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Verbs

Imperfective Structures

Forms II Through QIV (continued)

♪Ya-i Verbs

Represented by form VII in the three introductory examples, these verbs have the prefix ya- and the green vowel i in the active voice (and like all imperfective verbs, the prefix yu- and the green vowel a in the passive voice).

Ya-i verbs are the majority of the verb forms. They can be identified by elimination: any verb form that is neither quadriliteral (composed of four letters) nor begins with a reflexive prefix ta- will be a Ya-i verb. The Ya-i verbs are namely the forms VII through XV and forms QIII & QIV .

Ya-i Verb Forms
	Imperfective (Active-Indicative)	Perfective (Active)
Form VII	يَنْفَعِلُ	اِنْفَعَلَ
Form VII	yanfa"il(u)	'infa"al(a)
Form VIII	يَفْتَعِلُ	اِفْتَعَلَ
Form VIII	yafta"il(u)	'ifta"al(a)
Form IX	يَفْعَلُّ^*	اِفْعَلََّ
Form IX	yaf"all(u)	'if"all(a)
Form X	يَسْتَفْعِلُ	اِسْتَفْعَلَ
Form X	yastaf"il(u)	'istaf"al(a)
Form XI	يَفْعَاْلُّ^*	اِفْعَاْلَّ
Form XI	yaf"aall(u)	'if"aall(a)
Form XII	يَفْعَوْعِلُ	اِفْعَوْعَلَ
Form XII	yaf"aw"il(u)	'if"aw"al(a)
Form XIII	يَفْعَوِّلُ	اِفْعَوَّلَ
Form XIII	yaf"awwil(u)	'if"awwal(a)
Form XIV	يَفْعَنْلِلُ	اِفْعَنْلَلَ
Form XIV	yaf"anlil(u)	'if"anlal(a)
Form XV	يَفْعَنْلِيْ^*	اِفْعَنْلَىْ
Form XV	yaf"anliy	'if"anlaa
Form QIII	يَفْعَنْلِلُ	اِفْعَنْلَلَ
Form QIII	yaf"anlil(u)	'if"anlal(a)
Form QIV	يَفْعَلِلُّ^*	اِفْعَلَلَّ
Form QIV	yaf"alill(u)	'if"alall(a)

*These are irregular doubled verb. The green vowel is hidden in forms IX & XI and displaced backward in form QIV. The original structures of these forms will be restored only in the feminine plural conjugations.

*This verb always conjugates as a defective verb. The final weak A will be transformed to y in the imperfective.

Examples on conjugation:

Form VIII

اِنْزَعَجَ

'inza"aj(a)

(He) was/became annoyed

	المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) اِنْزَعَجَ : اِنْفَعَلَ
S I N G U L A R	(I) become annoyed	'anza"ij(u)	أَنْزَعِجُ
	(You masc.) become annoyed	tanza"ij(u)	تَنْزَعِجُ
	(You fem.) become annoyed	tanza"ijeen(a)	تنْزَعِجِيْنَ
	(He) becomes annoyed	yanza"ij(u)	يَنْزَعِجُ
	(She) becomes annoyed	tanza"ij(u)	تَنْزَعِجُ
D U A L	(You) become annoyed	tanza"ijaan(i)	تَنْزَعِجَاْنِ
	(They masc.) become annoyed	yanza"ijaan(i)	يَنْزَعِجَاْنِ
	(They fem.) become annoyed	tanza"ijaan(i)	تَنْزَعِجَاْنِ
P L U R A L	(We dual/plu.) become annoyed	nanza"ij(u)	نَنْزَعِجُ
	(You masc.) become annoyed	tanza"ijoon(a)	تَنْزَعِجُوْنَ
	(You fem.) become annoyed	tanza"ijn(a)	تَنْزَعِجْنَ
	(They masc.) become annoyed	yanza"ijoon(a)	يَنْزَعِجُوْنَ
	(They fem.) become annoyed	yanza"ijn(a)	يَنْزَعِجْنَ

Form VIII

اِنْتَظَرَ

'intzar(a)

(He) waited (tr.)

	المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) اِنْتَظَرَ : اِفْتَعَلَ
S I N G U L A R	(I) wait	'antazir(u)	أَنْتَظِرُ
	(You masc.) wait	tantazir(u)	تَنْتَظِرُ
	(You fem.) wait	tantazireen(a)	تَنْتَظِرِيْنَ
	(He) waits	yantazir(u)	يَنْتَظِرُ
	(She) waits	tantazir(u)	تَنْتَظِرُ
D U A L	(You) wait	tantaziraan(i)	تَنْتَظِرَاْنِ
	(They masc.) wait	yantaziraan(i)	يَنْتَظِرَاْنِ
	(They fem.) wait	tantaziraan(i)	تَنْتَظِرَاْنِ
P L U R A L	(We dual/plu.) wait	nantazir(u)	نَنْتَظِرُ
	(You masc.) wait	tantaziroon(a)	تَنْتَظِرُوْنَ
	(You fem.) wait	tantazirn(a)	تَنْتَظِرْنَ
	(They masc.) wait	yantaziroon(a)	يَنْتَظِرُوْنَ
	(They fem.) wait	yantazirn(a)	يَنْتَظِرْنَ

Try conjugating the following verb:

اِنْتَصَرَ

'intasar(a)

(He) won

	المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) اِنْتَصَرَ : اِفْتَعَلَ
S I N G U L A R	(I) win	'antasir(u)	أَنْتَصِرُ
	(You masc.) win	tantasir(u)	تَنْتَصِرُ
	(You fem.) win	tantasireen(a)	تَنْتَصِرِيْنَ
	(He) wins	yantasir(u)	يَنْتَصِرُ
	(She) wins	tantasir(u)	تَنْتَصِرُ
D U A L	(You) win	tantasiraan(i)	تَنْتَصِرَاْنِ
	(They masc.) win	yantasiraan(i)	يَنْتَصِرَاْنِ
	(They fem.) win	tantasiraan(i)	تَنْتَصِرَاْنِ
P L U R A L	(We dual/plu.) win	nantasir(u)	نَنْتَصِرُ
	(You masc.) win	tantasiroon(a)	تَنْتَصِرُوْنَ
	(You fem.) win	tantasirn(a)	تَنْتَصِرْنَ
	(They masc.) win	yantasiroon(a)	يَنْتَصِرُوْنَ
	(They fem.) win	yantasirn(a)	يَنْتَصِرْنَ

The forms that denote color or bodily defect state of the subject (IX & XI) are doubled verbs. They will conjugate regularly except in the feminine plural conjugations where they will need the insertion of an i (the hidden green vowel) between the two doubled letters of the stem.

Form IX

اِخْضَرَّ

'ikhdarr(a)

(He) greened (up)

	المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) اِخْضَرَّ : اِفْعَلَّ
S I N G U L A R	(I) green	'akhdarr(u)	أَخْضَرُّ
	(You masc.) green	takhdarr(u)	تَخْضَرُّ
	(You fem.) green	takhdarreen(a)	تَخْضَرِّيْنَ
	(He) greens	yakhdarr(u)	يَخْضَرُّ
	(She) greens	takhdarr(u)	تَخْضَرُّ
D U A L	(You) green	takhdarraan(i)	تَخْضَرَّاْنِ
	(They masc.) green	yakhdarraan(i)	يَخْضَرَّاْنِ
	(They fem.) green	takhdarraan(i)	تَخْضَرَّاْنِ
P L U R A L	(We dual/plu.) green	nakhdarr(u)	نَخْضَرُّ
	(You masc.) green	takhdarroon(a)	تَخْضَرُّوْنَ
	(You fem.) green	takhdarirn(a)	تَخْضَرِرْنَ
	(They masc.) green	yakhdarroon(a)	يَخْضَرُّوْنَ
	(They fem.) green	yakhdarirn(a)	يَخْضَرِرْنَ

Form XI

اِحْمَاْرَّ

'ihmaarr(a)

(He) reddened (up) (much)

	المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) اِحْمَاْرَّ : اِفْعَاْلَّ
S I N G U L A R	(I) green	'ahmaarr(u)	أَحْمَاْرُّ
	(You masc.) green	tahmaarr(u)	تَحْمَاْرُّ
	(You fem.) green	tahmaarreen(a)	تَحْمَاْرِّيْنَ
	(He) greens	yahmaarr(u)	يَحْمَاْرُّ
	(She) greens	tahmaarr(u)	تَحْمَاْرُّ
D U A L	(You) green	tahmaarraan(i)	تَحْمَاْرَّاْنِ
	(They masc.) green	yahmaarraan(i)	يَحْمَاْرَّاْنِ
	(They fem.) green	tahmaarraan(i)	تَحْمَاْرَّاْنِ
P L U R A L	(We dual/plu.) green	nahmaarr(u)	نَحْمَاْرُّ
	(You masc.) green	tahmaarroon(a)	تَحْمَاْرُّوْنَ
	(You fem.) green	tahmaarirn(a)	تَحْمَاْرِرْنَ
	(They masc.) green	yahmaarroon(a)	يَحْمَاْرُّوْنَ
	(They fem.) green	yahmaarirn(a)	يَحْمَاْرِرْنَ

Form X

اِسْتَعْمَلَ

'ista"mal(a)

(He) used

	المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) اِسْتَعْمَلَ : اِسْتَفْعَلَ
S I N G U L A R	(I) use	'asta"mil(u)	أَسْتَعْمِلُ
	(You masc.) use	tasta"mil(u)	تَسْتَعْمِلُ
	(You fem.) use	tasta"mileen(a)	تَسْتَعْمِليْنَ
	(He) uses	yasta"mil(u)	يَسْتَعْمِلُ
	(She) uses	tasta"mil(u)	تَسْتَعْمِلُ
D U A L	(You) use	tasta"milaan(i)	تَسْتَعْمِلانِ
	(They masc.) use	yasta"milaan(i)	يَسْتَعْمِلانِ
	(They fem.) use	tasta"milaan(i)	تَسْتَعْمِلانِ
P L U R A L	(We dual/plu.) use	nasta"mil(u)	نَسْتَعْمِلُ
	(You masc.) use	tasta"miloon(a)	تَسْتَعْمِلوْنَ
	(You fem.) use	tasta"miln(a)	تَسْتَعْمِلْنَ
	(They masc.) use	yasta"miloon(a)	يَسْتَعْمِلُوْنَ
	(They fem.) use	yasta"miln(a)	يَسْتَعْمِلْنَ

Form QIV is also a doubled verbs like forms IX & XI; however, the green short vowel here is not hidden but is rather displaced backward. In the feminine plural conjugations, the original form of QIV verbs ('if"allal(a)) must be restored before conjugation; or, in another way of saying it, the green short vowel must be restored to its original place in the feminine plural conjugations.

Form QIV

اِطْمَأَنَّ

'itma'ann(a)

(He) was/became reassured

	المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) اِطْمَأَنَّ : اِفْعَلَلَّ
S I N G U L A R	(I) become reassured	'atma'inn(u)	أَطْمَئِنُّ
	(You masc.) become reassured	tatma'inn(u)	تَطْمَئِنُّ
	(You fem.) become reassured	tatma'inneen(a)	تَطْمَئِنِّيْنَ
	(He) becomes reassured	yatma'inn(u)	يَطْمَئِنُّ
	(She) becomes reassured	tatma'inn(u)	تَطْمَئِنُّ
D U A L	(You) become reassured	tatma'innaan(i)	تَطْمَئِنّانِ
	(They masc.) become reassured	yatma'innaan(i)	يَطْمَئِنّانِ
	(They fem.) become reassured	tatma'innaan(i)	تَطْمَئِنّانِ
P L U R A L	(We dual/plu.) become reassured	natma'inn(u)	نَطْمَئِنّ
	(You masc.) become reassured	tatma'innoon(a)	تَطْمَئِنّوْنَ
	(You fem.) become reassured	tatma'<ninn(a)	تَطْمَئْنِنَّ
	(They masc.) become reassured	yatma'innoon(a)	يَطْمَئِنُّونَ
	(They fem.) become reassured	yatma'<ninn(a)	يَطْمَئْنِنَّ

Imperfective Conjugation
Yu-i Verbs	Forms II, III, IV, & QI	four forms with four letters
Ya-a Verbs	Forms V, VI & QII	prefix ta-
Ya-i Verbs	Forms VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, QIII & QIV	Everything else

Imperfective Conjugation
Ya-a	Active voice of forms I, V, VI & QII
Ya-i	Active voice of forms I, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, QIII & QIV
Ya-u	Active voice of form I
Yu-i	Active voice of forms II, III, IV, & QI
Yu-a	Passive voice of all forms

Arabic Verbs
	Imperfective (Active-Indicative)	Perfective (Active)
Form I	يَفْعلُ	فَعلَ
Form I	yaf"?l(u)	fa"?l(a)
Form II	يُفَعِّلُ	فَعَّلَ
Form II	yufa''"il(u)	fa''"al(a)
Form III	يُفَاْعِلُ	فَاْعَلَ
Form III	yufaa"il(u)	faa"al(a)
Form IV	يُفْعِلُ	أَفْعَلَ
Form IV	yuf"il(u)	'af"al(a)
Form V	يَتَفَعَّلُ	تَفَعَّلَ
Form V	yatafa''"al(u)	tafa''"al(a)
Form VI	يَتَفَاْعَلُ	تَفَاْعَلَ
Form VI	yatafaa"al(u)	tafaa"al(a)
Form VII	يَنْفَعِلُ	اِنْفَعَلَ
Form VII	yanfa"il(u)	'infa"al(a)
Form VIII	يَفْتَعِلُ	اِفْتَعَلَ
Form VIII	yafta"il(u)	'ifta"al(a)
Form IX	يَفْعَلُّ	اِفْعَلََّ
Form IX	yaf"all(u)	'if"all(a)
Form X	يَسْتَفْعِلُ	اِسْتَفْعَلَ
Form X	yastaf"il(u)	'istaf"al(a)
Form XI	يَفْعَاْلُّ	اِفْعَاْلَّ
Form XI	yaf"aall(u)	'if"aall(a)
Form XII	يَفْعَوْعِلُ	اِفْعَوْعَلَ
Form XII	yaf"aw"il(u)	'if"aw"al(a)
Form XIII	يَفْعَوِّلُ	اِفْعَوَّلَ
Form XIII	yaf"awwil(u)	'if"awwal(a)
Form XIV	يَفْعَنْلِلُ	اِفْعَنْلَلَ
Form XIV	yaf"anlil(u)	'if"anlal(a)
Form XV	يَفْعَنْلِيْ	اِفْعَنْلَىْ
Form XV	yaf"anliy	'if"anlaa
Form QII	يَتَفَعْلَلُ	تَفَعْلَلَ
Form QII	yatafa"lal(u)	tafa"lal(a)
Form QI	يُفَعْلِلُ	فَعْلَلَ
Form QI	yufa"lil(u)	fa"lal(a)
Form QIII	يَفْعَنْلِلُ	اِفْعَنْلَلَ
Form QIII	yaf"anlil(u)	'if"anlal(a)
Form QIV	يَفْعَلِلُّ	اِفْعَلَلَّ
Form QIV	yaf"alill(u)	'if"alall(a)

Present vs. Future Tense

The imperfective verb on its own can express both the present and future tenses. However, in order to disambiguate between the two tenses, especially in sentences not containing time expressions such as tomorrow, later, etc., Arabic uses the following word before the imperfective when it is meant as a future tense verb:

sawf(a)

سَوْفَ

Future Tense	Present/Future Tense
سَوْفَ يَفْعَلُ	يَفْعَلُ
sawf(a) yaf"al(u)	yaf"al(u)
(He) will do (He) will be doing	(He) does (He) is doing (He) will do (He) will be doing

This word is similar to the English "will," although it will not necessarily always carry the connotation of prediction or spontaneity as in English.

Sawf(a) can often be reduced to sa- ; this happens most of the time in modern standard Arabic.

sa-

سَـ

Future Tense	Present/Future Tense
سَيَفْعَلُ	يَفْعَلُ
sa-yaf"al(u)	yaf"al(u)
(He) will do (He) will be doing	(He) does (He) is doing (He) will do (He) will be doing

More details will be available in the tense section.

Examples:

Future

Present/Future

Past

سَوْفَ يَذْهَبُ

sawfa yathhab(u)

(he) will go

يَذْهَبُ

yathhab(u)

(he) goes

(he) will go

ذَهَبَ

thahab(a)

(he) went

سَيَذْهَبُ

sa-yathhab(u)

(he) will go

سَوْفَ تَأْتِيْ

sawfa ta'<tee

(you 1/m) will come

تَأْتِيْ

ta'<tee

(you 1/m) come

(you 1/m) will come

أَتَيْتَ

'atayt(a)

(you 1/m) came

سَتَأْتِيْ

sa-ta'<tee

(you 1/m) will come

سَوْفَ أَقُوْلُ

sawfa 'aqool(u)

(I) will say

أَقُوْلُ

'aqool(u)

(I) say

(I) will say

قُلْتُ

qult(u)

(I) said

سَأَقُوْلُ

sa-'aqool(u)

(I) will say

سَوْفَ تَسْمَعِيْنَ

sawfa tasma"een(a)

(you 1/f) will hear

تَسْمَعِيْنَ

tasma"een(a)

(you 1/f) hear

(you 1/f) will hear

سَمِعْتِ

sami"ti

(you 1/f) heard

سَتَسْمَعِيْنَ

sa-tasma"een(a)

(you 1/f) will hear

سَوْفَ نَعْرِفُ

sawfa na"rif(u)

(we) will know

نَعْرِفُ

na"rif(u)

(we) know

(we) will know

عَرَفْنَاْ

"arafnaa

(we) knew

سَنَعْرِفُ

sa-na"rif(u)

(we) will know

سَوْفَ تَقْرَؤُوْنَ

sawfa taqra'oon(a)

(you >2/m) will read

تَقْرَؤُوْنَ

taqra'oon(a)

(you >2/m) read

(you >2/m) will read

قَرَأْتُمْ

qara'<tum

(you >2/m) read

سَتَقْرَؤُوْنَ

sa-taqra'oon(a)

(you >2/m) will read

سَوْفَ يَكْتُبْنَ

sawfa yaktubn(a)

(they >2/m) will write

يَكْتُبْنَ

yaktubn(a)

(they >2/m) write

(they >2/m) will write

كَتَبْنَ

katabn(a)

(they >2/m) wrote

سَيَكْتُبْنَ

sa-yaktubn(a)

(they >2/m) will write

سَوْفَ يَتَكَلَّمَاْنِ

sawfa yatakallamaan(i)

(they 2/m) will speak

يَتَكَلَّمَاْنِ

yatakallamaan(i)

(they 2/m) speak

(they 2/m) will speak

تَكَلَّمَاْ

takallamaa

(they 2/m) spoke

سَيَتَكَلَّمَاْنِ

sa-yatakallamaan(i)

(they 2/m) will speak

سَوْفَ تَرَيْنَ

sawfa tarayn(a)

(you >2/f) will see

تَرَيْنَ

tarayn(a)

(you >2/f) see

(you >2/f) will see

رَأَيْتُنَّ

ra'aytunn(a)

(you >2/f) saw

سَتَرَيْنَ

sa-tarayn(a)

(you >2/f) will see

سَوْفَ تُحَاْوِلانِ

sawfa tuhaawilaan(i)

(they 2/f) will try

تُحَاْوِلانِ

tuhaawilaan(i)

(they 2/f) try

(they 2/f) will try

حاوَلَتَاْ

haawalataa

(they 2/f) tried

سَتُحَاْوِلانِ

sa-tuhaawilaan(i)

(they 2/f) will try

سَوْفَ نُسَاْفِرُ

sawfa nusaafir(u)

(we) will travel

نُسَاْفِرُ

nusaafir(u)

(we) travel

(we) will travel

سافَرْنَاْ

saafarnaa

(we) traveled

سَنُسَافِْرُ

sa-nusaafir(u)

(we) will travel

سَوْفَ يَصِلُ

sawfa yasil(u)

(he) will arrive

يَصِلُ

yasil(u)

(he) arrives

(he) will arrive

وَصَلَ

wasal(a)

(he) arrived

سَيَصِلُ

sa-yasil(u)

(he) will arrive

سَوْفَ تُغَاْدِرُ

sawfa turaadir(u)

(she) will leave

تُغَاْدِرُ

turaadir

(she) leaves

(she) will leave

غَادَرَتْ

raadarat

(she) left (intr.)

سَتُغَاْدِرُ

sa-turaadir(u)

(she) will leave

سَوْفَ تَرْكَبَاْنِ

sawfa tarkabaan(i)

(you 2/m) will ride

تَرْكَبَاْنِ

tarkabaan(i)

(you 2/m) ride

(you 2/m) will ride

رَكِبْتُمَاْ

rakibtumaa

(you 2/m) rode

سَتَرْكَبَاْنِ

sa-tarkabaan(i)

(you 2/m) will ride

Exercise 1

Can you fill in the missing English pronouns inside the brackets?

(?) hurry (up)	تسْرعُوْنَ
(?) win	ينْتَصرْنَ
(?) cooperate	تتَعَاْونُ
(?) try	نجَرّبُ
(?) try, attempt	يحَاْولانِ
(?) blue (become blue)	تزْرَققْنَ
(?) fidget	تتَمَلْملُوْنَ
(?) blow up	تفَجّرَاْنِ
(?) make, force (to do)	أجْبرُ
(?) speak	تتَكَلَمِيْنَ
(?) use	أسْتَخْدمُ
(?) become lame	يعْرَاْججْنَ
(?) commit (do wrong)	نرْتَكبُ
(?) reiterate	تكَرّرِيْنَ
(?) mutter	يتَمْتمَاْنِ
(?) send	يرْسلُوْنَ
(?) roughen	تخْشَوْشنُ

Answers

(You masc. plu.) hurry (up)	تسْرعُوْنَ
(They fem. plu.) win	ينْتَصرْنَ
(You masc. sing.) cooperate (She) cooperates	تتَعَاْونُ
(We) try	نجَرّبُ
(They masc. dual) try, attempt	يحَاْولانِ
(You fem. plu.) blue (become blue)	تزْرَققْنَ
(You masc. plu.) fidget	تتَمَلْملُوْنَ
(You dual) blow up (They fem. dual) blow up	تفَجّرَاْنِ
(I) make, force (to do)	أجْبرُ
(You fem. sing.) speak	تتَكَلَمِيْنَ
(I) use	أسْتَخْدمُ
(They fem. plu.) become lame	يعْرَاْججْنَ
(We) commit (do wrong)	نرْتَكبُ
(You fem. sing.) reiterate	تكَرّرِيْنَ
(They masc. dual) mutter	يتَمْتمَاْنِ
(They masc. plu.) send	يرْسلُوْنَ
(You masc. sing.) roughen (She) roughens	تخْشَوْشنُ

Exercise 2

Can you tell the missing vowel-marks in the Arabic words of the previous example?

Answers

Form IV	تُسْرِعُوْنَ
Form VIII	يَنْتَصِرْنَ
Form VI	تَتَعَاْوَنُ
Form II	نُجَرِّبُ
Form III	يُحَاْوِلانِ
Form IX	تَزْرَقِقْنَ
Form QII	تَتَمَلْمَلُوْنَ
Form II	تُفَجِّرَاْنِ
Form VI	أُجْبِرُ
Form V	تَتَكَلَّمِيْنَ
Form X	أَسْتَخْدِمُ
Form XI	يَعْرَاْجِجْنَ
Form VIII	نَرْتَكِبُ
Form II	تُكَرِّرِيْنَ
Form QI	يُتَمْتِمَاْنِ
Form IV	يُرْسِلُوْنَ
Form XII	تَخْشَوْشِنُ

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