A1 Root Pattern 10 min read Easy

Participle Adjectives: The Doer (Fā'il) & The Done-To (Maf'ūl)

Use the Fā'il pattern for the person doing it, and Maf'ūl for the object receiving it.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Participles turn verbs into adjectives: 'Fā'il' is the doer (the one who does), 'Maf'ūl' is the done-to (the one affected).

  • For Form I verbs, the Doer follows the pattern 'Fā'il' (e.g., Kātib - Writer).
  • For Form I verbs, the Done-To follows the pattern 'Maf'ūl' (e.g., Maktūb - Written).
  • These function like adjectives, so they must agree with the noun in gender and number.
Doer: [Root] + ā + i | Done-To: Ma + [Root] + ū

Overview

Arabic morphology, the study of word formation, operates on a highly systematic principle where most words are derived from trilateral (three-letter) roots. These roots carry a core semantic meaning, and specific patterns are applied to them to generate various word types: verbs, nouns, and adjectives. Understanding these patterns is fundamental, as it allows you to deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words and construct new ones logically, rather than memorizing each word in isolation.

Among the most common and essential patterns for beginners are the participle adjectives, which enable you to describe both the agent performing an action (the 'doer') and the entity receiving or undergoing an action (the 'done-to'). These participles function as both adjectives, modifying nouns, and sometimes as nouns themselves, representing a person or thing associated with the action.

At the A1 level, focusing on the basic three-letter verbs (Form I) is crucial. These participles allow you to express concepts like 'someone who writes' or 'something that is written' directly from the root ك-ت-ب (k-t-b, relating to writing). This system provides a linguistic efficiency where a single root can spawn a family of related words, each with a distinct yet connected meaning.

Mastering the فَاعِل (fāʿil) pattern for the doer and the مَفْعُول (mafʿūl) pattern for the done-to provides immediate access to a vast lexicon and a deeper understanding of Arabic word structure.

How This Grammar Works

The foundation of Arabic grammar, particularly for word derivation, is the concept of the trilateral root (الجذر الثلاثي). This root consists of three consonant letters that form the semantic core of a word. For example, the root ك-ت-ب (k-t-b) inherently relates to the concept of "writing." By inserting these root letters into specific word patterns (أَوْزَان), you generate words with different grammatical functions and precise meanings.
These patterns are like templates that dictate the vowel structure and the inclusion of additional letters, transforming a raw root into a functional word.
Participles are a type of verbal derivative, meaning they originate from a verb but function as adjectives or nouns. They bridge the gap between actions (verbs) and descriptions (adjectives) or agents (nouns). For Form I verbs – the simplest and most common class of verbs, typically having three root letters and no prefixes or infixes – there are two primary participle patterns: the Active Participle (اِسْم الفَاعِل) and the Passive Participle (اِسْم المَفْعُول).
The Active Participle describes the one performing the action, while the Passive Participle describes the one upon whom the action is performed, or the state resulting from the action. For instance, from the root د-ر-س (d-r-s, to study/learn), you derive دَارِس (dāris, studying/student) and مَدْرُوس (madrūs, studied/learned). These patterns are highly predictable and consistently applied, making them powerful tools for vocabulary acquisition and comprehension.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming participle adjectives from trilateral (Form I) roots involves applying specific, consistent vowel and letter changes to the three root consonants. This process is highly systematic, allowing you to generate new words once you understand the two primary patterns: the Active Participle (اِسْم الفَاعِل) and the Passive Participle (اِسْم المَفْعُول). For our explanations, we will use the root ف-ع-ل (f-ʿ-l) as a general template for the three root letters, representing the First, Second, and Third Radical respectively.
2
1. The Active Participle (اِسْم الفَاعِل): The Doer
3
This pattern describes the agent performing an action, or a state of being. It translates roughly to English words ending in "-er," "-ing," or simply describing the one who is doing.
4
Pattern: فَاعِل (fāʿil)
5
Steps for Formation:
6
Take the first root letter (First Radical). Add a long ا (alif) directly after it.
7
Place a kasrah (short 'i' vowel) under the second root letter (Second Radical).
8
Place a sukun (absence of vowel) over the third root letter (Third Radical) when pausing pronunciation, or the appropriate case ending if continued.
9
Example: Root ك-ت-ب (k-t-b, to write)
10
First Radical: ك
11
Second Radical: ت
12
Third Radical: ب
13
Applying the فَاعِل pattern yields كَاتِب (kātib).
14
Meaning: "writer," "writing" (as in, someone who is writing).
15
More Examples:
16
Root د-ر-س (d-r-s, to study): دَارِس (dāris) – "student," "studying" (e.g., أَنَا دَارِسٌ - I am studying).
17
Root ج-ل-س (j-l-s, to sit): جَالِس (jālis) – "sitter," "sitting" (e.g., هُوَ جَالِسٌ - He is sitting).
18
Root ذ-ه-ب (dh-h-b, to go): ذَاهِب (dhāhib) – "goer," "going" (e.g., هُمْ ذَاهِبُونَ - They are going).
19
2. The Passive Participle (اِسْم المَفْعُول): The Done-To
20
This pattern describes the entity that receives the action, or the state resulting from an action being performed upon it. It often translates to English words ending in "-ed" or "-en."
21
Pattern: مَفْعُول (mafʿūl)
22
Steps for Formation:
23
Add a مَـ (ma-) prefix before the first root letter (First Radical).
24
Place a sukun over the first root letter.
25
Place a fatḥah (short 'a' vowel) over the second root letter (Second Radical).
26
Add a long و (wāw) directly after the second root letter.
27
Place a dammah (short 'u' vowel) over the third root letter (Third Radical) when pausing, or the appropriate case ending.
28
Example: Root ك-ت-ب (k-t-b, to write)
29
First Radical: ك
30
Second Radical: ت
31
Third Radical: ب
32
Applying the مَفْعُول pattern yields مَكْتُوب (maktūb).
33
Meaning: "written," "something written" (e.g., a letter or destiny).
34
More Examples:
35
Root ف-ت-ح (f-t-ḥ, to open): مَفْتُوح (maftūḥ) – "opened," "open" (e.g., البَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ - The door is open).
36
Root ك-س-ر (k-s-r, to break): مَكْسُور (maksūr) – "broken" (e.g., القَلَمُ مَكْسُورٌ - The pen is broken).
37
Root ش-ر-ب (sh-r-b, to drink): مَشْرُوب (mashrūb) – "drunk," often used as a noun meaning "drink" (e.g., هَذَا مَشْرُوبٌ بَارِدٌ - This is a cold drink).
38
Summary Table of Participle Patterns (Form I)
39
| Feature | Active Participle (اِسْم الفَاعِل) | Passive Participle (اِسْم المَفْعُول) |
40
|:--------------------|:------------------------------------|:------------------------------------|
41
| Template | فَاعِل | مَفْعُول |
42
| Meaning | The doer of the action | The recipient of the action / Resulting state |
43
| Root ك-ت-ب | كَاتِب (kātib) | مَكْتُوب (maktūb) |
44
| Root د-ر-س | دَارِس (dāris) | مَدْرُوس (madrūs) |
45
| Root ش-ر-ب | شَارِب (shārib) | مَشْرُوب (mashrūb) |
46
It is important to note that while these patterns are consistent for sound Form I verbs (those without weak letters like و or ي in their root), verbs with weak letters or doubled letters (like ج-د-د) have slightly modified formation rules for their participles. These irregularities are typically introduced at later stages of learning, as they build upon a solid understanding of these fundamental patterns.

When To Use It

Participle adjectives are highly versatile and frequently used in Arabic, often functioning as both nouns and adjectives depending on context. Understanding their various roles is key to both comprehension and effective communication.
1. As Nouns (Agent or Object Nouns):
Active participles commonly function as nouns to denote the agent or performer of an action, particularly for professions or roles. Similarly, passive participles can denote the object or result of an action.
  • Active Participle as Noun:
  • كَاتِب (kātib): "writer." (From ك-ت-ب - to write) – هُوَ كَاتِبٌ مَشْهُورٌ. (He is a famous writer.)
  • طَالِب (ṭālib): "student," "seeker." (From ط-ل-ب - to seek) – أَنَا طَالِبٌ فِي الجَامِعَةِ. (I am a student at the university.)
  • Passive Participle as Noun:
  • مَكْتُوب (maktūb): "a letter" or "destiny." (From ك-ت-ب - to write) – لَقَدْ اِسْتَلَمْتُ مَكْتُوبًا. (I received a letter.)
  • مَشْرُوب (mashrūb): "a drink." (From ش-ر-ب - to drink) – أُرِيدُ مَشْرُوبًا بَارِدًا. (I want a cold drink.)
2. As Adjectives (Describing State or Quality):
Both active and passive participles frequently describe the state or quality of a noun. When used adjectivally, they must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and definiteness.
  • Active Participle as Adjective:
  • جَالِس (jālis): "sitting." (From ج-ل-س - to sit) – المُدَرِّسُ جَالِسٌ عَلَى الكُرْسِيِّ. (The teacher is sitting on the chair.)
  • ذَاهِب (dhāhib): "going." (From ذ-ه-ب - to go) – الأُسْرَةُ ذَاهِبَةٌ إِلَى السُّوقِ. (The family is going to the market. Note feminine agreement for الأُسْرَة).
  • Passive Participle as Adjective:
  • مَفْتُوح (maftūḥ): "open." (From ف-ت-ح - to open) – البَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ. (The door is open.)
  • مَكْسُور (maksūr): "broken." (From ك-س-ر - to break) – النَّافِذَةُ مَكْسُورَةٌ. (The window is broken. Note feminine agreement for النَّافِذَة).
Agreement Rules:
  • Gender: Add ة (tā' marbūṭah) for feminine singular: كَاتِب (m.) → كَاتِبَة (f.); مَكْتُوب (m.) → مَكْتُوبَة (f.).
  • Number: Use appropriate plural forms. For masculine rational (human) plurals, ـُونَ (-ūna) is common: كَاتِبُون (writers, m. pl.). For feminine rational plurals, ـَات (-āt): كَاتِبَات (writers, f. pl.). Non-rational (non-human) plurals are a special case (see Common Mistakes).
  • Definiteness: If the noun is definite (e.g., with الـ), the participle adjective must also be definite: الطَّالِبُ الدَّارِسُ (The studying student), not الطَّالِبُ دَارِسٌ (The student is studying).
3. Expressing Ongoing Action/State (Often Replacing Present Tense):
In Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and especially in many spoken dialects, the active participle is commonly used to indicate a present, ongoing action or a current state, often replacing the full present tense verb. This offers a more direct and concise way to express what someone is currently doing.
  • أَنَا جَالِسٌ. (I am sitting.) – More common than أَنَا أَجْلِسُ. (I sit/am sitting).
  • هُوَ نَائِمٌ. (He is sleeping.) – From ن-و-م (to sleep). More common than هُوَ يَنَامُ. (He sleeps/is sleeping).
This usage highlights the participial nature of these words as verbal adjectives, describing a temporary but current characteristic of the subject.

Common Mistakes

Learners of Arabic frequently encounter specific challenges when using participle adjectives, particularly at the A1 level. Awareness of these pitfalls can significantly accelerate your mastery.
1. Confusing Participles with Past Tense Verbs:
One of the most persistent errors is mixing up the active participle with the past tense verb, especially since both are derived from the same root. The key differentiator is the vowel pattern, specifically the long ا (alif) after the first root letter in the active participle.
  • Past Tense Verb: كَتَبَ (kataba) – "He wrote." (Short vowels only; action completed in the past.)
  • Active Participle: كَاتِب (kātib) – "writer" or "writing." (Long ا after the first letter; describes the agent or current state.)
  • Incorrect: Using أَنَا كَتَبَ to mean "I am writing." This is grammatically incorrect. You would use أَنَا كَاتِبٌ (I am writing/a writer) or the present tense verb أَنَا أَكْتُبُ (I write/am writing).
2. Incorrect Gender and Number Agreement:
Since participles function as adjectives, they must agree with the noun they modify in gender and number. Neglecting this agreement is a common oversight.
  • Gender: For a singular feminine noun, the participle must take the feminine ending ـة (tā' marbūṭah).
  • Incorrect: هِيَ ذَاهِبٌ. (She is going.)
  • Correct: هِيَ ذَاهِبَةٌ. (She is going.) (ذَاهِبَة - feminine singular)
  • Number: For plural nouns, participles must also be pluralized. This involves using different plural patterns depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, or non-human.
  • Incorrect: الرِّجَالُ جَالِسٌ. (The men are sitting.)
  • Correct: الرِّجَالُ جَالِسُونَ. (The men are sitting.) (جَالِسُونَ - sound masculine plural)
3. The "Non-Human Plural" Trap:
In Arabic, non-human plural nouns (e.g., books, cars, doors) are grammatically treated as singular feminine for the purpose of adjectival agreement. This rule often trips up learners because it contradicts English grammar.
  • Example: أَبْوَاب (abwāb, doors) – a non-human plural noun.
  • Incorrect: الأَبْوَابُ مَفْتُوحُونَ. (The doors are open – using masculine plural participle.)
  • Correct: الأَبْوَابُ مَفْتُوحَةٌ. (The doors are open – using feminine singular participle, مَفْتُوحَة).
This applies to all adjectives, including participles, when modifying non-human plurals. Always default to the singular feminine form (مَفْعُولَة or فَاعِلَة) for such cases.
4. Over-reliance on English Equivalents:
While

Form I Participle Patterns

Category Pattern Example (K-T-B) Meaning
Doer (Masc)
Fā'il
Kātib
Writer
Doer (Fem)
Fā'ilah
Kātibah
Writer (f)
Doer (Plural)
Fā'ilūn
Kātibūn
Writers
Done-To (Masc)
Maf'ūl
Maktūb
Written
Done-To (Fem)
Maf'ūlah
Maktūbah
Written (f)
Done-To (Plural)
Maf'ūlāt
Maktūbāt
Written (pl)

Meanings

Participles are derived from verb roots to describe people or things based on their relationship to an action.

1

Active Participle (Fā'il)

Describes the person or thing performing the action.

“هو طالب (He is a seeker/student)”

“أنا فاهم (I am a person who understands)”

2

Passive Participle (Maf'ūl)

Describes the person or thing that has undergone the action.

“هذا مكتوب (This is written)”

“الباب مفتوح (The door is opened)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Participle Adjectives: The Doer (Fā'il) & The Done-To (Maf'ūl)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + Participle
الرجل كاتب (The man is a writer)
Negative
Laysa + Participle
الرجل ليس كاتباً (The man is not a writer)
Question
Hal + Noun + Participle
هل الرجل كاتب؟ (Is the man a writer?)
Feminine
Noun + Participle + ah
المرأة كاتبة (The woman is a writer)
Plural
Noun + Participle + ūn
الرجال كاتبون (The men are writers)
Passive
Noun + Maf'ūl
الرسالة مكتوبة (The letter is written)

Formality Spectrum

Formal
الباب مفتوح

الباب مفتوح (General)

Neutral
الباب مفتوح

الباب مفتوح (General)

Informal
الباب مفتوح

الباب مفتوح (General)

Slang
الباب مفتوح

الباب مفتوح (General)

Participle Roots

Root K-T-B

Doer

  • Kātib Writer

Done-To

  • Maktūb Written
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

أنا كاتب

I am a writer

2

الباب مفتوح

The door is opened

3

هو طالب

He is a student

4

الدرس مكتوب

The lesson is written

1

هي كاتبة

She is a writer

2

النافذة مفتوحة

The window is opened

3

هم كاتبون

They are writers

4

الدروس مكتوبة

The lessons are written

1

أنا فاهم للموضوع

I am an understander of the topic

2

القرار متخذ

The decision is taken

3

هو لاعب محترف

He is a professional player

4

العمل منجز

The work is completed

1

النتائج متوقعة

The results are expected

2

المشروع قيد التنفيذ

The project is under execution

3

أنا مقتنع برأيك

I am convinced by your opinion

4

هذا الكتاب مشهور

This book is famous

1

الكاتب مبدع في أسلوبه

The writer is creative in his style

2

الحقوق محفوظة

Rights are reserved

3

هو متفوق في دراسته

He is excellent in his studies

4

الموقف معقد

The situation is complicated

1

القصيدة مستوحاة من التراث

The poem is inspired by heritage

2

القرار مستند إلى القانون

The decision is based on the law

3

هو متمرس في عمله

He is experienced in his work

4

النتائج ملموسة

The results are tangible

Easily Confused

Participle Adjectives: The Doer (Fā'il) & The Done-To (Maf'ūl) vs Verbs vs Participles

Learners use verbs for states.

Participle Adjectives: The Doer (Fā'il) & The Done-To (Maf'ūl) vs Fā'il vs Maf'ūl

Mixing up the doer and recipient.

Participle Adjectives: The Doer (Fā'il) & The Done-To (Maf'ūl) vs Gender Agreement

Forgetting the feminine ending.

Common Mistakes

✗

أنا أكتب (I am a writer)

✓

أنا كاتب

Using a verb instead of a participle for identity.
✗

المرأة كاتب

✓

المرأة كاتبة

Missing gender agreement.
✗

الباب مكتوب

✓

الباب مفتوح

Using the wrong participle for the context.
✗

أنا مفعول

✓

أنا فاعل

Confusing the doer and done-to.
✗

الرجال كاتبة

✓

الرجال كاتبون

Using singular feminine for plural masculine.
✗

هي مفتوح

✓

هي مفتوحة

Gender mismatch.
✗

الكتب مكتوب

✓

الكتب مكتوبة

Non-human plural agreement.
✗

هو متعلّم (He is a learner)

✓

هو متعلم (He is learned/educated)

Vowel confusion in higher verb forms.
✗

القرار متخذة

✓

القرار متخذ

Gender mismatch with masculine noun.
✗

أنا مفعول به

✓

أنا فاعل

Over-complicating the grammar.
✗

النتائج متوقعات

✓

النتائج متوقعة

Over-pluralizing non-human objects.
✗

الكاتبون مبدعون

✓

الكاتبون مبدعون

Correct, but contextually awkward.
✗

العمل منتهى

✓

العمل منتهٍ

Grammatical ending error.
✗

هي مشهورة

✓

هي مشهورة

Correct, but check root.

Sentence Patterns

أنا ___ (profession)

الـ ___ (noun) ___ (Done-To)

هل أنت ___ (Doer)?

الـ ___ (noun) ليس ___ (Participle).

Real World Usage

Social Media Bio constant

كاتب ومصور

Job Interview very common

أنا متمرس في هذا العمل

Texting common

العمل منجز

Food Delivery occasional

الطلب جاهز

Legal Notice very common

الحقوق محفوظة

Travel common

الفندق محجوز

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

The 'Ma-' Detector

If a word starts with 'Ma-' and has 3 syllables, there's a 90% chance it's a Passive Participle (or a place noun). It's a huge clue for guessing meanings!
💬

It is Written

The word 'Maktūb' isn't just for letters. It's a deep cultural concept meaning 'Fate' or 'Destiny'—what has been written for you by God.
🎯

I am 'Going'

Stop trying to conjugate 'to go' in the present tense (adhabu etc) for daily chat. Just use 'Ana dhāhib' (I am a go-er). It's easier and very common!

Smart Tips

Use the Fā'il pattern.

هو يعمل كاتباً → هو كاتب

Use the Maf'ūl pattern.

الباب تم فتحه → الباب مفتوح

Always add the 'ah' ending.

هي كاتب → هي كاتبة

Use the ūn/āt endings.

الرجال كاتب → الرجال كاتبون

Pronunciation

Kaa-tib

Vowel length

The 'ā' in Fā'il is long.

Declarative

الرجل كاتب ↘

Falling intonation for statements.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Fā'il is the Doer (starts with F for Force), Maf'ūl is the Done-To (starts with M for Made).

Visual Association

Imagine a person (Fā'il) holding a pen, and a paper (Maf'ūl) lying on the table.

Rhyme

Fā'il does the action, Maf'ūl gets the reaction.

Story

Ahmed is a Kātib (writer). He writes a letter. The letter is Maktūb (written). Ahmed is happy because his work is finished.

Word Web

KātibMaktūbFā'ilMaf'ūlSākinMaskūn

Challenge

Write down 3 professions you know and turn them into 'Doer' nouns.

Cultural Notes

Often uses 'am' + verb instead of participles for ongoing actions.

Participles are used very frequently for states.

Very formal usage in media.

Derived from the Semitic root system.

Conversation Starters

“

ماذا تعمل؟ (What do you do?)

“

هل الباب مفتوح؟ (Is the door open?)

“

هل أنت فاهم الدرس؟ (Do you understand the lesson?)

“

هل هذا الكتاب مشهور؟ (Is this book famous?)

Journal Prompts

Describe your job using the Doer pattern.
Describe the state of your room using the Done-To pattern.
Write about a person you admire and their profession.
Discuss a project you completed.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the Doer for K-T-B.

أنا ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: كاتب
Kātib is the Doer.
Which is the Done-To? Multiple Choice

Choose the passive participle.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: مكتوب
Maf'ūl is the Done-To.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

المرأة كاتب

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: المرأة كاتبة
Needs feminine ending.
Change to plural. Sentence Transformation

الرجل كاتب -> الرجال ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: كاتبون
Plural masculine ending.
Match the word to the meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Writer - Written
Doer vs Done-To.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

أنا / كاتب

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أنا كاتب
Subject-Predicate.
Conjugate for feminine. Conjugation Drill

كاتب -> ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: كاتبة
Add ta marbuta.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Participles conjugate for time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
They describe state, not time.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the Doer for K-T-B.

أنا ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: كاتب
Kātib is the Doer.
Which is the Done-To? Multiple Choice

Choose the passive participle.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: مكتوب
Maf'ūl is the Done-To.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

المرأة كاتب

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: المرأة كاتبة
Needs feminine ending.
Change to plural. Sentence Transformation

الرجل كاتب -> الرجال ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: كاتبون
Plural masculine ending.
Match the word to the meaning. Match Pairs

Kātib - Maktūb

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Writer - Written
Doer vs Done-To.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

أنا / كاتب

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أنا كاتب
Subject-Predicate.
Conjugate for feminine. Conjugation Drill

كاتب -> ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: كاتبة
Add ta marbuta.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Participles conjugate for time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
They describe state, not time.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Match the Arabic Participle to its English meaning. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kātib (كاتِب)::Writer, Maktūb (مَكتوب)::Written/Letter, Jālis (جالِس)::Sitting, Maksūr (مَكسور)::Broken
Complete the sentence describing a state. Fill in the Blank

Al-shubbāk (The window) is ___ (open).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Maftūḥ (مَفتوح)
Arrange to say: 'I am going to the house.' Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ana (أنا) dhāhib (ذاهِب) ilā (إلى) al-bayt (البيت)
Identify the pattern used in 'Mashhūr' (Famous). Multiple Choice

What pattern is the word 'Mashhūr' following?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Passive (Maf'ūl)
Translate 'The door is closed' to Arabic. Translation

Translate: The door is closed (locked).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Al-bāb maghlūq.
Find the mistake in this sentence. Error Correction

Ana kātib al-risālah. (Meaning: I wrote the letter / I am the writer of the letter).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ana kātib al-risālah.
She is a ___ (player) on the team. Fill in the Blank

Hiya ___ fī al-farīq.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lā'ibah (لاعِبة)
Which word describes a 'murderer' (Doer)? Multiple Choice

Select the Active Participle of Q-T-L.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Qātil (قاتِل)
Connect the root to its Passive Participle. Match Pairs

Root -> Meaning

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sh-R-B (Drink)::Mashrūb (Drink/Beverage), F-H-M (Understand)::Mafhūm (Understood), A-K-L (Eat)::Ma'kūl (Eaten/Edible), L-B-S (Wear)::Malbūs (Worn/Clothing)
Translate 'I am sitting with my friend'. Translation

Translate the sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ana jālis ma'a sadīqī.
The phrase 'Food is eater' is wrong. Error Correction

Al-ta'ām 'ākil. (Fix it to 'Food is eaten').

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Al-ta'ām ma'kūl.
The lesson is ___ (understood). Fill in the Blank

Al-dars ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mafhūm (مَفهوم)

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

No, they are noun-adjectives that describe a state.

Look for the 3 main letters in the word.

Yes, they are very common in daily conversation.

Check your gender and number agreement.

Yes, some roots have irregular vowels.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

Study Form II-X patterns.

Use them to describe your daily life.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Participio

Arabic has a specific active participle form.

French moderate

Participe présent/passé

Arabic focuses on agency.

German moderate

Partizip

Arabic patterns are strictly root-based.

Japanese low

Te-form

Arabic uses noun-like structures.

Arabic high

Ism al-Fā'il

None.

Chinese low

Verb-Object

Arabic changes the word structure.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Arabic Nouns from Roots: Doers and Objects (Faa'il & Maf'uul)

Learn These First

A1 Builds On

The 'Doer' (Active Participle)

Overview The Active Participle, or اِسْم الْفَاعِل (`ism al-fāʿil`), is one of Arabic's most powerful and efficient gra...
A2 Builds On

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

A2

The Passive Participle (Maktūb Pattern)

Overview The Arabic **Passive Participle**, known as `Ism al-Maf'ūl` (اِسْم الْمَفْعُول), functions as an adjective deri...
A1

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...
A1

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,...
A1

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...
A1

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...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!