Verb Forms (Awzan) · أوزان الفعل

The 10 main verb patterns in Arabic

2 Quran examples

The rule

Arabic verbs follow patterns called أوزان (awzān). The root letters fit into these patterns.

**Form I (فَعَلَ):** Basic meaning

كَتَبَ (kataba) = he wrote

**Form II (فَعَّلَ):** Intensive/Causative

عَلَّمَ (ʿallama) = he taught (from عَلِمَ - he knew)

**Form III (فَاعَلَ):** Doing with someone

قَاتَلَ (qātala) = he fought (from قَتَلَ - he killed)

**Form IV (أَفْعَلَ):** Causative

أَنزَلَ (anzala) = he sent down (from نَزَلَ - he descended)

**Form V (تَفَعَّلَ):** Reflexive of II

**Form VI (تَفَاعَلَ):** Mutual action

**Form VII (اِنفَعَلَ):** Passive-like

**Form VIII (اِفتَعَلَ):** Reflexive

**Form X (اِستَفْعَلَ):** Seeking/Considering

اِسْتَغْفَرَ (istaghfara) = he sought forgiveness

In the Quran· tap the reference to open the verse

أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً

Anzala mina as-samā'i mā'an

He sent down from the sky rain

وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ

Wa-staghfirū rabbakum

And seek forgiveness from your Lord