10 Verb Forms

Patterns, examples, and the symbol legend that powers them.

1 Sections English + 中文 Grammar + Practice

10 Verb Forms (أوزان)

Patterns, logic, and a mental model for how each form transforms meaning.

Wazan	Arabic Pattern	Linguistic Name	Logical Meaning	Notes
I	فَعَلَ / فَعِلَ / فَعُلَ	Base	A →	No object
II	فَعَّلَ	Intensity/Causative	A ⇢ B	Direct object + intensification
III	فَاعَلَ	Participation/Interaction	A ⇄ B / A → (situation)	A enters a situation
IV	أَفْعَلَ	Causative (Transitive)	A ⟶ B / A ⟶ A’	Cause B to act or enter a state
V	تَفَعَّلَ	Reflexive of II	A ⇢ A / A ↩ / ∅ → A	Repeat of II
VI	تَفَاعَلَ	Reciprocity	A ⇄ B / A ↩ / A ⇢⇄ A	Repeat of III
VII	اِنْفَعَلَ	Passive of I	A ← B / A ↩ / A ⇢ A	Passive
VIII	اِفْتَعَلَ	Reflexive/State	A ↩ / A → B / A ⟷ A	Self-inflicted
IX	اِفْعَلَّ	Color	∅ → A’ 🎨	Colors
X	اِسْتَفْعَلَ	Seeking/Requesting	A ⇥ B / A ⇥ B → A’	Requested action

Wazan I: كَتَبَ (kataba) — “to write”
Wazan II: عَلَّمَ (ʿallama) — “to teach”
Wazan III: كَاتَبَ (kātaba) — “to correspond with”
Wazan IV: أَجْلَسَ (ajlasa) — “to seat someone”
Wazan V: تَعَلَّمَ (taʿallama) — “to learn”
Wazan VI: تَرَاسَلَ (tarāsala) — “to exchange letters”
Wazan VII: اِنْكَسَرَ (inkasara) — “to be broken”
Wazan VIII: اِجْتَمَعَ (ijtamaʿa) — “to gather/meet”
Wazan IX: اِحْمَرَّ (iḥmarra) — “to become red”
Wazan X: اِسْتَغْفَرَ (istaghfara) — “to seek forgiveness” (e.g., اِسْتَعْرَبَ, مُسْتَعْرِب)

Symbol	Meaning	Symbol	Meaning
A	Subject/doer	←	Passive: action done to B by A
B	Object/target	⟷	Reflexive + internal conflict
A′	Transformed A	⇥	Seeking/requesting
↩	Self-inflicted	∅ → A	Inchoative state
→	Direct action	🎨	Color/physical trait
⇢	Intensification	🤔→	Evaluative assignment
⟶	Clear causation	🤥→ B	False pretending/claiming
⇄	Mutual action	⟲	Iterative interaction