أوزان الفعل
Introduction to verb forms (أوزان): Form I فَعَلَ (basic), Form II فَعَّلَ (intensify), Form III فاعَلَ (reciprocal)
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
كَتَبَ الطالبُ رسالةً.
The student wrote a letter.
دَرَّسَ المعلمُ الرياضيات.
The teacher taught mathematics.
سافَرَ إلى تونس.
He traveled to Tunisia.
عَلَّمَ الأبُ ابنَهُ السباحة.
The father taught his son swimming.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
أوزان الفعل — Verb Forms (Patterns)
Arabic verbs follow 10 standard patterns (أوزان) built from a 3-letter root. Each form adds a predictable meaning shift:
| Form | Pattern | Meaning Shift | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | فَعَلَ | basic | كَتَبَ (he wrote) |
| II | فَعَّلَ | intensify / causative | دَرَّسَ (he taught) |
| III | فاعَلَ | reciprocal / attempt | سافَرَ (he traveled) |
The root ك-ت-ب (writing): Form I كَتَبَ (wrote), Form II كَتَّبَ (made someone write), Form III كاتَبَ (corresponded with). Recognizing the form helps you guess meanings of new verbs!
كَتَبَ الطالبُ رسالةً.
The student wrote a letter.
كَتَبَ is Form I (فَعَلَ) — the basic meaning of the root ك-ت-ب (writing). Simple, no modification.
دَرَّسَ المعلمُ الرياضيات.
The teacher taught mathematics.
دَرَّسَ is Form II (فَعَّلَ) — doubled middle letter. Root: د-ر-س. Form I دَرَسَ = studied → Form II دَرَّسَ = taught (causative).
سافَرَ إلى تونس.
He traveled to Tunisia.
سافَرَ is Form III (فاعَلَ) — added alif after first root letter. Root: س-ف-ر. Form III often implies reciprocal or sustained action.
عَلَّمَ الأبُ ابنَهُ السباحة.
The father taught his son swimming.
عَلَّمَ (Form II) from عَلِمَ (Form I = knew). Doubled middle letter ل → causative: 'made someone know' = taught.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises