Verb patterns · أوزان الفعل
Ten moulds. Every verb fits one. Arabic verbs follow predictable patterns called awzān. Each form bends a root's meaning in a known direction: make it intensive, reflexive, mutual, causative. Learn the ten and unfamiliar verbs stop being unfamiliar.
ف‑ع‑ل
How to read a pattern فَعَلَ
ف = 1st root letter ·ع = 2nd ·ل = 3rd
Swap in any root: ك‑ت‑ب gives كَتَبَ "he wrote". The vowels and added letters are the pattern; the root is the meaning.
I Form I · Basic Basic action - the simple form of the verb فَعَلَ II Form II · Intensive Intensive/causative - making someone do something فَعَّلَ III Form III · Mutual Mutual/reciprocal action - doing with someone فَاعَلَ IV Form IV · Causative Causative - causing something to happen أَفْعَلَ V Form V · Reflexive of II Reflexive - the action returns to the subject تَفَعَّلَ VI Form VI · Mutual Reflexive Mutual reflexive - pretending or reciprocal action تَفَاعَلَ VII Form VII · Passive Passive - action done to the subject اِنْفَعَلَ VIII Form VIII · Reflexive Reflexive - doing something for oneself اِفْتَعَلَ IX Form IX · Colors/Defects Colors and physical defects اِفْعَلَّ X Form X · Seeking Seeking/requesting - to seek or consider something اِسْتَفْعَلَ Forms I–IV are the most common in Quranic Arabic; Form X is very common for seeking or requesting. The root letters carry the core meaning, so practice spotting roots in the verses you read.
Form I · Basic
فَعَلَ Form I (Basic) فَعَلَ Past
يَفْعَلُ / يَفْعِلُ / يَفْعُلُ Present
فَعْل / فِعَالَة / فُعُول Verbal noun
Basic action - the simple form of the verb
الفعل الأساسي
كَتَبَ kataba · to write root writing · 2:282 ك-ت-ب يَكْتُبُ yaktub · presentكِتَابَة kitābah · verbal noun
وَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ
عَلِمَ ʿalima · to know root knowledge · 2:77 ع-ل-م يَعْلَمُ yaʿlam · presentعِلْم ʿilm · verbal noun
أَوَلَا يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ
ذَكَرَ dhakara · to remember/mention root remembrance · 2:152 ذ-ك-ر يَذْكُرُ yadhkur · presentذِكْر dhikr · verbal noun
فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ
Tip: The base form. Vowel patterns vary (a-a, a-i, a-u). Most common form.
