The Passive Participle (Maktūb Pattern)
maf'ūl pattern turns a verb root into a description of what happened to something (Open → Opened).
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Passive Participle describes an object that has received an action, following the 'maf'ūl' pattern.
- Add 'ma-' to the front of the root: 'kataba' becomes 'maktūb'.
- The pattern is always 'ma-f-ū-l' for Form I verbs.
- It acts like an adjective and must agree with the noun in gender and number.
Overview
The Arabic Passive Participle, known as Ism al-Maf'ūl (اِسْم الْمَفْعُول), functions as an adjective derived from a verb, signifying that its noun has received the action of that verb. Conceptually, it parallels English past participles such as "broken," "eaten," "known," or "written." While a verb describes an action, and an active participle (Ism al-Fā'il اِسْم الْفَاعِل) describes the entity performing the action, the passive participle describes the entity upon which the action has been done. This grammatical construct is fundamental to expressing states, conditions, and the results of actions in Arabic, without explicitly stating the agent of the action.
Its significance within the Arabic linguistic system stems from the root-and-pattern morphology. Arabic verbs and nouns are primarily built upon triliteral (three-letter) or quadriliteral (four-letter) roots, which carry the core semantic meaning. By applying specific vocalic and consonantal patterns, diverse words—each with a precise grammatical function—are derived from a single root.
The Maf'ūl pattern is one such fundamental mold, specifically designed to convey the state of being acted upon. For instance, from the root K-T-B (ك-ت-ب), meaning "writing," the passive participle maktūb (مَكْتُوب) directly translates to "written," indicating that writing has occurred to something. This inherent efficiency allows Arabic to convey complex ideas of passivity and resultant state concisely, often with a single word.
Understanding the passive participle is crucial for A2 learners because it frequently appears in everyday speech, official announcements, and written texts. Whether identifying a "reserved" seat (maḥjūz مَحْجُوز), discussing "understood" concepts (mafhūm مَفْهُوم), or reading about "forbidden" actions (mamnū' مَمْنُوع), recognizing this pattern unlocks a significant portion of functional Arabic vocabulary. It shifts focus from who performed an action to what happened to the object, enabling descriptions of inherent qualities or temporary conditions resulting from an action.
This construct is thus not merely a grammatical rule but a key to perceiving and expressing the world from a receiver's perspective.
How This Grammar Works
judhūr جُذُور) and patterns (awzān أَوْزَان). Imagine a root as a core concept, and a pattern as a specific grammatical lens through which that concept is viewed. The Passive Participle pattern, specifically the Maf'ūl (مَفْعُول) pattern for three-letter roots, acts as this lens, transforming a root's core action into an adjective describing the object of that action.Maf'ūl pattern signifies a recipient, an entity that is the object of an action. For example, the root 'A-K-L (أ-ك-ل) conveys the idea of "eating." When placed into the active participle pattern, Fā'il (فَاعِل), it yields ākil (آكِل), meaning "eater" or "eating" (the one performing the action). Conversely, applying the Maf'ūl pattern generates ma'kūl (مَأْكُول), meaning "eaten" (the thing upon which eating has occurred).Maf'ūl pattern, yielding a passive participle. While some might be semantically uncommon, the structural possibility remains.kitāb ma'rūf (كِتَاب مَعْرُوف), but "known information" (plural, inanimate, feminine) is ma'lūmāt ma'rūfah (مَعْلُومَات مَعْرُوفَة).Formation Pattern
Maf'ūl (مَفْعُول) pattern. This pattern involves a consistent structure that can be visualized as مَـ1ـ2ـُـوـ3, where 1, 2, and 3 represent the three root letters.
مَـ (ma-): Always start with the definite prefix مَـ (mīm with a fatḥa).
مَـ (ma-). It typically carries a سُكُون (sukūn), indicating no vowel follows it.
و (waw): Place the second root letter, followed by a long و (waw) representing the ū sound. This و is intrinsic to the Maf'ūl pattern.
ḍamma (u) vowel for indefinite, nominative nouns or adjectives, but this vowel will change according to grammatical case, gender, and number agreement.
مَـ1ـ2ـُـوـ3: مَـكْـتُـوب → maktūb (مَكْتُوب) – "written"
مَـفْـهُـوم → mafhūm (مَفْهُوم) – "understood"
مَـكْـسُـور → maksūr (مَكْسُور) – "broken"
ق-و-ل (Q-W-L, to say) will result in مَقُول (maqūl, said), where the و merges. Similarly, ب-ي-ع (B-Y-'A, to sell) yields مَبِيع (mabī'a, sold), with the ي replacing the و in the pattern. These specific derivations are typically addressed at B1/B2 levels, as they involve advanced morphological rules. For A2, your focus should remain on internalizing the Maf'ūl pattern for sound triliteral roots.
مَدْرُوس (madrūs) | studied | Sound Verb |
مَفْتُوح (maftūḥ) | open | Sound Verb |
مَطْبُوخ (maṭbūkh) | cooked | Sound Verb |
مَسْرُوق (masrūq) | stolen | Sound Verb |
مَشْرُوب (mashrūb) | drunk (liquid) | Sound Verb |
مَبْنِيّ (mabniyy) | built | Weak (3rd root letter ي) |
مَقُوم (maqūm) | established | Weak (2nd root letter و) |
Maf'ūl pattern is specific to Form I, other verb forms (known as الأوزان المزيدة - derived forms) also possess passive participles. These generally follow a different, but equally systematic, pattern that is often simpler once you distinguish them from the active participles of these forms. The general rule for forming the passive participle of derived verbs is:
مُـ (mu-) prefix (mīm with a ḍamma).
فَتْحَة (fatḥa). This is the crucial differentiator from the active participle of derived forms, where this vowel is a kasra (i).
دَرَّسَ (darrasa - "to teach"), which means "to teach intensively":
يُدَرِّسُ (yudarrisu).
مُدَرِّس (mudarris) – "teacher" or "teaching" (the one who performs the intensive teaching). Notice the kasra on the ر before the last letter س.
مُدَرَّس (mudarras) – "taught" (the one who has been intensively taught). Notice the fatḥa on the ر before the last letter س.
مُدَرِّس (mudarris) is an active noun, while مُدَرَّس (mudarras) is passive. For A2 proficiency, recognizing and understanding the Form I Maf'ūl pattern (مَكْتُوب) is your immediate priority. Familiarity with the mu- prefix for derived forms, especially the difference in the penultimate vowel, is helpful for comprehension but less critical for active production at this stage. You will encounter these more as you progress to intermediate levels.
When To Use It
- 1Describing the State of Things: This is the most common application. You use the passive participle as an adjective to indicate that something has undergone an action and is now in a resulting state. It answers the question "What is its condition?" or "What has been done to it?"
النافِذَةُ مَفْتُوحَةٌ.(Al-nāfidhah maftūḥah.) – "The window is open." (Lit. 'opened'). Here,مَفْتُوحَةٌ(maftūḥah) describes the state of the window, derived from the rootف-ت-ح(to open).هَل هَذا الْمَقْعَدُ مَحْجُوزٌ؟(Hal hādhā al-maq'ad maḥjūz?) – "Is this seat reserved?" (مَحْجُوز(maḥjūz) fromح-ج-ز(to reserve/block) describes the seat's status).الكَلامُ مَسْمُوعٌ بِوُضُوحٍ.(Al-kalām masmū'un biwuḍūḥin.) – "The speech is heard clearly." (مَسْمُوعٌ(masmū'un) fromس-م-ع(to hear)).
- 1As Common Nouns and Terminologies: Many Arabic nouns, particularly those describing objects, concepts, or locations, are actually fossilized passive participles. They retain their passive meaning but function as standalone nouns.
مَشْرُوع(mashrū') – "project." Literally, "that which is planned" (fromش-ر-ع, to legislate/begin).مَوْضُوع(mawḍū') – "subject" or "topic." Literally, "that which is placed" (fromو-ض-ع, to place).مَضْمُون(maḍmūn) – "content" or "guaranteed." Fromض-م-ن(to guarantee/include).مَعْلُومَات(ma'lūmāt) – "information." This is the plural feminine ofمَعْلُومَة(ma'lūmah), meaning "known thing" (fromع-ل-م, to know).
- 1Expressing Permission or Prohibition: A very practical use in daily life, often seen on signs or heard in instructions. Specific passive participles convey whether an action is allowed or forbidden.
مَمْنُوع الدُّخُول.(Mamnū' al-dukhūl.) – "Entry is forbidden." (مَمْنُوع(mamnū') fromم-ن-ع, to forbid).غَيْر مَسْمُوح.(Ghayr masmūḥ.) – "Not permitted." (مَسْمُوح(masmūḥ) fromس-م-ح, to permit).هَذا مَحْظُورٌ.(Hādhā maḥẓūr.) – "This is prohibited." (مَحْظُورٌ(maḥẓūr) fromح-ظ-ر, to forbid).
مَكْسُور (maksūr), a singular feminine item مَكْسُورَة (maksūrah), and so on. This agreement is non-negotiable for correct usage.Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing Active and Passive Participles: This is perhaps the most prevalent error. The active participle (
Ism al-Fā'il) describes the doer, while the passive participle (Ism al-Maf'ūl) describes the done-to. Mixing them up fundamentally alters the meaning.
- Incorrect:
أنا مَكْتُوب.(Anā maktūb.) – "I am written." (grammatically possible but semantically absurd in most contexts). You intend to say:أنا كاتِب.(Anā kātib.) – "I am a writer/writing." (كاتِب(kātib) is the active participle fromك-ت-ب). - Incorrect:
الرجلُ مَقْتُولٌ.(Al-rajulu maqtūlun.) to mean "The man is killing." This should beالرجلُ قاتِلٌ.(Al-rajulu qātilun.) – "The man is a killer/killing."الرجلُ مَقْتُولٌ.(Al-rajulu maqtūlun.) actually means "The man is killed." (مَقْتُول(maqtūl) is the passive participle fromق-ت-ل, to kill). - Tip: If the noun is performing the action, use the active participle (
Fā'ilpattern likeكاتِب). If the noun is receiving the action, use the passive participle (Maf'ūlpattern likeمَكْتُوب).
- 1Ignoring Gender and Number Agreement: Since passive participles function as adjectives, they must align with the noun they modify in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/dual/plural). Neglecting this leads to grammatical incorrectness.
- Incorrect:
السيارةُ مَكْسُور.(Al-sayyāratu maksūr.) – "The car (fem.) is broken (masc.)." This is incorrect becauseالسيارة(al-sayyārah) is feminine. - Correct:
السيارةُ مَكْسُورَة.(Al-sayyāratu maksūrah.) – "The car is broken." (مَكْسُورَة(maksūrah) fromك-س-ر). - Incorrect:
المقالاتُ مَكْتُوب.(Al-maqālātu maktūb.) – "The articles (plural fem.) are written (masc. sing.)." - Correct:
المقالاتُ مَكْتُوبَة.(Al-maqālātu maktūbah.) orالمقالاتُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ.(Al-maqālātu maktūbatun.) – "The articles are written." (Plural inanimate nouns take singular feminine adjectives). - Tip: Always append
ـَة(ـah) for singular feminine nouns. For sound masculine plurals, useـُونَ(ūna), and for sound feminine plurals, useـَات(āt). Inanimate plural nouns generally take a singular feminine adjective.
- 1Using with Intransitive Verbs: By definition, a passive participle describes an object that receives an action. Intransitive verbs, like "to sleep" (
نامَ, nāma) or "to go" (ذَهَبَ, dhahaba), do not take a direct object. Therefore, they generally cannot form a passive participle in the simpleMaf'ūlpattern.
- You cannot say
مَنُوم(manūm) to mean "slept upon" orمَذْهُوب(madhhūb) to mean "gone upon." This is grammatically unsound because there's no direct object to be "slept" or "gone." - Exception (Advanced): In some cases, an intransitive verb can form a passive participle if followed by a prepositional phrase, effectively treating the object of the preposition as the "done-to." For example,
مَجْلُوسٌ عَلَيْه(majlūsun 'alayh) means "sat upon," fromجَلَسَ(jalasa, to sit) +عَلَى(on). However, for A2 learners, it is best to avoid forming passive participles from intransitive verbs. - Tip: Stick to transitive verbs (verbs that can take a direct object, like "to eat," "to write," "to open") when forming passive participles. If a verb doesn't answer "what did you do?", it's likely intransitive.
- 1Mispronunciation of the Long
ū: Theو(waw) in theMaf'ūlpattern consistently represents a longūsound. Shortening this vowel can make the word difficult to understand or even change its meaning.
- Incorrect: Pronouncing
مَكْتُوبasmaktub(shortu). - Correct: Pronouncing
مَكْتُوبasmaktūb(longū). Theوis a fundamental part of the pattern's sound. - Tip: Consciously extend the
ūsound inMaf'ūlwords. It's a hallmark of the pattern.
Real Conversations
The passive participle is incredibly common in authentic Arabic communication, extending beyond formal texts into everyday speech, social media, and professional contexts. It provides a concise way to describe states and outcomes.
Everyday Interactions:
- Friend A: كَيْفَ وَجَدْتَ الكِتابَ؟ (Kayfa wajadta al-kitāb?) – "How did you find the book?"
- Friend B: مُمْتَازٌ! كُلُّ شَيْءٍ فِيهِ مَكْتُوبٌ بِوُضُوحٍ. (Mumtāzun! Kullu shay'in fīhi maktūbun biwuḍūḥin.) – "Excellent! Everything in it is written clearly."
- (Here, مَكْتُوبٌ (maktūbun) states the condition of the content.)
Public Signs and Announcements:
- Sign at a park: الكَشْكُ مَغْلَقٌ يَوْمَ الجُمُعَة. (Al-kashku maghlaqun yawma al-jum'ah.) – "The kiosk is closed on Friday." (مَغْلَقٌ (maghlaqun) from غ-ل-ق (to close) directly informs of the state.)
- Airport announcement: الرِحْلَةُ مُلْغَاةٌ. (Al-riḥlatu mulghāh.) – "The flight is cancelled." (مُلْغَاةٌ (mulghāh) is the passive participle of Form IV verb أَلْغَى (alghā), "to cancel.")
Work and Study Contexts:
- Colleague: هَل المَهامُّ مَفْهُومَةٌ لِلجَمِيعِ؟ (Hal al-mahāmmu mafhūmatun lil-jamī'?) – "Are the tasks understood by everyone?" (مَفْهُومَةٌ (mafhūmatun) checks for comprehension.)
- Student: هَلْ هَذا السُّؤَالُ مُجَابٌ عَلَيْهِ؟ (Hal hādhā al-su'ālu mujābun 'alayh?) – "Has this question been answered?" (مُجَابٌ عَلَيْهِ (mujābun 'alayh) is the passive participle for Form IV أَجَابَ (ajaba), "to answer," used with على.)
Social Media and News:
- News headline: مَجْزَرَةٌ مُرَوِّعَةٌ في قَرْيَةٍ نَائِيَةٍ. (Majzarah murawwi'ah fī qaryatin nā'iyah.) – "A horrifying massacre in a remote village." (مُرَوِّعَةٌ (murawwi'ah) is active, but a passive participle could be used to describe the victims. For instance, ضحايا مَقْتُولُونَ. (ḍaḥāyā maqtūlūn) – "killed victims.")
- Social media post: صُورَةُ الْمَدِينَةِ مُلْتَقَطَةٌ باِحْتِرَافِيَّةٍ. (Ṣūratu al-madīnati multaqaṭatun bi-iḥtirāfiyyah.) – "The city's picture is taken professionally." (مُلْتَقَطَةٌ (multaqaṭah) is the passive participle of Form VIII إِلْتَقَطَ (iltaqaṭa), "to take/capture.")
These examples demonstrate how passive participles are naturally integrated into diverse conversational and written scenarios, making them an indispensable part of learning practical Arabic. The ability to identify and correctly use them significantly enhances both comprehension and expression.
Quick FAQ
Ism al-Maf'ūl be used to describe people?Absolutely! Many passive participles describe the state or characteristics of people. For example:
مَشْغُول(mashghūl) – "busy" (fromش-غ-ل, to occupy).أنا مَشْغُولٌ جِدًّا اليَوْم.(Anā mashghūlun jiddan al-yawm.) – "I am very busy today."مَحْبُوب(maḥbūb) – "beloved" or "popular" (fromح-ب-ب, to love).هو شَخْصٌ مَحْبُوبٌ.(Huwa shakhṣun maḥbūbun.) – "He is a beloved person."مَفْهُوم(mafhūm) – "understood." While usually for concepts, it can indirectly refer to a person if their ideas are understood.كَلامُكَ مَفْهُوم.(Kalāmuka mafhūmun.) – "Your speech is understood."
مَجْنُون (majnūn, crazy) an example of a passive participle?Yes, it is. The word مَجْنُون (majnūn) comes from the root ج-ن-ن (j-n-n), which means "to hide," "to cover," or more specifically, in some contexts, "to be possessed by jinn" (supernatural beings). Thus, مَجْنُون literally means "possessed" or "covered/veiled (in sense/reason)," leading to the meaning of "crazy" or "insane." This is a fascinating example of how cultural beliefs are embedded within linguistic structures.
و (waw) in the Maf'ūl pattern as a long ū sound?Yes, unequivocally. The long و (waw) representing the ū sound is a defining characteristic of the Maf'ūl (مَفْعُول) pattern for Form I verbs. It's not a short vowel; it must be held for the length of a long vowel. Mispronouncing it as a short u would distort the word and make it less recognizable or potentially alter its meaning.
- Incorrect:
maktub(shortu) - Correct:
maktūb(longū) - Practice lengthening the sound:
مَفْـعُـول,مَكْـتُـوب,مَفْـهُـوم.
Like other adjectives in Arabic, passive participles agree in number with the noun they describe. Their pluralization follows standard Arabic adjective pluralization rules:
- Sound Masculine Plural: Add
ـُونَ(-ūna) for the nominative case orـِينَ(-īna) for the accusative/genitive cases. - Singular:
مَشْغُول(mashghūl) – "busy" (m. sing.) - Plural:
مَشْغُولُونَ(mashghūlūna) – "busy (people)" (m. plural) - Sound Feminine Plural: Add
ـَات(-āt). - Singular:
مَشْغُولَة(mashghūlah) – "busy" (f. sing.) - Plural:
مَشْغُولَات(mashghūlāt) – "busy (women/groups)" (f. plural) - Broken Plurals: Some participles form irregular (broken) plurals, but these are less common for basic participles at the A2 level. You'll generally stick to sound plurals or treat inanimate plurals with a singular feminine adjective.
- Inanimate Plural Nouns: Remember that plural nouns referring to inanimate objects typically take a singular feminine adjective.
الكتبُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ.(Al-kutubu maktūbatun.) – "The books are written." (كتب(kutub) is a plural ofكتاب(kitāb), butمَكْتُوبَةٌis singular feminine).
Maf'ūl pattern and other noun shapes like Fa'l, Fi'l, Fu'l?While Fa'l (فَعْل), Fi'l (فِعْل), and Fu'l (فُعْل) are also patterns for deriving nouns from triliteral roots, they typically form verbal nouns (Maṣādir مَصَادِر) or nouns denoting abstract concepts, actions, or specific items, rather than adjectives describing a state of being acted upon. The Maf'ūl pattern is unique in its adjectival function, specifically conveying passivity. The other patterns often represent the action itself or the result as a noun, without the explicit adjectival quality of "done-to."
- Root
ك-ت-ب: كتابة(kitābah) -
Passive Participle Formation (Form I)
| Root | Masculine | Feminine | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
|
K-T-B
|
maktūb
|
maktūba
|
maktūbūn
|
|
F-T-Ḥ
|
maftūḥ
|
maftūḥa
|
maftūḥūn
|
|
D-R-S
|
madrūs
|
madrūsa
|
madrūsūn
|
|
S-R-Q
|
masrūq
|
masrūqa
|
masrūqūn
|
|
Ḥ-F-Ẓ
|
maḥfūẓ
|
maḥfūẓa
|
maḥfūẓūn
|
|
R-S-L
|
marsūl
|
marsūla
|
marsūlūn
|
Meanings
The passive participle is a noun/adjective derived from a verb that indicates the person or thing upon which the action has been performed.
State of completion
Describes an object that has undergone an action.
“الباب مفتوح (The door is opened)”
“الطعام مأكول (The food is eaten)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + ma-f-ū-l
|
al-kitāb maktūb
|
|
Negative
|
laysa + Noun + ma-f-ū-l
|
laysa al-kitāb maktūb
|
|
Question
|
hal + Noun + ma-f-ū-l?
|
hal al-kitāb maktūb?
|
|
Feminine
|
Noun + ma-f-ū-la
|
al-risāla maktūba
|
|
Plural
|
Noun + ma-f-ū-lūn
|
al-kutub maktūba
|
Formality Spectrum
الباب مفتوح. (General)
الباب مفتوح. (General)
الباب مفتوح. (General)
الباب مفتوح. (General)
The Passive Participle Map
Root
- K-T-B Write
Result
- maktūb Written
Examples by Level
هذا الدرس مكتوب.
This lesson is written.
الباب مفتوح.
The door is open.
الطعام مأكول.
The food is eaten.
البيت مبني.
The house is built.
هل الرسالة مرسلة؟
Is the message sent?
السيارة مصلوحة.
The car is repaired.
العمل مطلوب.
The work is required.
الصور ملتقطة.
The photos are taken.
القرار معروف للجميع.
The decision is known to everyone.
هذا المكان مقصود.
This place is intended.
الخطة مدروسة جيداً.
The plan is well-studied.
الخبر مسموع.
The news is heard.
المشروع مبني على أسس قوية.
The project is built on strong foundations.
هذه الفكرة مرفوضة.
This idea is rejected.
النتائج متوقعة.
The results are expected.
الكلمات مختارة بعناية.
The words are chosen carefully.
الحقائق معلومة للجميع.
The facts are known to all.
الوثيقة مختومة.
The document is sealed.
الهدف مرسوم بدقة.
The goal is drawn precisely.
الموقف محسوم.
The situation is decided.
القصيدة موزونة.
The poem is rhythmic/metered.
هذا الرأي مسموع.
This opinion is heard/respected.
العمل متقن.
The work is mastered/perfected.
السر مكتوم.
The secret is kept/hidden.
Easily Confused
Both are derived from the root.
Common Mistakes
al-kitāb kātib
al-kitāb maktūb
al-risāla maktūb
al-risāla maktūba
al-bāb maftūḥūn
al-bāb maftūḥ
al-amr muf'ūl
al-amr maf'ūl
Sentence Patterns
الـ ___ ___.
Real World Usage
الرسالة وصلت؟
العمل مطلوب.
الحجز مؤكد.
الطلب جاهز.
الصورة ملتقطة.
الوثيقة مختومة.
Root Check
Smart Tips
Use the passive participle for states.
Pronunciation
Vowel length
The 'ū' in 'maf'ūl' is a long vowel, hold it for two beats.
Statement
al-kitāb maktūb ↘
Falling intonation for a declarative sentence.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'Maf'ūl' as 'My-Full'—the object is 'full' of the action.
Visual Association
Imagine a letter (maktūb) with a stamp on it. The stamp is the 'ma-' prefix.
Rhyme
For the action done, use ma-f-ū-l, it's the golden rule.
Story
Ahmed wrote a letter (kataba). Now the letter is sitting on the table. It is 'maktūb'. He feels happy because the task is 'maf'ūl'.
Word Web
Challenge
Find 3 objects in your room and describe them using the 'maf'ūl' pattern.
Cultural Notes
In spoken Levantine, the passive participle is used very frequently to describe states.
Derived from the Semitic root system.
Conversation Starters
هل الباب مفتوح؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
الدرس ___ (written).
الرسالة ___ (sent).
Find and fix the mistake:
الباب مفتوحة.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
The door is open.
Answer starts with: الب...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
maftūḥ -> ?
Use 'ma'rūf' (known).
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesالدرس ___ (written).
الرسالة ___ (sent).
Find and fix the mistake:
الباب مفتوحة.
مكتوب / الدرس / هو
The door is open.
K-T-B -> ?
maftūḥ -> ?
Use 'ma'rūf' (known).
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThis actor is very ___ (ma'rūf).
Pair the root with the correct 'maf'ūl' form.
maftūḥ / Al-bāb
Which of these words follows the 'maf'ūl' pattern?
Ana maktūb risālah (I am written a letter).
What is the Arabic word for 'Forbidden' often seen on signs?
Hal al-kursī ___ (maḥjūz)?
What does 'Mawjūd' mean?
Al-qalam (the pen) kāsir.
masmūḥ / Hal / al-ṭa'ām / ?
Hādhā al-mashrū' ___.
Match the words to their opposites.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
It is an adjective derived from a verb.
Use the 'maf'ūl' pattern.
Yes, add 'a' for feminine.
Yes, very often.
The pattern changes to 'mu-'.
Active is doer, passive is done.
Yes, use 'ūn' or 'āt'.
Yes, very similar.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Participio pasado
Arabic is prefix-based, Spanish is suffix-based.
Participe passé
Arabic requires root-based pattern matching.
Partizip II
Arabic 'ma-' prefix is more consistent.
Passive form
Arabic uses a noun-based participle.
Passive marker 'bei'
Arabic uses morphology.
Ism al-Maf'ūl
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Arabic Roots: The DNA of Words (k-t-b)
Overview At the heart of the Arabic language lies a unique and powerful system: the **Tri-consonantal Root System**, oft...
Arabic Passive Participle: The 'Done-To' Word (Maf'ūl)
Overview The Arabic language is renowned for its systematic approach to word formation, largely based on triliteral (thr...
Related Grammar Rules
Arabic Roots: The DNA of Words (k-t-b)
Overview At the heart of the Arabic language lies a unique and powerful system: the **Tri-consonantal Root System**, oft...
Arabic Nouns from Roots: Doers and Objects (Faa'il & Maf'uul)
Overview Arabic, unlike many languages, organizes its vocabulary around a system of **triliteral roots** (الجذر الثلاثي,...
Arabic Passive Participle: The 'Done-To' Words (ism al-maf'ul)
Overview In Arabic, the language often describes actions and their direct impact on people or things. The **Passive Part...
Arabic Nouns from Actions: The Passive Pattern (maf'ūl)
Overview Arabic, unlike many languages, operates on a profound system of three-letter roots, which act as the fundamenta...
The Action Noun: Masdar (Eating, Sleeping, Working)
Overview Imagine you want to talk about an action, not as something happening at a specific time, but as a concept or a...
