3a) means "to congregate, to flock together"</div> <br /><span class="bold">Form 6 - <span class="arabic">*A'9D</span> (tafaa3ala)</span> <br />Built on form 3 by adding the prefix <span class="arabic">*@</span> to the form 3 verb <br />Usually a <span class="italic">reflexive</span> version of the form 3 verb <div class="example"><span class="arabic">9'ED</span> <span dir="ltr">(3aamala) means "to treat or deal with (s.o.)"</span>; <span class="arabic">*9'ED</span> (ta3aamala) means "to deal with each other" (Form 6 is usually intransitive)</div> <br /><span class="bold">Form 7 - <span class="arabic">'FA9D</span> (infa3ala)</span> <br />Built on form 1 by adding the prefix <span class="arabic">'F@</span> to the form 1 verb <br />Usually a <span class="italic">reflexive and/or passive</span> version of the form 1 verb <div class="example"><span class="arabic">B79</span> (qaTa3a) means "to cut, to cut off"; <span class="arabic">'FB79</span> (inqaTa3a) means "to be cut off (from); to abstain (from)"</div> <br /><span class="bold">Form 8 - <span class="arabic">'A*9D</span> (ifta3ala)</span> <br />Built on form 1 by adding the prefix <span class="arabic">'</span> to the form 1 verb and placing a sukuun must be placed over its first radical <br />Often a <span class="italic">reflexive</span> version of the form 1 verb <div class="example"><span class="arabic">,E9</span> (jama3a) means "to collect, gather"; <span class="arabic">',*E9</span> (ijtama3a) means "to meet; to agree (on)"</div> <br />Sometimes has a specially derived meaning relative to a form 1 verb <div class="example"><span class="arabic">(9/</span> (ba3ada) means "to be far away"; <span class="arabic">'(*9/</span> (ibta3ada) means "to avoid"</div> <br /><span class="bold">Form 9 - <span class="arabic">'A9DQ</span> (if3alla)</span> <br />Built on form 1 by adding the prefix <span class="arabic">'</span> to the form 1 verb, placing a sukuun over its first radical, and adding a shadda to the last radical <br />Relates to colors <div class="example"><span class="arabic">- E 1</span> (H-m-r) relates to "redness"; <span class="arabic">'-E1Q</span> (iHmarra) means "to become or turn red"</div> <br /><span class="bold">Form 10 - <span class="arabic">'3*A9D</span> (istaf3ala)</span> <br />Built on form 1 by adding the prefix <span class="arabic">'3*@</span> to the form 1 verb and inserting a <span class="arabic">*</span> between the first and second radicals; a sukuun must be placed over the first radical <br />Often a <span class="italic">considerative</span> version of the form 1 verb; means "to consider or to deem someone to have the quality" of the form 1 verb in question <div class="example"><span class="arabic">(9/</span> (ba3ada) means "to be far away"; <span class="arabic">'3*(9/</span> (istab3ada) means "to consider s.o. or s.t. remote or unlikely"</div> <br />Often a <span class="italic">requestive</span> version of a form 1 verb; means "to request or to seek something" for oneself <div class="example"><span class="arabic">9ED</span> <span dir="ltr">(3amala) means "to make; to do";</span> <span class="arabic">'3*9ED</span> (ista3mala) means "to use, to put into operation" (that is, to seek to make something work for oneself)</div> <br /><p>And here's a table of all the verb forms, including their perfect and imperfect conjugations (<span class="arabic">'DE'6J H'DE6'19</span>), active and passive participles (<span class="arabic">'3E 'DA'9D H'3E 'DEA9HD</span>), and verbal nouns (<span class="arabic">'DE5/1</span>). Because they're all regular and predictable (with the exception of form 1 - the second vowel in the imperfect and perfect conjugations, and the verbal noun), if you just memorize them, you'll know them for almost every verb there is. So if you're learning Arabic, I suggest you memorize all the verb forms along with their associated meanings as soon as you can; it'll really come in handy.</p> <table class="zebra"> <colgroup class="column"></colgroup> <colgroup class="column"></colgroup> <colgroup class="column"></colgroup> <colgroup class="column"></colgroup> <colgroup class="column"></colgroup> <tr class="bottombordersolid odd"><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'DE5/1</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'3E 'DEA9HD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'3E 'DA'9D</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'DE6'19</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'DE'6J</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">&nbsp;</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic"></span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">ENAR9OHD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">A'9PD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JNAR9DO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">AN9DN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">1</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">*NAR9PJD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOAN9QND</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOAN9QPD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JOAN9QPDO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">AN9QNDN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">2</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOA'9NDN)</span> or <span class="arabic">AP9'D</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOA'9ND</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOA'9PD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JOA'9PDO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">A'9NDN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">3</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">%AR9'D</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOAR9ND</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOAR9PD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JOAR9PDO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">#AR9NDN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">4</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">*NAN9OQD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EO*NAN9QND</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EO*NAN9QPD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JN*NAN9QNDO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">*NAN9QNDN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">5</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">*NA'9OD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EO*NA'9ND</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EO*NA'9PD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JN*NA'9NDO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">*NA'9NDN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">6</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'PFRAP9'D</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOFRAN9ND</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOFRAN9PD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JNFRAN9PDO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'PFRAN9NDN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">7</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'PAR*P9'D</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOAR*N9ND</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOAR*N9PD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JNAR*N9PDO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'PAR*N9NDN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">8</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'PAR9PD'D</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">-</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EOAR9NDQ</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JNAR9NDQO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'PAR9NDQN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">9</span></td></tr> <tr><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'P3R*PAR9'D</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EO3R*NAR9ND</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">EO3R*NAR9PD</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">JN3R*NAR9PDO</span></td><td dir="rtl"><span class="arabic">'P3R*NAR9NDN</span></td><td dir="rtl" class="odd"><span class="arabic">10</span></td></tr> </table> <br /> <br /><span class="back">&larr; <a href="grammar.html">Main grammar page</a></span> <span class="forward"><a href="g_conj.html">Verb conjugations</a> &rarr;</span> <br /> </div> <div id="footer"> <p><a href="mailto:webmaster%20(at)%20desert-sky%20(dot)%20net">Contact</a></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>