The Passive Voice in Depth (المَبْنِيُّ لِلْمَجْهُولِ)
Master the internal vowel changes that form the passive voice in both past and present tenses across all verb forms, including irregular verbs, hollow verbs, and geminate verbs.
Passive of Form I: Regular, Hollow, and Doubled Verbs
The passive voice in Arabic is formed by internal vowel changes rather than auxiliary verbs. For Form I: Regular (sound) verbs: • Past: فَعَلَ → فُعِلَ (first radical gets ḍamma, second gets kasra) • Present: يَفْعَلُ → يُفْعَلُ (prefix gets ḍamma, pre-final vowel becomes fatḥa) Hollow verbs (middle radical is و or ي): • Past: قَالَ → قِيلَ (the long vowel changes to ī) • Present: يَقُولُ → يُقَالُ (the long vowel changes to ā) • Past: بَاعَ → بِيعَ; Present: يَبِيعُ → يُبَاعُ Doubled (geminate) verbs: • Past: رَدَّ → رُدَّ; Present: يَرُدُّ → يُرَدُّ • Past: مَدَّ → مُدَّ; Present: يَمُدُّ → يُمَدُّ Note: Hollow verb passives are among the most challenging forms in Arabic morphology.
3 more sections and 5 practice questions
"The Passive Voice in Depth (المَبْنِيُّ لِلْمَجْهُولِ)" is one of 38 grammar lessons in Fahm Premium, each with worked examples and self-checking practice. The first 3 grammar lessons are free to try.
- Passive of Derived Forms (II-X)
- Passive of Weak Verbs and Assimilated Roots
- Stylistic Uses of the Passive
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Frequently asked questions
What is The Passive Voice in Depth in Arabic?
Master the internal vowel changes that form the passive voice in both past and present tenses across all verb forms, including irregular verbs, hollow verbs, and geminate verbs.
How do you use The Passive Voice in Depth in Arabic?
The passive voice in Arabic is formed by internal vowel changes rather than auxiliary verbs. For Form I:
What are common examples of The Passive Voice in Depth in Arabic?
Examples from this lesson include "kutiba ad-darsu ʿalā as-sabbūrati" (The lesson was written on the board), "qīla inna al-amīra waṣala" (It was said that the prince arrived), "yuqālu inna hādhā al-makāna qadīmun" (It is said that this place is ancient) and "rudda al-kitābu ilā al-maktabati" (The book was returned to the library).