Yiying Zhang
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Arabic Learning Notes

Derivations

Forms II–X, masdar irregularities, and noun menus.

2 Sections English + 中文 Grammar + Practice

Derivations & Word Architecture (المشتقات)

How nouns and participles emerge from each verb form.

  • اسم الفاعل — the doer (active participle)
  • اسم المفعول — the receiver (passive participle)
  • المصدر — the verbal noun or idea

Key Rule for Forms II–X

  • اسم الفاعل (doer): starts with مُـ and uses a kasra before the end.
  • اسم المفعول (receiver): starts with مُـ and uses a fatha before the end.

Form I (المُجَرَّد)

Form I masdars are irregular (sima’i) and must be memorized.

Form
I
Past Verb
فَعَلَ (e.g. كَتَبَ)
Doer
فَاعِل (كاتِب — Writer)
Receiver
مَفْعُول (مَكْتُوب — Written)
Masdar
فِعَالَة / فَعْل... (كِتَابَة — Writing)

Forms II–X (المَزِيد)

Form
II
Context
فَعَّلَ (Intensity/Teach)
Doer
مُفَعِّل (مُعَلِّم)
Receiver
مُفَعَّل (مُعَلَّم)
Masdar
تَفْعِيل (تَعْلِيم)
Form
III
Context
فَاعَلَ (Participation)
Doer
مُفَاعِل (مُسَاعِد)
Receiver
مُفَاعَل (مُسَاعَد)
Masdar
مُفَاعَلَة (مُسَاعَدَة)
Form
IV
Context
أَفْعَلَ (Causative)
Doer
مُفْعِل (مُرْسِل)
Receiver
مُفْعَل (مُرْسَل)
Masdar
إِفْعَال (إِرْسَال)
Form
V
Context
تَفَعَّلَ (Reflexive II)
Doer
مُتَفَعِّل (مُتَكَلِّم)
Receiver
مُتَفَعَّل (مُتَكَلَّم)
Masdar
تَفَعُّل (تَكَلُّم)
Form
VI
Context
تَفَاعَلَ (Reciprocity)
Doer
مُتَفَاعِل (مُتَكَامِل)
Receiver
مُتَفَاعَل (مُتَكَامَل)
Masdar
تَفَاعُل (تَكَامُل)
Form
VII
Context
اِنْفَعَلَ (Passive I)
Doer
مُنْفَعِل (مُنْكَسِر)
Receiver
لا يوجد
Masdar
اِنْفِعَال (اِنْكِسَار)
Form
VIII
Context
اِفْتَعَلَ (Effort/State)
Doer
مُفْتَعِل (مُسْتَمِع)
Receiver
مُفْتَعَل (مُسْتَمَع)
Masdar
اِفْتِعَال (اِسْتِمَاع)
Form
X
Context
اِسْتَفْعَلَ (Seeking)
Doer
مُسْتَفْعِل (مُسْتَخْدِم)
Receiver
مُسْتَفْعَل (مُسْتَخْدَم)
Masdar
اِسْتِفْعَال (اِسْتِخْدَام)

Form I Masdar Irregularity

Why Form I must be memorized, with examples and a common irregular pattern.

Form I masdars are irregular (سَمَاعِيّ). You cannot reliably derive them from the verb; you must hear or look them up.

  • خَدَمَ → خِدْمَة (Service)
  • كَتَبَ → كِتَابَة (Writing)
  • دَرَسَ → دَرْس (Lesson/Studying)
  • دَخَلَ → دُخُول (Entering)
Common irregular pattern: فِعْلَة (Fi’la). Often used for crafts, professions, or states.
حِكْمَة — Wisdom
خِبْرَة — Experience
رِحْلَة — Trip/Journey
مِهْنَة — Profession