A1 · Beginner Chapter 22

Focusing on the Action: The Passive Voice

6 Total Rules
60 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of focusing on the action itself by learning to hide the doer in Arabic.

  • Identify the passive voice in Arabic news and speech.
  • Apply the U-I-A vowel pattern to past tense verbs.
  • Construct present tense passive sentences using the Yu- ... -a- pattern.
Focus on the action, not the actor!

What You'll Learn

Ready for a cool trick in Arabic? This chapter is all about shifting your focus from *who* did an action to *what* happened! You're going to master the passive voice, called Al-Majhul in Arabic, which lets you describe events when the doer is either unknown, unimportant, or you just don't want to mention them. Imagine you're walking past a construction site and want to say,

The building *is being constructed*.
Or you hear some news and want to report,
The decision *was made*,
without knowing or caring who made it. This skill is gold for understanding everyday conversations, news, and even casual reports where the action itself is the star! Here's the cool part: Arabic makes this super intuitive! You'll learn specific, simple vowel pattern changes – like a secret code – that transform active verbs into passive ones. We'll start with past actions, where you'll see how changing vowels to a u-i sound (like turning 'fa'ala' into 'fu'ila') instantly makes the verb passive. Then we'll move to present actions, where a «yu-...-a-» pattern works its magic. Don't worry about complex grammar terms; it's all about recognizing and applying these easy-to-learn sound melodies. Even for longer, derived verbs, you'll discover simple tricks to shift the focus. By the end of this chapter, you won't just understand passive sentences; you'll be able to confidently form your own! You'll sound more natural, understand more news and conversations, and feel like a true Arabic speaker. This isn't just a grammar lesson; it's a superpower for expressing yourself more flexibly. You've got this!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Transform a simple active sentence into a passive one using correct vowel patterns.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to an exciting chapter in your A1 Arabic grammar journey! Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of the passive voice, known in Arabic as المبني للمجهول (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul), which literally translates to "the built for the unknown." This powerful grammatical tool allows you to shift the focus of your sentences from *who* performed an action to *what* happened, making your Arabic sound more natural and sophisticated. Mastering the Arabic passive voice is crucial for understanding everyday conversations, news headlines, and formal reports, where the doer of an action might be unknown, unimportant, or deliberately left unmentioned.
Imagine you want to say "The door was opened" without knowing or caring who opened it. Or perhaps you're reporting "The decision was made" – the action itself is the star! This skill is a game-changer for your comprehension and expression in A1 Arabic. The beauty of Al-Majhul lies in its intuitive system of vowel changes, which act like a secret code to transform active verbs into passive ones. You'll learn simple, consistent patterns that apply across different verb types, making this seemingly complex topic surprisingly accessible. Get ready to add a new superpower to your Arabic communication!

How This Grammar Works

The core idea behind Arabic Passive Voice: 'It Was Done' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul) is to highlight the action and its recipient, rather than the actor. When a verb is made passive, the original subject (the doer) is either omitted or becomes less prominent, and the original direct object steps in to become the new subject, called the نائب الفاعل (Na'ib al-Fa'il), meaning "deputy of the doer." This new subject will always be in the nominative case (ending in a dhamma or equivalent).
Let's break down "The Art of Hiding the Doer: Passive Voice (Majhul)" into its key patterns.
For past actions, we use the Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A). This involves a simple vowel change for most three-letter (Form I) verbs:
  1. 1The first letter takes a dhamma (u-sound).
  2. 2The second-to-last letter takes a kasra (i-sound).
  3. 3The last letter retains its original vowel (usually a fatha for past tense).
Example:

Active: كَتَبَ (kataba - he wrote)

Passive: كُتِبَ (kutiba - it was written)

Sentence: كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ (kutiba ad-darsu - The lesson was written). Here, الدَّرْسُ (ad-darsu) is the Na'ib al-Fa'il.

For present or future actions, we use the Arabic Passive Present: The 'Yu- ... -a-' Pattern. This also follows a consistent vowel change:
  1. 1The prefix (like يَ- or تَ-) takes a dhamma (u-sound).
  2. 2The second-to-last letter takes a fatha (a-sound).
  3. 3The last letter retains its original vowel (usually a dhamma for present tense).
Example:

Active: يَكتُبُ (yaktubu - he writes)

Passive: يُكتَبُ (yuktabu - it is written)

Sentence: يُكتَبُ الدَّرْسُ الآنَ (yuktabu ad-darsu al-'aana - The lesson is being written now).

Even for longer, "derived" verbs (Forms II-X), the principle remains similar, forming the Passive of Derived Arabic Verbs (Forms II-X). Generally, past passive forms will incorporate more 'u' and 'i' sounds, while present passive forms will have a 'u' prefix and an 'a' sound before the last consonant. For instance, from عَلَّمَ (ʿallama - he taught, Form II), the passive past is عُلِّمَ (ʿullima - he was taught), and the passive present is يُعَلَّمُ (yuʿallamu - he is taught). Don't worry about memorizing all forms at A1; recognizing the 'u-i' and 'yu-...-a' patterns is your first big step!

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: كَتَبَ الدَّرْسُ (kataba ad-darsu) (He wrote the lesson.) - *Intended: The lesson was written.*
✓ Correct: كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ (kutiba ad-darsu) (The lesson was written.)
*Explanation:* To make the verb passive, the first letter must take a dhamma (كُ) and the second-to-last letter must take a kasra (تِ). The original subject is removed, and the direct object becomes the nominative Na'ib al-Fa'il.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: يُكتِبُ الرِّسَالَةُ (yukribu ar-risalatu) (The letter is written.) - *Incorrect vowel on the second-to-last letter.*
✓ Correct: يُكتَبُ الرِّسَالَةُ (yuktabu ar-risalatu) (The letter is written.)
*Explanation:* For the present passive, the second-to-last letter must take a fatha (تَ), not a kasra (تِ). The prefix (يُ-) is correct, but the internal vowel was wrong.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: فُتِحَ البَابَ (futiha al-baaba) (The door was opened.) - *Incorrect case for the Na'ib al-Fa'il.*
✓ Correct: فُتِحَ البَابُ (futiha al-baabu) (The door was opened.)
*Explanation:* The Na'ib al-Fa'il (البَابُ) must always be in the nominative case, indicated by a dhamma (ـُ) at the end, not the accusative case (ـَ).

Real Conversations

A

A

مَاذَا حَدَثَ لِلْبَابِ؟ (Maadha hadatha lil-baab?) (What happened to the door?)
B

B

فُتِحَ البَابُ مُنْذُ قَلِيلٍ. (Futiha al-baabu mundhu qaliilin.) (The door was opened a little while ago.)
A

A

هَلْ يُقْرَأُ الْكِتَابُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ؟ (Hal yuqra'u al-kitaabu kulla yawmin?) (Is the book read every day?)
B

B

نَعَم، يُقْرَأُ الْكِتَابُ فِي الصَّبَاحِ. (Na'am, yuqra'u al-kitaabu fi as-sabaah.) (Yes, the book is read in the morning.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What is the main difference between active and passive voice in A1 Arabic grammar?

The main difference is the focus. Active voice emphasizes the *doer* of the action (e.g., "Ahmed wrote the letter"). Passive voice, or Al-Majhul, emphasizes the *action itself* and its recipient, often omitting or downplaying the doer (e.g., "The letter was written").

Q

Do all Arabic verbs have a passive form?

Most transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be made passive. Intransitive verbs (verbs that don't take a direct object, like "he slept") generally do not have a passive form, as there's no object to become the Na'ib al-Fa'il.

Q

How do I know when to use the passive voice in Arabic?

You should use the passive voice Arabic when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or you want to deliberately hide their identity. It's very common in news reports, formal announcements, and when discussing general truths where the actor is irrelevant.

Q

What happens to the direct object in a passive sentence?

In a passive sentence, the original direct object of the active sentence becomes the new subject, called the نائب الفاعل (Na'ib al-Fa'il). It takes the nominative case (marked by a dhamma or equivalent) and dictates the gender and number agreement for the passive verb.

Cultural Context

The Arabic passive voice (Al-Majhul) is very prevalent in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), especially in formal contexts like news reports, academic texts, and official statements. It allows speakers and writers to maintain objectivity or to politely avoid assigning blame or credit. While less frequent in very casual spoken dialects compared to MSA, understanding it is still essential for comprehending media and more formal conversations. It’s also deeply rooted in classical Arabic, making it a fundamental aspect of the language's structure.

Key Examples (8)

1

Suriqat maḥfaẓatī fī as-sūq.

My wallet was stolen in the market.

The Art of Hiding the Doer: Passive Voice (Majhul)
2

Yu'rafu hādhā al-maṭ'am bi-l-pītzā.

This restaurant is known for pizza.

The Art of Hiding the Doer: Passive Voice (Majhul)
3

Suriqa hātifī fī al-maṭār.

My phone was stolen at the airport.

Passive Voice: Hiding the Doer (Majhul)
4

Yusmaḥu bi-al-taṣwīr hunā.

Photography is allowed here.

Passive Voice: Hiding the Doer (Majhul)
5

كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ في الدَّفْتَرِ.

The lesson was written in the notebook.

Arabic Passive Voice: 'It Was Done' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)
6

يُفْتَحُ البابُ كُلَّ صَباحٍ.

The door is opened every morning.

Arabic Passive Voice: 'It Was Done' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)
7

Wulidtu fi al-tis'inat.

I was born in the nineties.

Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A)
8

Suriqa hatifi.

My phone was stolen.

Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The "U" Sound Start

If a verb starts with an 'Oo' sound (Damma), your passive voice alarm should go off! It is the biggest clue.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Art of Hiding the Doer: Passive Voice (Majhul)
💡

Focus on Vowels

Always check your vowels. U-I for past, U-A for present.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive Voice: Hiding the Doer (Majhul)
💡

Focus on the Vowels

Always remember the u-i pattern for past tense. It's the key to everything.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arabic Passive Voice: 'It Was Done' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)
💡

Focus on the Vowels

Always look for the U-I-A pattern in reading.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A)

Key Vocabulary (5)

مَجْهول (Majhul) Unknown/Passive كُتِبَ (Kutiba) It was written يُكْتَبُ (Yuktabu) It is being written فِعْل (Fi'l) Verb/Action بُني (Buniya) It was built

Real-World Preview

building

At the Construction Site

Review Summary

  • Fu'ila (u-i-a)
  • Yu- ... -a-

Common Mistakes

Students often forget to change the vowels, keeping the active voice. Remember to shift to the U-I-A pattern.

Wrong: Kataba al-kitab (He wrote the book - active)
Correct: Kutiba al-kitab (The book was written - passive)

Ensure the first letter has a 'u' sound (Yu) and the middle has an 'a' sound.

Wrong: Yaktubu al-kitab (He writes the book)
Correct: Yuktabu al-kitab (The book is being written)

Sometimes learners overthink derived verbs. Stick to the simple vowel shift rules taught.

Wrong: Buniya al-bayt (The house was built - wait, this is correct)
Correct: Buniya al-bayt

Next Steps

You have mastered a key Arabic secret! Keep practicing those vowel melodies and you'll sound like a native in no time.

Listen to a news clip and identify one passive verb.

Continue to: The Foundation of Arabic Verbs

Quick Practice (10)

Fix the error: أُكْتُشِفَ العَالِمُ الدَّوَاءَ

Find and fix the mistake:

What is wrong?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Passive should not have the actor.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive of Derived Arabic Verbs (Forms II-X)

Convert to passive.

Kataba al-waladu al-darsa. -> ___ al-darsu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kutiba
U-I-A pattern.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A)

Fill in the passive past tense.

___ (kataba) al-dars.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kutiba
U-I pattern for past passive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive Voice: Hiding the Doer (Majhul)

Choose the correct passive verb.

Which is the passive of 'yadrusu'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: yudrasu
Correct passive pattern.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arabic Passive Present: The 'Yu- ... -a-' Pattern

Fix the case.

Find and fix the mistake:

Kutiba al-darsa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kutiba al-darsu
Subject must be nominative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A)

Which is passive?

Which sentence is passive?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kutiba al-darsu
U-I-A pattern.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

kutiba al-darsa

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kutiba al-darsu
Subject must be nominative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arabic Passive Voice: 'It Was Done' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)

Fill in the blank with the correct passive form.

___ (yaktubu) ad-darsu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: yuktabu
Passive requires 'u' prefix and 'a' middle vowel.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arabic Passive Present: The 'Yu- ... -a-' Pattern

Correct the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

yaktubu al-kitabu (wrong)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: yuktabu al-kitabu
Passive verb needed.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arabic Passive Present: The 'Yu- ... -a-' Pattern

Which is passive?

Choose the passive verb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kutiba
Damma at start indicates passive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Art of Hiding the Doer: Passive Voice (Majhul)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

To hide the doer or focus on the object.
Use u-i-a pattern.
Most transitive verbs can be made passive, but intransitive verbs cannot.
Because the doer is unknown (majhul).
To focus on the action or when the actor is unknown.
Change vowels to u-i for past.
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The Foundation of Arabic Verbs
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