8.7/8.8 - Forms of three alphabet Root Words/Weak Imperfect Tense
Section 8.7 - Forms of three alphabet Root Words اَبْوَابُ الْثُلَاثِيُ الْمُجَرَّدُ
الْثُلَاثِيُ ath-thu-laa-ti literally means three and الْمُجَرَّدُ al-mujar-rad means free form (empty/without short vowels). We have used three different free forms of three alphabet root word فعلwhich were فَعَلَ fa-al-a, فَعِلَ fa-al-a, فَعُلَ fa-u-la. Only ع alphabet short vowel or harakah was changed. Remember again that فعل (Alphabets ل عف) is used as a base for defining the location alphabet. For example, in the word سَمِعَ sa-mi-a, the alphabet س is the ف location, م alphabet is the ع location and ع is the ل location.
You can see that, if we did all combinations of three short vowels for each of the three alphabets, there would be 9 different forms for past tense and another 9 for imperfect tense. Fortunately, only a few of these combinations are used in Arabic and fewer yet which are most commonly used.
The linguists determined that six out of all these combinations are used most commonly. And for non-native readers, a method was devised by using the first alphabet from each of these as an identifier given in a parenthesis to let the reader know which of these six forms a given Verb fits into.
These combinations are based on the short vowel of the past tense with fathah, kasrah and dammah with imperfect tense short vowel combination and these are:
Table 52 – Forms of three alphabet Root Words اَبْوَابُ الْثُّلَاثِيُ الْمُجَرَّدُ ab-waa-buth-thu-lathi-ul mu-jar-radu
|
| harakah on ع alphabet of Past tense | Past Tense | harakah on ع alphabet of imperfect tense | Imperfect tense | Designation alphabet |
| Combination 1 fathah on past and fathah/kasrah/dammah on imperfect | |||||
| 1 | fathah on ع alphabet | فَتَحَ
Fa-ta-ha | fathah on ع alphabet | يَفْتَحُ
Yaf-ta-hu | ف |
| 2 | fathah on ع alphabet | ضَرَبَ Da-ra-ba | kasrah on ع alphabet | يَضْرِبُ
Yad-ri-bu | ض |
| 3 | fathah on ع alphabet | نَصَرَ
Na-sa-ra | dammah on ع alphabet | يَنْصُرُ
Yan-su-ru | ن |
| Combination 2 kasrah on past and fat-hah /kasrah/ | |||||
| 4 | kasrah on ع alphabet | سَمِعَ
Sa-mi-aa | fathah on ع alphabet | يَسْمَعُ
Yas-ma-u | س |
| 5 | kasrah on ع alphabet | حَسِبَ
Ha-si-ba | fathah on ع alphabet | يَحْسَبُ
Yah-sa-bu | ح |
| Combination 2 dammah on past and | |||||
| 6 | dammah on ع alphabet | كَرُمَ
Ka-ru-ma | dammah on ع alphabet | يَكْرُمُ
Yak-ru-mu | ك |
The crossed-out words are combinations that are not part of the six base line forms and are shown for possibility of other combinations.
The advantage of this method is that, since Arabic native writers do not use short vowels or harakahs in their writing, specifying an alphabet tells non-native Arabic readers what form it will fit into. For example, if we use three alphabets غ ف ر or غفر, we would not know what short vowels to use. A native speaker would know how to pronounce it based on the context of the sentence. But if we write (ف)غفر, then we know it is based on form فَتَحَ fa-ta-haand we will pronounce this word as غَفَرَ gha-fa-ra meaning he forgave, its imperfect would beيغْفِرُ yagh-fi-ru meaning he forgives/he will forgive and its passive would be غُفِرَ ghu-fi-ra meaning he was forgiven.
Following are few examples of how to use the forms in adding short vowels:
Table 53– Examples of Forms of three alphabet Root Words اَلْأَبْوَابُ الْثُّلَاثِيُ الْمُجَرَّدُ al-abwaa-buth thu-laa-thi-ul mu-jar-rad
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| Form بَابٌ Baa-bun | Past Tense مَاضي Maa-di | Imperfect Tense مُضَارِعٌ Mu-da-ri-un | Source مَصْدَرٌ Mas-dar-un |
| س ج د | (ن) | سَجَدَ Sa-ja-da He prostrated | يَسْجُدُ Yas-ju-du he is prostrating or will prostrate
| سَجْدًا Sa-ja-dan To prostrate |
| ك ت ب | (ن) | كَتَبَ Ka-ta-ba He wrote | يَكتُبُ Yak-tu-bu He is writing/will write | كَتَبًا Ka-ta-ban To write |
| خ ر ج | (ن) | خَرَجَ Kha-ra-ja He went out | يَخْرُجُ Yakh-ru-ju He is going out or will go out | خَرَجًا Kha-ra-jan To go out |
| ر ز ق | (ن) | رَزَقَ Ra-za-qa He provided sustenance | يَرْزُقُ Yar-zu-qu He is or will provide sustenance | رِزْقًا Riz-khan To provide sustenance |
| ع ل م | (س) | عَلِمَ 'Ali-ma He knew | يَعْلَمُ Y'a-la-mu He knows or will know | عِلْمًا 'Il-man To know |
| ت ب ع | (س) | تَبِعَ Ta-ba-'a He followed | يَتْبَعُ Yat-ba-'u He follows or will follow | تَبْعًا Tab-'an To follow |
| غ ف ر | (ض) | غَفَرَ Gha-fa-ra He forgave | يَغْفِرُ Yagh-fi-ru he forgives or will forgive | مَغفِرَةً/غُفرَانًا Ghuf-raa-nan To forgive |
| م ل ك | (ض) | مَلَكَ Ma-la-ka He owned | يَمْلِكُ Yam-li-ku He owns or will own | مَلْكًا /مُلْكًا /مِلْكًا Mul-kan To own |
| ق ط ع | (ف) | قَطَعَ Qa-ta-'a He cut | يَقْطَعُ Yaq-ta-'u He cuts or will cut | قَطَعًا Qat-'an To cut
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| م ن ع | (ف) | مَنَعَ Ma-na-'a He prohibited
| يَمْنَعُ Yam-na-'u He is prohibiting or will prohibit | مَنَعًا Man-'an To prohibit |
| ص ب ر | (ض) | صَبَرَ Sa-ba-ra He was patient
| يَصْبِرُ Yas-bi-ru He is or will be patient | صَبَرًا Sab-ran To be patient |
| ق ب ل | (س) | قَبِلَ Qa-bi-la He accepted | يَقْبَلُ Yaq-ba-lu He is accepting or will accept | قُبُوْلًا Qu-boo-lan To accept
|
| ن ز ل | (ض) | نَزَلَ Na-za-la He came down | يَنْزِلُ Yan-zi-lu He is coming down or will come down | نُزُوْلًا Nu-zoo-lan To come down
|
| ش ف ع | (ف) | شَفَعَ Sha-fa-aa He enclosed | يَشفَعُ Yash-fa-u He encloses or will enclose | شَفَاعَةً Sha-faa-atan To enclose |
| ض ع ف | (ك) | ضَعُفَ Da-'u-fa He was weak
| يَضْعُفُ Yad-'u-fu He is or will be weak | ضَعِيْفًا Da-'ee-fan To be weak |
| ش ه د | (س) | شَهِدَ Sha-hi-da He bore witness | يَشْهَدُ Yash-ha-du He bears or will bear witness | شَهِيْدًا Sha-hee-dan To witness |
| ك س ر | (ض) | كَسَرَ Ka-sa-ra He broke | يَكْسِرُ Yak-si-ru He breaks or will break | كَسْرًا Kas-ran To break |
| ح م د | (س) | حَمِدَ Ha-mi-da He praised | يْحْمَدُ Yah-ma-du He praises or will praise | حَمْدًا Ham-dan to praise |
| ح ك م | (ن) | حَكَمَ Ha-ka-ma He commanded | يَحْكُمُ Yah-ka-mu He commands or will command | حُكْمًا Huk-man To command |
| ك ب ر | (ك) | كَبُرَ Ka-bu-ra He became arrogant | يَكْبُرُ Yak-ba-ru He is or will become arrogant | كِبْرًا Kib-ran To be arrogant |
| ر ك ب | (س) | رَكِبَ Ra-ki-ba He rode | يَركَبُ Yar-ka-bu He rides or will ride | رُكُوْبًا Ru-koo-ban To ride |
| ن ذ ر | (ن) | نَذَرَ Na-dha-ra He made a pledge | يَنْذُرُ Yan-dhu-ru He makes or will make a pledge | نَذرًا / نُذُوْرًا Nadh-ran To make a pledge |
| ض ح ك | (س) | ضَحِكَ D-hi-ka He laughed | يَضْحَكُ Yad-ha-ku He laughs or will laugh | ضَحِكًا/ضِحِكًا/ضُحِكًا Da-hi-kan To laugh |
| د خ ل | (ن) | دَخَلَ
Da-kha-la He entered
| يَدْخُلُ Yad-khu-lu He enters or will enter | دَخْلًا Dakh-lan To enter |
| ر ف ع | (ف) | رَفَعَ Ra-fa-'a He raised | يَرْفَعُ Yar-fa-'u He raises or will raise | رَفْعًا Raf-'an To raise |
| ف ر ح | (س) | فَرِحَ
Fa-ri-ha He was happy | يَفْرَحُ Yaf-ri-hu He is happy or will be happy | فَرْحًا Far-han To be happy |
| ح س ب | (س) | حَسِبَ Ha-si-ba He assumed | يَحسَبُ Yah-sa-bu He assumes or will assume | حسْبًا Has-ban To assume |
| ذ ب ح | (ف) | ذَبَحَ Dha-ba-ha He slaughtered | يَذْبَحُ Yadh-ba-hu He slaughters or will slaughter | ذَبْحًا Dhab-han To slaughter |
| ع ب د | (ن) | عَبَدَ 'Aba-da He worshipped | يَعْبُدُ Y'a-bu-du he worships or will worship | عَبْدًا 'Ab-dan To worship |
| ص د ق | (ن) | صَدَقَ
Sa-da-qa He was truthful | يَصْدُقُ Yad-du-qu He is or will be truthful | صِدْقًا/ صَدْقًا Sad-qan To be truthful |
| ذ ه ب | (ف) | ذَهَبَ Dha-ha-ba He went | يَذْهَبُ Yadh-ha-bu He goes or will go | ذَهَابًا/ذِهَابًا/مَذْهَبًا Dha-ha-ban To go |
| ح ف ظ | (س) | حَفِضَ Ha-fi-za He protected | يَحفَضُ Yah-fa-zu He protects or will protect | حِفْضًا Hif-dan To protect |
| ذ ك ر | (ن) | ذَكَرَ Dha-ka-ra He remembered | يَذْكُرُ Yadh-ku-ru He remembers or will remember | ذِكْرًا Dhik-ran To remember |
| ن ع م | (ن،ف،س) | نَعِمَ Na-'e-ma He favored | يَنْعَمُ Yan-'a-mu He is or will be favor | نِعْمَةً Na'y-ma-tan To favor |
| غ ف ل | (ن) | غَفَلَ Gha-fa-la He was unmindful | يَغْفُلُ Yagh-fu-lu He is or will be unmindful | غَفَلَةً Ghaf-la-tan To be unmindful |
| ت ر ك | (ن) | تَرَكَ Ta-ra-ka He abandoned
| يَتْرُكُ Yat-ru-ku He abandons or will abandon | تَرْكًا Ta-ra-kan To abandon |
| ج م ل | (ن ،ك) | جَمَلَ Ja-ma-la He was beautiful | يَجمُلُ Yaj-ma-lu He is or will be beautiful | جَمَالًا Ja-maa-lan To summarize, be beautiful |
a) لَنْ lun (no meaning): When this Particle enters in front of فِعلُ الْمُضَارِعِ feil-ul mu-daa-ri-'yee, it creates a strong negative emphasis and also it associates the Verb to future only. By itself, لَنْ lan does not mean anything. Using the فَعَلَ fa-'a-la die, its imperfect tense is يَفْعَلُ yaf-'a-lu which means he does/he is doing/he will do. When used with لَنْ lan, this becomes يَفْعَلَ لَنْ lan yaf-'ala which now means he will definitely not do it. Note that يَفْعَلُ yaf-'alu became يَفْعَلَ yaf-'ala.
Some Qur’anic examples would be:
1) Aal-e-Imran - Verse 92 لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ... meaning: you will never attain true piety ….
2) Al-Baqara - Verse 61
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ...
Waiz qul-tum lan nasbi-ru alaa ta-aa-min waa-hi-din
meaning: And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we can never endure one [kind of] food…”
3) An-Nabaa’ - Verse 30
فَذُوقُوا فَلَن نَّزِيدَكُمْ إِلَّا عَذَابًا
Fa-dhoo-qoofa-lan nazeeda-kum illaa adhaa-ba
meaning: “So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment”
4) Al-Baqara - Verse 80
وَقَالُوا لَن تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ إِلَّا أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَةً
Wa-qaa-loo lan tamas-sa-nan naa-ru illaa aiy-yaa-man ma’doo-da-tan
meaning: And they say, "Never will the Fire touch us, except for a few days.
b) اَنْ un (that): When this Particle enters before a الْمُضَارِعِ فِعْلُ feil-ul mu-daa-ri-'i, the Verb gives the meaning of the Source الْمَصْدَرُ al-mas-da-ru. Using the فَعَلَ fa-'ala die again, its imperfect tense is يَفْعَلُ yaf-'alu which means he does/he is doing/he will do. When اَنْ un is added in front يَفْعَلَ اَنْ an yaf-'ala, the meaning now becomes “that he does”.
Some examples from al-Qur’an:
1) Al-Mulk - Verse 17
أَنْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا
An yur-sila alai-kum haa-si-ban
meaning: that he would not send against you a storm of stones
2) An-Noor - Verse 29
غَيْرَ مَسْكُوْنَةٍ لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا
Laisa alai-kum ju-naa-hun an tad-khu-lu bu-yoo-tan ghai-ra mas-koo-na-tin
meaning: There is no blame upon you for entering houses not inhabited.
c) كَيْ kai (so that): This Particle when added to a فِعلُ الْمُضَارِعِ fe'il-ulmu-daa-ri-yi, it gives the purpose of the Verb. This construction has been used in al-Qur’an 4-5 times. Some examples are given below:
1) An-Nahl - Verse 70
وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَيْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْئًا
Wa min-kum man yu-rad-du ilaa ar-dha-lil um-u-ru la-kai laa ya-la-mu baa-da ilmin shai-an
Meaning: And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit [old] age so that he will not know, after [having had] some knowledge.
2) Taa-Haa - Verse 40
فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ
Fa-raja-naa-ka ilaa um-mi-ka kai taqar-ra ai-nu-haa wa laatah-za-na
Meaning: So, We restored you (referring to Musa when he was a baby) to your mother so that she might be content and not grieve.
d) اِذَنْ izan (then): This is Particle is usually used as a reaction or response to a previous sentence.
Examples from al-Qur’an:
1) An-Nisaa - Verse 53
أَمْ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُلْكِ فَإِذًا لَّا يُؤْتُونَ النَّاسَ نَقِيرًا
Um-la-hum nasee-bum min-al mul-ki fa izal laa yu-too-nannaa-sa na-qee-ra
Meaning: Or have they a share of dominion? Then [if that were so], they would not give the people [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
2) An-Nisaa - Verse 67
وَإِذًالَّآتَيْنَاهُم مِّن لَّدُنَّا أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Wa izal laa-tai-naa-hum mil-la-dun-naaj-ran azee-ma
And then We would have given them from Us a great reward.
e) ٰ حَتّىٰ hat-ta (until):
This Particle has been used a few times in al-Qur’an. Some examples:
1) At-Tur - Verse 45
فَذَرْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَاقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ
Fa dhar-hum hat-ta yu-laa-qu yaw-mu-hum
So, leave them until they meet their Day
2) Az-Zoukhruf - Verse 83
فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا وَيَلْعَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يُلَاقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ
Fa-dhar-hum ya-khoo-zoowa yal-aboo hat-ta yu-laa-qu yaw-mu-hum
So, leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day
3) An-Noor - Verse 27
لَا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّىٰتَسْتَأْنِسُوا
Laa tad-khu-loo bu-yoo-tan ghaira bu-yoo-ti-kum hat-ta tas-taa-ni-su
Do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome
f) لِ (for, so that): This Particle is used for providing an expected result of the action in the Verb. This is sometimes also called الْكَيّلَامُ laa-mul kai. Some examples from al-Qur’an:
1) Al-Bayyina - Verse 5
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ
Wamaa ami-roo illaa li-ya-bu-dul laha
And they were not commanded except for worshipping Allah
2) At-Tawba - Verse 31
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدً
Wamaa ami-roo illaa li-ya-bu-du ilaa-han waa-hi-dan
And they were not commanded except for worshipping one God
***
