Baitul Ilm Notes for Classical Arabic Class 2011-12

Reference Book: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic by W. M. Thackston

Lesson: 06 (Pg 32 - 38)

In Arabic, verbs are words that have a complete meaning like the nouns but have a tense
as well. Verbs in Arabic are mostly of three letters. Examples:

Note: Verbs can never have .
All verbs are based on the root letters ( ) and patterns (
Root letters are found in all the verb forms of a word. Examples:
Root Letters

- ).

Verb forms

The letters in the word can follow a certain pattern. Examples:
Pattern

Words

The first letter in any three-letter verb is known as

as

, the second letter is known

and the last letter is known as .

Last Updated Date: 10/20/2011

2011 Baitul Ilm

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Baitul Ilm Notes for Classical Arabic Class 2011-12

Reference Book: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic by W. M. Thackston
Lesson: 06 (Pg 32 - 38)

Verbs can be categorized into the following types:

Type

(Sound Plural)

Definition
The root letters does not
contain any weak letters*.
Verbs that have

as one of the root

Examples

letters.
Verbs that have or as

.

(Hollow Verb)

Verbs that have or as

.
Verbs that have or as

(Weak Lam) the

Verbs whose

(Doubled / Geminate) and

are identical.

In the active past / present perfect tense verbs (

), and
will always have a , whereas can have a or .
Examples:

Verb

are the weak letters.

Last Updated Date: 10/20/2011

2011 Baitul Ilm

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Baitul Ilm Notes for Classical Arabic Class 2011-12

Reference Book: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic by W. M. Thackston
Lesson: 06 (Pg 32 - 38)

The format for

is as follows:

Plural
()

Dual
()

They (all) did / have done They (two) did / have done
The last

The last

They (all) did / have done They (two) did / have done
The last

The last

Singular ()

He, it did / has
done
Hidden

She, it did / has

done
Hidden

You (all) did / have done

You (two) did / have done

You did / has done

The last

You (all) did / have done

You (two) did / have done

You did / has done

The last

()
3rd Person
Masculine
Pronoun

)
(

3rd Person
Feminine
Pronoun

2nd Person
Masculine
Pronoun

)
(

2nd Person
Feminine
Pronoun

)
(

We did / have done

I did / have done

The last

Note:
-

1st Person
Masculine &
Feminine
Pronoun

is ( that is, it does not show ).

Last Updated Date: 10/20/2011

2011 Baitul Ilm

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Baitul Ilm Notes for Classical Arabic Class 2011-12

Reference Book: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic by W. M. Thackston
)Lesson: 06 (Pg 32 - 38

if followed by a In the 3rd person feminine singular, the last letter takes a

word beginning with

if followed by a In the 2 person masculine plural, the last letter takes a

nd

)(105:1

)(2:251

)(18:61

)(18:71

)(2:243

)(19:73
)(7:38
)(12:31
)(2:234
)(4:12
)(21:62
)(7:12
)(12:89
)(2:72
)(28:16
)(38:75
)(7:23
)(14:45
)(12:51

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word beginning with

2011 Baitul Ilm

Last Updated Date: 10/20/2011

Baitul Ilm Notes for Classical Arabic Class 2011-12

Reference Book: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic by W. M. Thackston
Lesson: 06 (Pg 32 - 38)

Sentences or clauses that begin with a verb are called verbal sentences or clauses

).
The past tense verb can be made negative by prefixing it with the negative article *.

He has not left

I have not entered.

(12:51)

(2:145)

(2:102)

For added emphasis on the completeness or finality of an affirmative perfect verb, the
particle may precede it. may be further strengthened by addition of the emphatic
article ( called

).

Indeed, the prayer has begun

Indeed, Hussain has been/was killed in Karbala

(2:60)
(4:170)
(6:31)
(33:21)
(3:164)

has more than one meaning.

Last Updated Date: 10/20/2011

2011 Baitul Ilm

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Baitul Ilm Notes for Classical Arabic Class 2011-12

Reference Book: An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic by W. M. Thackston
Lesson: 06 (Pg 32 - 38)

Verb and Subject Agreement:

(A) When the subject of a verb follows the verb:
i. The verb agrees with it in gender but remains singular regardless of the
number of the subject.

(3:35)

(3:42)

(5:23)
(2:30)
(7:60)

ii. The gender of the verb can be in agreement or deflected, if the subject is in the
broken plural form or a collective noun.

(7:60)
(26:105)

(12:30)

(49:14)

(14:11)

iii. If the subject is inanimate and feminine, the placement of any independent
word between the verb and its subject is liable to nullify verb-subject gender
agreement, and the verb can remain masculine singular.

(11:94)

(3:13)

(11:67)

(B) When the subject does not follow the verb:

i. The verb agrees with its subject in both number and gender.

(40:84)
(7:23)

ii. As in adjectival agreement, plural things are usually construed as feminine

singular for purposes of verbal agreement. e.g.

Last Updated Date: 10/20/2011

2011 Baitul Ilm

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