Passive Voice: Hiding the Doer (Majhul)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the passive voice when the action matters more than who did it by changing the verb's internal vowels.
- Change the first vowel to a Damma (u) and the second-to-last to a Kasra (i). Example: 'kataba' becomes 'kutiba'.
- Remove the subject (the doer) entirely from the sentence.
- The object takes the place of the subject and becomes the new 'Na'ib al-Fa'il' (subject substitute).
Overview
In Arabic grammar, the Passive Voice is known as المبني للمجهول (al-mabnī li-l-majhūl), literally meaning "the built for the unknown." It is a fundamental grammatical construction that allows you to describe an action without explicitly stating who performed it. This shifts the focus from the doer of the action (الفاعل - al-fāʿil) to the recipient of the action (المفعول به - al-mafʿūl bihi), which then becomes the new grammatical subject, termed نائب الفاعل (nāʾib al-fāʿil), or "deputy doer."
Understanding the passive voice is crucial for A1 learners because it appears frequently in everyday speech, news, official announcements, and formal writing. It enables precision when the agent is genuinely unknown or irrelevant, and allows for polite or objective communication. Instead of saying كتب أحمد الكتاب (kataba Aḥmadu l-kitāba) – "Ahmad wrote the book" – you can say كُتِبَ الكتابُ (kutiba l-kitābu) – "The book was written." The doer (Ahmad) is omitted, and the book, which was the object, becomes the subject of the passive verb.
How This Grammar Works
الحركات - al-ḥarakāt) placed above or below the consonants are modified. These vowel changes act as a grammatical signal, transforming an active verb into its passive counterpart.الفاعل) is removed or becomes implicit. The direct object (المفعول به) of the active sentence then takes its place, becoming the new subject (نائب الفاعل). This نائب الفاعل inherits the grammatical case of the original subject, which is always مرفوع (marfūʿ) – the nominative case.شَرِبَ الولدُ الحليبَ (shariba l-waladu l-ḥalība) – "The boy drank the milk" – الولد is the doer (nominative) and الحليب is the object (accusative). In the passive شُرِبَ الحليبُ (shuriba l-ḥalību) – "The milk was drunk" – الحليب becomes the نائب الفاعل and is now in the nominative case.نائب الفاعل, not with the omitted original agent.Formation Pattern
الفعل الثلاثي المجرد - al-fiʿl ath-thulāthī al-mujarad), which are the simplest three-letter root verbs, is essential. The vowel changes are consistent and relatively straightforward for these verbs in both the past and present tenses.
الماضي المبني للمجهول)
ضمة - u sound), and the second consonant takes a kasra (كسرة - i sound).
فَعَلَ (faʿala, active) becomes فُعِلَ (fuʿila, passive).
كَتَبَ (kataba) – "he wrote"
كُتِبَ (kutiba) – "it was written"
شَرِبَ (shariba) – "he drank"
شُرِبَ (shuriba) – "it was drunk"
فَتَحَ (fataḥa) – "he opened"
فُتِحَ (futiḥa) – "it was opened"
المضارع المبني للمجهول)
يـ, تـ, أـ, نـ) takes a ḍamma (ضمة - u sound), and the second-to-last consonant takes a fatḥa (فتحة - a sound).
يَفْعَلُ (yafʿalu, active) becomes يُفْعَلُ (yufʿalu, passive).
يَكْتُبُ (yaktubu) – "he writes/is writing"
يُكْتَبُ (yuktabu) – "it is written/is being written"
يَشْرَبُ (yashrabu) – "he drinks/is drinking"
يُشْرَبُ (yushrabu) – "it is drunk/is being drunk"
يَفْتَحُ (yaftaḥu) – "he opens/is opening"
يُفْتَحُ (yuftaḥu) – "it is opened/is being opened"
u-i pattern signals past passive, while the u-a pattern (on the prefix and second-to-last letter, respectively) signals present passive.
Conjugation Table
| Pronoun | Verb (كَتَبَ) |
Meaning | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| :---------- | :--------------- | :---------------- | ||
| هُوَ | كَتَبَ |
He wrote | ||
| هِيَ | كَتَبَتْ |
She wrote | ||
| أَنْتَ | كَتَبْتَ |
You (m) wrote | ||
| أَنْتِ | كَتَبْتِ |
You (f) wrote | ||
| أَنَا | كَتَبْتُ |
I wrote | ||
| نَحْنُ | كَتَبْنَا |
We wrote | ||
| هُمْ | كَتَبُوا |
They (m) wrote | ||
| هُنَّ | كَتَبْنَ |
They (f) wrote | ||
| أَنْتُمْ | كَتَبْتُمْ |
You (pl m) wrote | ||
| أَنْتُنَّ | كَتَبْتُنَّ |
You (pl f) wrote | ||
| Pronoun/Na'ib al-Fa'il | Verb (كُتِبَ) |
Meaning | ||
| :----------------------- | :--------------- | :------------------ | ||
| هو (مذكر مفرد) | كُتِبَ |
It (m) was written | ||
| هي (مؤنث مفرد) | كُتِبَتْ |
It (f) was written | ||
| هما (مذكر مثنى) | كُتِبَا |
They (dual m) were written | ||
| هما (مؤنث مثنى) | كُتِبَتَا |
They (dual f) were written | ||
| هم (مذكر جمع) | كُتِبُوا |
They (pl m) were written | ||
| هن (مؤنث جمع) | كُتِبْنَ |
They (pl f) were written | ||
| Pronoun | Verb (يَكْتُبُ) |
Meaning | ||
| :---------- | :---------------- | :-------------------- | ||
| هُوَ | يَكْتُبُ |
He writes | ||
| هِيَ | تَكْتُبُ |
She writes | ||
| أَنْتَ | تَكْتُبُ |
You (m) write | ||
| أَنْتِ | تَكْتُبِينَ |
You (f) write | ||
| أَنَا | أَكْتُبُ |
I write | ||
| نَحْنُ | نَكْتُبُ |
We write | ||
| هُمْ | يَكْتُبُونَ |
They (m) write | ||
| هُنَّ | يَكْتُبْنَ |
They (f) write | ||
| أَنْتُمْ | تَكْتُبُونَ |
You (pl m) write | ||
| أَنْتُنَّ | تَكْتُبْنَ |
You (pl f) write | ||
| Pronoun/Na'ib al-Fa'il | Verb (يُكْتَبُ) |
Meaning | ||
| :----------------------- | :---------------- | :---------------------- | ||
| هو (مذكر مفرد) | يُكْتَبُ |
It (m) is written | ||
| هي (مؤنث مفرد) | تُكْتَبُ |
It (f) is written | ||
| هما (مذكر مثنى) | يُكْتَبَانِ |
They (dual m) are written | ||
| هما (مؤنث مثنى) | تُكْتَبَانِ |
They (dual f) are written | ||
| هم (مذكر جمع) | يُكْتَبُونَ |
They (pl m) are written | ||
| هن (مؤنث جمع) | يُكْتَبْنَ |
They (pl f) are written |
When To Use It
- When the Doer is Unknown (
الجهل بالفاعل): This is perhaps the most common use. If you genuinely do not know who performed an action, the passive voice is your only option. For instance,سُرِقَ الهاتفُ أمسِ(suriqa l-hātifu amsi) – "The phone was stolen yesterday." You don't know the thief, so the active voice is impossible.
- To Emphasize the Action or the Recipient (
التركيز على الفعل أو المفعول): By removing the agent, the focus shifts entirely to what happened and to whom it happened. This is common in reporting events.قُتِلَ ثلاثةُ أشخاصٍ في الحادثِ(qutila thalāthatu ashkhāṣin fī l-ḥādithi) – "Three people were killed in the accident." The emphasis is on the tragic outcome, not on who did the killing.
- For Objectivity and Formality (
الرسمية والموضوعية): Official statements, news reports, scientific texts, and general announcements frequently employ the passive voice to maintain an impersonal and objective tone. It removes personal responsibility or bias.يُمْنَعُ التدخينُ في هذا المكانِ(yumnaʿu t-tadkhīnu fī hādhā l-makāni) – "Smoking is prohibited in this place." This sounds more authoritative than "We prohibit smoking."
- To Avoid Naming the Doer (Politeness or Discretion): Sometimes, the doer is known but purposely omitted to avoid blame, maintain politeness, or for diplomatic reasons. This is a common social usage. If a plate is broken, saying
كُسِرَ الطبقُ(kusira ṭ-ṭabaqu) – "The plate was broken" – is less accusatory thanأنتَ كسرتَ الطبقَ(anta kasarta ṭ-ṭabaqa) – "You broke the plate."
- In Common Expressions (
عبارات شائعة): Many fixed expressions in Arabic use the passive voice, and you will encounter them frequently. Examples includeيُقَالُ إنَّ...(yuqālu inna...) – "It is said that..." orيُعْتَقَدُ أنَّ...(yuʿtaqadu anna...) – "It is believed that..." Another ubiquitous example isيُوجَدُ(yūjadu) – "there is/exists," which is the passive ofوَجَدَ(wajada) – "he found."
Common Mistakes
- Including the Agent in a Passive Sentence: This is perhaps the most significant error. In English, you can say, "The book was written by Shakespeare." In standard Arabic passive construction, you cannot explicitly mention the original agent (
الفاعل) using phrases likeبواسطة(biwāsiṭati, "by means of") orمن قبل(min qibali, "from before/by"). If the agent is known and you wish to name them, you must revert to the active voice. - Incorrect:
كُتِبَ الكتابُ بواسطة أحمد(kutiba l-kitābu biwāsiṭati Aḥmad) ✗ - Correct (Active):
كَتَبَ أحمدُ الكتابَ(kataba Aḥmadu l-kitāba) ✓ – "Ahmad wrote the book." - Correct (Passive, agent unknown):
كُتِبَ الكتابُ(kutiba l-kitābu) ✓ – "The book was written."
- Confusing Past and Present Passive Vowel Patterns: The
u-ipattern for past passive (كُتِبَ) and theu-apattern (on prefix and second-to-last consonant) for present passive (يُكْتَبُ) are distinct. Mixing them up will lead to grammatical errors and misunderstanding. Sayingيُكْتِبُorكَتَبُinstead of the correct forms is a common beginner mistake. Always remember: past isu-i, present isu-a(on the prefix and penultimate letter).
- Incorrect Agreement of Verb and
نائب الفاعل: The passive verb must agree in gender and number with its new subject, theنائب الفاعل. If theنائب الفاعلis feminine, the verb must be feminine; if it's plural, the verb must reflect that, especially when it follows the verb. For example, ifالقِصَّةُ(al-qiṣṣatu, feminine singular, "the story") is theنائب الفاعلfor a past tense verb, it should beقُرِئَتِ القِصَّةُ(quriʾati l-qiṣṣatu) – "The story was read," notقُرِئَ القِصَّةُ✗. Ensure this agreement, particularly with feminine endings (تْfor past,تُـfor present).
- Using Passive with Intransitive Verbs: The passive voice is generally formed from transitive verbs (
الفعل المتعدي- al-fiʿl al-mutaʿaddī), which are verbs that take a direct object. Intransitive verbs (الفعل اللازم-al-fiʿl al-lāzim), which do not take a direct object (e.g.,نامَ- nāma, "to sleep";ذَهَبَ- dhahaba, "to go"), cannot typically be made passive. You cannot say "The sleep was slept" or "The going was gone." While there are exceptions in advanced grammar (e.g., when an adverbial phrase functions asنائب الفاعل), for A1, stick to transitive verbs.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Active Voice (
الفعل المبني للمعلوم- al-fiʿl al-mabnī li-l-maʿlūm): The most direct contrast is with the active voice, which is "the built for the known." In the active voice, the doer (الفاعل) is explicitly stated and performs the action. The verb maintains its original vowel pattern (e.g.,فَعَلَin the past,يَفْعَلُin the present). The focus is on the agent and their action. - Active:
بَنَى المهندسُ البيتَ(banā l-muhandisu l-bayta) – "The engineer built the house." - Passive:
بُنِيَ البيتُ(buniya l-baytu) – "The house was built."
- Form VII Verbs (
انفعل- infaʿala): Arabic has a verb pattern, Form VII, which often conveys a reflexive or inchoative meaning, implying that an action happens to itself or naturally without an external agent. These verbs are always intransitive. While they can sometimes translate passively into English, their Arabic structure implies a lack of external causation, unlike the true passive which implies an unknown external agent. - Form VII:
انكَسَرَ الكأسُ(inkasara l-kaʾsu) – "The glass broke (by itself / got broken)." - True Passive (Form I):
كُسِرَ الكأسُ(kusira l-kaʾsu) – "The glass was broken (by someone, unknown)."
انكسر suggests an internal breaking, while كُسر implies an external force, even if unspecified.- Form VIII Verbs with Reflexive Meanings (
افتعل- iftaʿala): Some Form VIII verbs can also have reflexive meanings (e.g.,اجتمع- ijtamaʿa, "he gathered (himself)" or "he met"). Again, these differ from the passive voice because they describe an action performed by the subject, not upon it by an unknown agent. The vowel pattern is also distinct (e.g.,اُجْتُمِعَwould be the passive ofاجتمعif it were transitive, butاجتمعitself is an active form).
المبني للمجهول) and seemingly similar reflexive forms is the implied presence (or absence) of an external, though unmentioned, agent. Passive voice implies someone did it, while reflexive forms imply it happened by itself or the subject acted upon itself.Real Conversations
The passive voice is not just for formal texts; it's integrated into modern Arabic communication, from daily conversations to social media and news consumption. Recognizing it helps you understand native speakers and express yourself more naturally.
- Daily News and Reports: Listen to news broadcasts or read headlines. You'll frequently encounter passive verbs when reporting incidents where the perpetrator is unknown or irrelevant.
- عُثِرَ على جثةٍ في النهرِ (ʿuthira ʿalā juththatin fī n-nahri) – "A body was found in the river."
- سُئِلَ الوزيرُ عن خططِ الحكومةِ (suʾila l-wazīru ʿan khuṭaṭi l-ḥukūmati) – "The minister was asked about the government's plans." (The questioner is not named).
- Common Phrases and Proverbs: Many idiomatic expressions and proverbs rely on the passive voice.
- قِيلَ وقالَ (qīla wa-qāla) – "It was said and he said" (meaning gossip or hearsay).
- قِيلَ لي إنَّكَ بخيرٍ (qīla lī innaka bi-khayrin) – "I was told that you are fine." (Who told you is less important than the message).
- Instructions and Announcements: In public spaces or in written instructions, the passive voice maintains formality and universality.
- تُغْلَقُ الأبوابُ عند الساعةِ الخامسةِ (tughlaqu l-abwābu ʿinda s-sāʿati l-khāmisati) – "The doors are closed at five o'clock." (No specific person closes them).
- يُطْلَبُ من الجميعِ الالتزامُ بالتعليماتِ (yuṭlabu mina l-jamīʿi l-iltizāmu bi-t-taʿlīmāti) – "Everyone is requested to adhere to the instructions."
- Social Media and Online Discussions: Even in informal online contexts, the passive voice can be used for reporting general opinions or observations without attributing them.
- يُعْتَقَدُ أنَّ هذا هو الحلُّ الأفضلُ (yuʿtaqadu anna hādhā huwa l-ḥallu l-afḍalu) – "It is believed that this is the best solution."
By actively noticing these patterns in authentic materials, you'll gain a natural feel for when and how to deploy the passive voice yourself.
Progressive Practice
To truly internalize the Arabic passive voice, consistent and structured practice is essential. Start with the basics and gradually increase complexity.
1. Active to Passive Transformation (Form I):
- Take simple active sentences with Form I transitive verbs. Identify the verb, the فاعل (doer), and the مفعول به (object).
- Remove the فاعل. Change the direct object to نائب الفاعل and ensure it's in the nominative case (مرفوع).
- Change the verb's vowels to the passive pattern (u-i for past, u-a for present) and ensure it agrees in gender and number with the نائب الفاعل.
- Example Active: قَرَأَتْ البنتُ الكتابَ (qaraʾat il-bintu l-kitāba) – "The girl read the book."
- Example Passive: قُرِئَ الكتابُ (quriʾa l-kitābu) – "The book was read."
2. Reverse Transformation (Passive to Active):
- Given a passive sentence, try to imagine a likely doer (فاعل) and construct an active sentence. This helps solidify the relationship between the two voices.
- Example Passive: أُكِلَ الطعامُ (ukila ṭ-ṭaʿāmu) – "The food was eaten."
- Example Active: أَكَلَ الولدُ الطعامَ (akala l-waladu ṭ-ṭaʿāma) – "The boy ate the food." (Here, "the boy" is an assumed agent).
3. Contextual Usage:
- Think of scenarios where you would naturally use the passive voice. For instance, describe something that happened without knowing who caused it (e.g., a window was broken, a message was sent, a door was opened).
- Practice forming sentences that maintain an objective or polite tone, such as rules or general statements. تُقَدَّمُ الوجباتُ في الساعةِ السابعةِ (tuqaddamu l-wajabātu fī s-sāʿati s-sābiʿati) – "Meals are served at 7 o'clock."
4. Listening and Reading Comprehension:
- Actively listen for passive verbs in Arabic media. Pay attention to how the vowels sound different from their active counterparts.
- When reading, identify passive structures and consider why the writer chose to use the passive voice instead of the active. Is the agent unknown? Is it a formal context? This analytical approach deepens comprehension.
By systematically working through these types of exercises, you will build both your recognition and production skills for the Arabic passive voice.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can all verbs be made passive?
- A: No. Generally, only transitive verbs (
الفعل المتعدي) – those that take a direct object – can be made passive. Intransitive verbs (الفعل اللازم) typically cannot.
- Q: How do I know if a verb is transitive?
- A: If the verb can answer the question "what?" or "whom?" without needing a preposition, it's likely transitive (e.g.,
أكلَ ماذا؟– "he ate what?"). For A1, start with verbs whose English equivalents take direct objects.
- Q: What happens to the direct object in a passive sentence?
- A: The direct object (
المفعول به) becomes the new grammatical subject, calledنائب الفاعل(nāʾib al-fāʿil). It then takes the nominative case (مرفوع) and dictates the gender and number agreement of the passive verb.
- Q: Can I mention the original doer in an Arabic passive sentence?
- A: No, not directly with
بواسطةorمن قبلin classical passive structures. If you need to mention the doer, you must use the active voice. The essence ofالمبني للمجهولis that the doer is unknown or irrelevant.
- Q: Does the verb's gender and number change in the passive voice?
- A: Yes. The passive verb must agree in gender and number with its
نائب الفاعل(the new subject). If theنائب الفاعلis feminine singular, the verb will be feminine singular (e.g.,كُتِبَتْ). If it is masculine plural, the verb will be masculine plural (e.g.,كُتِبُوا).
- Q: Is the passive voice common in spoken Arabic?
- A: Yes, it is common in both formal and informal contexts, particularly for news, announcements, and when the agent is unknown. Many common expressions also use the passive voice, such as
يُقَالُ("it is said") orيُوجَدُ("there is/exists").
Past Tense Passive (Form I)
| Pronoun | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
|
Huwa
|
kataba
|
kutiba
|
|
Hiya
|
katabat
|
kutibat
|
|
Anta
|
katabta
|
kutibta
|
|
Anti
|
katabti
|
kutibti
|
|
Ana
|
katabtu
|
kutibtu
|
|
Nahnu
|
katabna
|
kutibna
|
Meanings
The passive voice is used to shift focus from the person performing the action to the action itself or the recipient of the action.
Focus on Object
Highlighting the recipient of the action.
“أُكِلَ الطَّعامُ (The food was eaten.)”
“سُرِقَ المِفتاحُ (The key was stolen.)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative Past
|
u-i vowel pattern
|
kutiba
|
|
Affirmative Present
|
u-a vowel pattern
|
yuktabu
|
|
Negative Past
|
ma + passive
|
ma kutiba
|
|
Negative Present
|
la + passive
|
la yuktabu
|
|
Interrogative
|
hal + passive
|
hal kutiba?
|
|
Short Answer
|
na'am / la
|
na'am, kutiba
|
Formality Spectrum
أُنجِزَ العَمَلُ (Workplace)
تَمَّ إنجازُ العَمَلِ (Workplace)
خَلَّصنا الشُّغل (Workplace)
خَلَّصنا (Workplace)
Passive Voice Logic
Function
- Unknown Agent Who did it?
- Focus on Object What happened?
Structure
- Vowel Change u-i / u-a
- No Agent Remove doer
Examples by Level
كُتِبَ الدَّرسُ
The lesson was written.
أُكِلَ التُّفاحُ
The apple was eaten.
فُتِحَ البابُ
The door was opened.
سُرِقَ المالُ
The money was stolen.
يُكتَبُ الدَّرسُ الآنَ
The lesson is being written now.
يُؤكَلُ الطَّعامُ كُلَّ يَومٍ
The food is eaten every day.
يُفتَحُ المَحَلُّ صَباحاً
The shop is opened in the morning.
يُسأَلُ المُديرُ عَنِ المَشروعِ
The manager is asked about the project.
عُرِفَ الحَقُّ بَعدَ زَمَنٍ
The truth was known after a time.
قُرِئَ الكِتابُ بِاهتِمامٍ
The book was read with interest.
تُمُثِّلُ القَضِيَّةُ أَهَمِّيَّةً
The case is represented as important.
يُتَوَقَّعُ حُضورُ الجَميعِ
The attendance of everyone is expected.
أُعلِنَ عَنِ الفائِزِ في الحَفْلِ
The winner was announced at the party.
يُعَدُّ هَذا القَرارُ حاسِماً
This decision is considered decisive.
تَمَّ التَّحقيقُ في القَضِيَّةِ
The investigation into the case was completed.
يُشارُ إِلَيهِ بِالبَنانِ
He is pointed at by fingers (famous).
أُقِرَّ القانُونُ بَعدَ نِقاشٍ طَويلٍ
The law was ratified after a long discussion.
يُستَشَفُّ مِن كَلامِهِ الغَضَبُ
Anger is inferred from his words.
يُؤخَذُ بِرَأيِ الخُبَراءِ
The opinion of experts is taken.
تُبنى القُصورُ عَلى الأَساساتِ
Palaces are built on foundations.
يُستَأنَسُ بِرَأيِ القُدَماءِ
The opinion of the ancients is sought for comfort/guidance.
أُبرِمَتِ الصَّفَقَةُ بَينَ الطَّرَفَينِ
The deal was concluded between the two parties.
يُستَخْلَصُ العِبرَةُ مِنَ التَّاريخِ
The lesson is extracted from history.
يُتَغاضى عَنِ الأَخطاءِ الصَّغيرَةِ
Small mistakes are overlooked.
Easily Confused
Learners often use active verbs when they want to be vague.
Learners confuse 'the door opened' with 'the door was opened'.
Learners think they are the same.
Common Mistakes
kutiba al-walad al-dars
kutiba al-dars
kataba al-dars
kutiba al-dars
kutiba al-darsa
kutiba al-darsu
kutib al-dars
kutiba al-dars
yuktab al-dars
yuktabu al-dars
yaktubu al-dars
yuktabu al-dars
yuktabu al-darsa
yuktabu al-darsu
tammi kataba
kutiba
yuktab al-darsu
yuktabu al-darsu
kutibat al-dars
kutiba al-dars
istukhtiba al-sirr
ustukhfiya al-sirr
yustakhdam al-adawat
tustakhdamu al-adawat
kuna kutiba
kutibna
Sentence Patterns
___ (passive verb) + ___ (subject).
___ (passive verb) + ___ (subject) + ___ (time).
hal ___ (passive verb) + ___ (subject)?
la ___ (passive verb) + ___ (subject).
Real World Usage
أُعلِنَ عَنِ الفائِزِ
يُضافُ المِلحُ
يُستَنتَجُ مِنَ البَحثِ
تَمَّ النَّشرُ
سُرِقَ المَنزِلُ
يُتَوَقَّعُ مِنَ المُرَشَّحِ
Focus on Vowels
No Agent
Start with Form I
Use Tamma
Smart Tips
Use the passive voice to sound objective.
Use the passive voice to avoid guessing.
Use the passive voice to focus on the steps.
Use the passive voice to avoid blaming.
Pronunciation
Damma
Rounded lips as in 'put'.
Kasra
Smile slightly as in 'bit'.
Fatha
Open mouth as in 'cat'.
Declarative
Kutiba al-dars ↓
Falling intonation for statements.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'U-I' for the past (You-I did it, but I won't say who) and 'U-A' for the present (You-A are doing it).
Visual Association
Imagine a ghost writing on a chalkboard. The chalk moves, but you can't see the hand holding it. The action exists, but the doer is invisible.
Rhyme
Past is U-I, Present is U-A, hide the doer and look the other way.
Story
A chef is cooking in a kitchen. Suddenly, the food starts flying onto plates by itself. The chef is gone. The food is served. The food is eaten. The kitchen is cleaned.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your day using only passive verbs (e.g., 'The coffee was drunk', 'The email was sent').
Cultural Notes
Used in news and formal speeches to maintain neutrality.
Often uses 'tamma' + masdar instead of internal passive.
Similar to Egyptian, prefers 'tamma' for clarity.
The passive voice in Arabic is a Semitic feature, relying on internal vowel changes (apophony) rather than auxiliary verbs.
Conversation Starters
ماذا فُعِلَ اليَوم؟
هَل أُكِلَ الطَّعامُ؟
هَل يُتَوَقَّعُ المَطَرُ؟
هَل يُعرَفُ السَّبَبُ؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ (kataba) al-dars.
___ (yaktubu) al-dars.
Find and fix the mistake:
kutiba al-walad al-dars
kataba al-talib al-dars
Can you include the agent in a passive sentence?
A: Who ate the food? B: ___ (The food was eaten).
futiha / al-bab / ams
Sort: kutiba, yuktabu
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ (kataba) al-dars.
___ (yaktubu) al-dars.
Find and fix the mistake:
kutiba al-walad al-dars
kataba al-talib al-dars
Can you include the agent in a passive sentence?
A: Who ate the food? B: ___ (The food was eaten).
futiha / al-bab / ams
Sort: kutiba, yuktabu
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises___ ṣawtun gharīb. (A strange voice was heard)
Pair the active verbs with their passive counterparts.
Choose the correct phrase:
Ukila / al-ṭaʿām
Yaʿrafu anna al-arḍ kurawiyya.
___ al-rajul. (The man was killed)
Which verb is commonly used for 'there is'?
Su'ila al-su'āl.
How do you say 'It is said' in Arabic?
Select the passive sentence:
Ghusilat al-sayyāra min qibal Ali.
Al-lugha ___ (is studied).
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Most transitive verbs can be made passive, but intransitive verbs cannot.
Because the doer is unknown (majhul).
It is more common in formal writing than in daily casual speech.
Look for the Damma on the first letter.
Yes, it is very common in modern Arabic.
Yes, it becomes the subject and takes the nominative case (Damma).
Use the active voice instead.
Yes, especially in hollow or weak verbs.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se + verb
Arabic changes the verb itself; Spanish adds a particle.
Être + past participle
Arabic is a single word; French is two.
Werden + past participle
Arabic is synthetic; German is analytic.
-(r)eru suffix
Arabic is internal; Japanese is suffixal.
Internal vowel change
None.
Bei construction
Arabic is internal; Chinese is particle-based.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A)
Overview Arabic, like many languages, offers a grammatical construction to shift focus from the **performer of an action...
Arabic Passive Present: The 'Yu- ... -a-' Pattern
Overview In Arabic, mastering the **passive voice** is crucial for expressing actions where the performer is unknown, un...
Related Grammar Rules
Arabic Passive Voice: Formal Objectivity (Al-Majhul)
Overview The Arabic Passive Voice, known as `Al-Majhul` (المجهول), represents a significant shift in grammatical focus....
Arabic Passive Voice: 'It Was Done' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)
Overview Arabic, like many languages, employs a grammatical construction called the **passive voice**, known in Arabic a...
The Art of Hiding the Doer: Passive Voice (Majhul)
Overview The passive voice is a grammatical structure that shifts the focus of a sentence. Instead of highlighting the *...
Arabic Passive Present: The 'Yu- ... -a-' Pattern
Overview In Arabic, mastering the **passive voice** is crucial for expressing actions where the performer is unknown, un...
Past Passive: The "It was done" Pattern (U-I-A)
Overview Arabic, like many languages, offers a grammatical construction to shift focus from the **performer of an action...
