Arabic Learning Notes
Forms II–X, masdar irregularities, and noun menus.
How nouns and participles emerge from each verb form.
Form I masdars are irregular (sima’i) and must be memorized.
| Form | Past Verb | Doer | Receiver | Masdar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | فَعَلَ (e.g. كَتَبَ) | فَاعِل (كاتِب — Writer) | مَفْعُول (مَكْتُوب — Written) | فِعَالَة / فَعْل... (كِتَابَة — Writing) |
| Form | Context | Doer | Receiver | Masdar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| II | فَعَّلَ (Intensity/Teach) | مُفَعِّل (مُعَلِّم) | مُفَعَّل (مُعَلَّم) | تَفْعِيل (تَعْلِيم) |
| III | فَاعَلَ (Participation) | مُفَاعِل (مُسَاعِد) | مُفَاعَل (مُسَاعَد) | مُفَاعَلَة (مُسَاعَدَة) |
| IV | أَفْعَلَ (Causative) | مُفْعِل (مُرْسِل) | مُفْعَل (مُرْسَل) | إِفْعَال (إِرْسَال) |
| V | تَفَعَّلَ (Reflexive II) | مُتَفَعِّل (مُتَكَلِّم) | مُتَفَعَّل (مُتَكَلَّم) | تَفَعُّل (تَكَلُّم) |
| VI | تَفَاعَلَ (Reciprocity) | مُتَفَاعِل (مُتَكَامِل) | مُتَفَاعَل (مُتَكَامَل) | تَفَاعُل (تَكَامُل) |
| VII | اِنْفَعَلَ (Passive I) | مُنْفَعِل (مُنْكَسِر) | لا يوجد | اِنْفِعَال (اِنْكِسَار) |
| VIII | اِفْتَعَلَ (Effort/State) | مُفْتَعِل (مُسْتَمِع) | مُفْتَعَل (مُسْتَمَع) | اِفْتِعَال (اِسْتِمَاع) |
| X | اِسْتَفْعَلَ (Seeking) | مُسْتَفْعِل (مُسْتَخْدِم) | مُسْتَفْعَل (مُسْتَخْدَم) | اِسْتِفْعَال (اِسْتِخْدَام) |
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.