Arabic Passive Participle: The 'Done-To' Words (ism al-maf'ul)
maf'ul) identifies the result or object of an action using a simple root-based pattern.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The passive participle turns a verb into a description of someone or something that has received an action.
- For Form I verbs, use the pattern 'maf'ul' (مَفْعُول). Example: 'kataba' (wrote) becomes 'maktub' (written).
- The word must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes.
- It functions like an adjective, so it usually follows the noun it modifies.
Overview
In Arabic, the language often describes actions and their direct impact on people or things. The Passive Participle, known as ism al-maf'ul (اِسْمُ الْمَفْعُول), is a crucial grammatical tool that allows you to describe a noun—whether a person or an object—as the receiver of an action. It signifies the state or condition resulting from an action performed upon it.
Essentially, it is the 'done-to' word. If someone breaks a window, the window is مَكْسُور (maksūr) – broken. If a letter is written, the letter is مَكْتُوب (maktūb) – written.
This grammatical concept provides a concise and elegant way to express the outcome of verbs, making your Arabic more natural and efficient.
Arabic, fundamentally, is built upon a system of three-letter roots, from which entire families of words are derived. The passive participle is one such derivation, adhering to predictable patterns that simplify vocabulary acquisition. For a beginner at the A1 level, understanding the مَفْعُول (mafʿūl) pattern for basic verbs is foundational.
This pattern is not just a vocabulary item; it's a structural key that unlocks comprehension of countless words by revealing their relationship to a core action. It allows you to focus on the result and state, rather than the agent of the action, a perspective frequently encountered in daily communication.
How This Grammar Works
أَوْزَان, awzān) to create different word types, such as verbs, nouns, and adjectives, each pattern adding a specific layer of meaning. For the passive participle, the مَفْعُول (mafʿūl) pattern is primarily used with Form I verbs – the simplest and most common verb form, typically consisting of only the three root letters.ك-ت-ب (k-t-b), which relates to writing. When these root letters are placed into the مَفْعُول pattern, they produce مَكْتُوب (maktūb). This word inherently means "written" or "that which has been written." It functions like an adjective, describing the state of a noun that has undergone the action of writing.هَذَا كِتَابٌ مَكْتُوبٌ (hādhā kitābun maktūbun) means "This is a written book." Similarly, from the root ف-ت-ح (f-t-ḥ), related to opening, we derive مَفْتُوح (maftūḥ), meaning "opened" or "open." You might hear الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ (al-bābu maftūḥun) – "The door is open."كَاتِب (kātib) is the active participle from ك-ت-ب, meaning "writer" or "one who writes." The distinction between the doer and the done-to is fundamental to grasping the role of both participles in Arabic grammar. Understanding this relationship empowers you to deduce the meaning of many unfamiliar words simply by recognizing their pattern and root.Formation Pattern
مَفْعُول (mafʿūl), which transliterates to maf'ūl.
ف-ع-ل (f-ʿ-l), representing your R1, R2, and R3 (First, Second, and Third Root Letters), follow these precise steps:
مَـ (ma-): Start with the prefix مَـ (mīm with fatḥa). This prefix signifies either a place, time, or the passive participle itself.
ف (R1): Place the first root letter (ف) immediately after the مَـ, usually with a سُكُون (sukūn).
ع (R2): The second root letter (ع) receives a ضَمَّة (ḍamma), producing an 'u' sound.
و (wāw): Insert a long و (wāw) after the second root letter. This lengthens the 'u' sound, creating ـُـوـ (ū).
ل (R3): Place the third root letter (ل) at the end. Its final vowel will vary based on its grammatical function in a sentence (e.g., ضَمَّة for nominative, فَتْحَة for accusative, كَسْرَة for genitive, or سُكُون in a construct state).
ك-ت-ب | كَتَبَ | to write | مَكْتُوب | written |
ش-ر-ب | شَرِبَ | to drink | مَشْرُوب | drunk, a drink |
ق-ر-أ | قَرَأَ | to read | مَقْرُوء | read |
أ-ك-ل | أَكَلَ | to eat | مَأْكُول | eaten, edible |
ب-ن-ى | بَنَى | to build | مَبْنِيّ | built |
و-ج-د | وَجَدَ | to find | مَوْجُود | found, present |
و or ي): When the second or third root letter is a weak letter (و or ي), the pattern undergoes slight adjustments due to phonetic rules. For Form I participles, this often involves the weak letter merging or transforming. For instance, from the root ق-و-ل (q-w-l, to say), the expected مَقْوُول (maqwūl) becomes مَقُول (maqūl), as the two و's coalesce. Similarly, from ب-ي-ع (b-y-ʿ, to sell), مَبْيُوع (mabyūʿ) becomes مَبِيع (mabīʿ). While these are minor variations, the core مَفْعُول pattern remains visibly present, particularly the مَـ prefix and the long ـُـوـ sound. At the A1 level, recognizing the base pattern is key; the precise phonetic shifts for weak roots will become more intuitive with exposure.
مَفْعُول pattern is specific to Form I verbs. For verbs in Forms II through X, the passive participle is formed differently, typically starting with a مُـ (mu-) prefix and having distinct internal vowel structures. However, these more advanced forms are beyond the A1 scope and will be covered in later stages of your learning journey. For now, focus exclusively on mastering the مَفْعُول pattern for triliteral roots.
When To Use It
- 1As an Adjective: This is its most common role. The passive participle modifies a noun, and just like any other adjective in Arabic, it must agree with the noun it describes in gender, number, and definiteness. This agreement is crucial for grammatical correctness.
- Gender: For feminine nouns, a
تَاء مَرْبُوطَة(tā’ marbūṭah, ة) is added to the end of the participle. For example,بَابٌ مَفْتُوحٌ(bābun maftūḥun - an open door, masculine) becomesنَافِذَةٌ مَفْتُوحَةٌ(nāfīdhah maftūḥatun - an open window, feminine). - Number: For plural nouns, the participle also takes a plural form. For human plurals, masculine participles often use
ـُونَ(ūna) orـِينَ(īna) endings, and feminine participles useـَات(āt). For non-human plurals, Arabic grammar treats them as feminine singular. So,كُتُبٌ مَكْتُوبَةٌ(kutubun maktūbatun - written books) uses the feminine singular formمَكْتُوبَةٌeven thoughكُتُبٌis a plural noun. - Definiteness: If the noun is definite (preceded by
الـ, al-), the participle must also be definite. If the noun is indefinite, the participle remains indefinite. For example,الْكِتَابُ الْمَكْتُوبُ(al-kitābu al-maktūbu - the written book) vs.كِتَابٌ مَكْتُوبٌ(kitābun maktūbun - a written book).
الرِسَالَةُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ بِالعَرَبِيَّة. (ar-risālatu maktūbatun bil-ʿarabiyyah. - The letter is written in Arabic.) Here, مَكْتُوبَةٌ agrees with الرِسَالَةُ (feminine singular definite).هَذَا مُنْتَجٌ مَصْنُوعٌ فِي الصِين. (hādhā muntaǧun maṣnūʿun fī al-ṣīn. - This is a product made in China.) مَصْنُوعٌ (made) describes مُنْتَجٌ (product).- 1As a Noun: Sometimes, the passive participle becomes a standalone noun, referring to the entity that received the action. This is particularly common in plural forms.
مَشْرُوب(mašrūb - drunk thing) commonly means a drink, and its pluralمَشْرُوبَات(mašrūbāt) means drinks.مَقْرُوء(maqrūʾ - read thing) can mean a reading, as inمَقْرُوءَات(maqrūʾāt - readings/literature).
أُرِيدُ بَعْضَ الْمَشْرُوبَات الْبَارِدَة. (urīdu baʿḍa al-mašrūbāti al-bāridah. - I want some cold drinks.) Here, مَشْرُوبَات functions as a noun.- 1Indicating State or Result: The passive participle is perfect for describing the current state of an object as a direct consequence of a past action. It's often used with the verb
كَانَ(kāna - to be/was) or implied in a nominal sentence (whereisis implied).
البَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ.(al-bābu maftūḥun. - The door is open/opened.) This implies someone opened it, and its current state is open.الرِسَالَةُ مَقْرُوءَةٌ.(ar-risālatu maqrūʾatun. - The message is read.) This means the action of reading has been completed on the message.
مَكْسُورَةٌ" (al-nāfithatu maksūratun). It's the language of results and descriptions, prevalent in modern communication from news headlines to social media status updates.Common Mistakes
- 1Confusion with the Active Participle: This is arguably the most frequent and significant source of error. Both participles are derived from verb roots and often look similar, especially in their bare forms. However, their meanings are diametrically opposite:
- Active Participle (
اِسْمُ الْفَاعِل, ism al-fāʿil): Describes the doer of the action (e.g.,كَاتِب(kātib) - writer). - Passive Participle (
اِسْمُ الْمَفْعُول, ism al-mafʿūl): Describes the receiver of the action (e.g.,مَكْتُوب(maktūb) - written).
فَاعِل (fāʿil) vs. مَفْعُول (mafʿūl). Misapplying them leads to logical absurdities. If you say أَنَا مَكْتُوب (anā maktūb), you are literally saying "I am written," which makes sense only in highly metaphorical contexts (like destiny). You almost certainly meant أَنَا كَاتِب (anā kātib), "I am a writer." Always ask yourself: Is this noun performing the action, or is the action being performed on it?- 1Lack of Gender and Number Agreement: Because passive participles function as adjectives, they must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and definiteness. Failing to do so is a clear grammatical error. This is especially challenging for beginners who might forget to add the
تَاء مَرْبُوطَة(ة) for feminine singular nouns or correctly pluralize for human referents.
- Incorrect:
سَيَّارَةٌ مَكْسُورٌ(sayyāratun maksūrun - a car broken).سَيَّارَةٌis feminine, so the participle must also be feminine. - Correct:
سَيَّارَةٌ مَكْسُورَةٌ(sayyāratun maksūratun - a broken car). - Incorrect:
طُلَّابٌ مَدْعُوٌّ(ṭullābun madʿuwwun - students invited - singular participle for plural noun). - Correct:
طُلَّابٌ مَدْعُوُّونَ(ṭullābun madʿuwwūna - invited students).
أَبْوَابٌ مَفْتُوحَةٌ (abwābun maftūḥatun - open doors) is correct, not أَبْوَابٌ مَفْتُوحُونَ.- 1Confusion with Place Nouns (
اِسْمُ الْمَكَان, ism al-makān): Both passive participles and place nouns for Form I verbs often begin with theمَـ(ma-) prefix. This can cause confusion. The crucial distinction lies in the internal vowel structure.
- Passive Participle: Follows the
مَفْعُول(mafʿūl) pattern, featuring theـُـوـ(ū) sound after the second root letter. E.g.,مَكْتُوب(maktūb) - written. - Place Noun: Typically follows the
مَفْعَل(mafʿal) orمَفْعِل(mafʿil) pattern, lacking the longـُـوـvowel. E.g.,مَكْتَب(maktab) - office (a place of writing).
الْمَكْتَبُ مَكْتُوبٌ بِخَطٍّ جَمِيل. (al-maktabu maktūbun bi-khaṭṭin ǧamīl. - The office [name] is written in beautiful handwriting.) Here, الْمَكْتَبُ is a place noun, and مَكْتُوبٌ is a passive participle. The contexts clearly distinguish their roles, but the forms can look similar without tashkeel.- 1Incorrect Application to Intransitive Verbs: The passive participle is primarily formed from transitive verbs – those that take a direct object (e.g., to write something, to break something). Intransitive verbs (e.g., to sit, to sleep, to go) do not inherently have an object to be acted upon, making a direct passive participle derivation difficult or impossible in their basic form. While some intransitive verbs can become transitive through derived forms or prepositional phrases, at A1, assume passive participles come from verbs that can directly act on something.
Real Conversations
The passive participle is ubiquitous in everyday Arabic, appearing in formal and informal contexts, from media to casual chat. Its conciseness makes it a natural choice for descriptions and status updates.
Describing Object States
- هل الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ؟ (hal al-bābu maftūḥun? - Is the door open?)
- نعم، الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ. (naʿam, al-bābu maftūḥun. - Yes, the door is open.)
- الزجاج مَكْسُور. (az-zujāj maksūr. - The glass is broken.)
Confirming Status (especially digital): In the age of digital communication, passive participles are frequently used to indicate the status of messages, files, or tasks.
- الرِسَالَةُ مَقْرُوءَةٌ. (ar-risālatu maqrūʾatun. - The message is read.) - Common in chat apps.
- الملفُ مَرْفُوعٌ على السحابة. (al-milfu marfūʿun ʿalā as-saḥābah. - The file is uploaded to the cloud.)
- هذه الصورة مُشَارَكَةٌ مع الجميع. (hādhī aṣ-ṣūratu mušārakatun maʿa al-ǧamīʿ. - This photo is shared with everyone.) - Note: مُشَارَكَةٌ is a Form III passive participle, but the concept is identical.
Informing about Availability or Condition: You will hear or read passive participles when asking or stating if something is available, booked, or in a particular condition.
- هل الطاولة مَحْجُوزَةٌ؟ (hal aṭ-ṭāwilah maḥǧūzatun? - Is the table reserved?) مَحْجُوزَةٌ from ح-ج-ز (to reserve).
- هذا الفندق مَعْرُوفٌ بخدمته الجيدة. (hādhā al-funduqu maʿrūfun bi-khidmatihī al-ǧayyidah. - This hotel is known for its good service.) مَعْرُوفٌ from ع-ر-ف (to know).
Standard Greetings and Expressions: Certain expressions are fossilized passive participles.
- مَبْرُوك! (mabrūk! - Congratulations!) Literally means "blessed," from the root ب-ر-ك (to bless). When you say مَبْرُوك, you are saying the event or person is blessed.
- مَعْذُور. (maʿdhūr. - Excused/Pardoned.) From ع-ذ-ر (to excuse).
Describing People's States (often non-Form I, but conceptually linked): While the مَفْعُول pattern is Form I, many daily expressions use passive participles from other verb forms. For instance, مَشْغُول (mašġūl - busy, occupied) comes from the root ش-غ-ل (to occupy). Even though its form structure hints at a different verb form (Form I with some phonetic changes from شَغَلَ to مَشْغُول), it acts as a passive participle meaning "occupied by something."
- أنا مَشْغُولٌ الآن. (anā mašġūlun al-āan. - I am busy now.)
These examples illustrate that the passive participle is not merely a theoretical concept but a practical, active component of how Arabic speakers communicate. Its widespread use makes it an indispensable part of your A1 vocabulary and comprehension toolkit.
Quick FAQ
Not every verb. The passive participle is primarily formed from transitive verbs (الأفعال المتعدية, al-afʿāl al-mutaʿaddiyah) – verbs that take a direct object. This is because the passive participle describes something that receives an action. Intransitive verbs (الأفعال اللازمة, al-afʿāl al-lāzimah) – verbs that do not take a direct object (e.g., to sit, to sleep, to stand) – generally do not have a passive participle in their basic Form I. You can't logically have a "slept object" in the same way you have a "written letter." However, some intransitive verbs can acquire a passive participle if they are used transitively in other verb forms or with prepositions.
مَفْعُول (passive participle) from مَفْعَل (place noun)?Both patterns begin with مَـ (ma-), but the key difference is the internal vowel structure. The passive participle مَفْعُول always features a long ـُـوـ (ū) sound after the second root letter (e.g., مَكْتُوب - written). The place noun مَفْعَل or مَفْعِل lacks this long ـُـوـ and typically has a فَتْحَة (fatḥa) or كَسْرَة (kasra) on the second root letter, followed by a سُكُون on the third root letter (e.g., مَكْتَب - office). Always look for that distinctive ـُـوـ sound to identify the Form I passive participle.
No, absolutely not. At the A1 level, your primary focus should be on mastering the مَفْعُول (mafʿūl) pattern for Form I verbs (triliteral roots). This is the most common and will allow you to understand and produce a significant amount of basic Arabic. The other verb forms (فِعْلٌ مُجَرَّدٌ, fiʿl mujarrad) have different passive participle patterns, usually starting with مُـ (mu-), but these are for A2 and higher levels. Attempting to learn all of them simultaneously would be overwhelming and counterproductive.
مَشْغُول (mašġūl) mean "busy"? Its root ش-غ-ل means "to occupy."This is an excellent example of how the passive participle works conceptually. مَشْغُول literally means "occupied" or "that which is occupied." If you are مَشْغُول, it means you are occupied by work or tasks. Your state is one of being occupied. So, its meaning as "busy" is a direct, logical extension of its passive participle function, describing the state of being acted upon (occupied).
مَبْرُوك (mabrūk) a passive participle?Yes, it is! مَبْرُوك comes from the root ب-ر-ك (b-r-k), which means "to bless." Following the مَفْعُول pattern, مَبْرُوك means "blessed." When you say مَبْرُوك to congratulate someone, you are essentially saying "May this (event, achievement, etc.) be blessed" or "It is blessed." This shows how a seemingly simple congratulatory phrase is deeply rooted in Arabic morphological patterns and conveys a wish for divine blessing upon the recipient or occasion.
مَفْعُول?Yes, they generally follow the مَفْعُول pattern, but with predictable phonetic adjustments (إعلال, iʿlāl) to simplify pronunciation. For example, ق-و-ل (to say) yields مَقُول (said), where the two و's merge. ب-ي-ع (to sell) yields مَبِيع (sold), where the ي replaces the و of the pattern and the vowel preceding it becomes a كَسْرَة. While the exact phonetic changes can be complex, the core pattern and meaning remain consistent. For A1, recognizing the مَـ prefix and the general meaning of being acted upon is sufficient; the precise transformations will become clearer as you advance and encounter more examples.
Passive Participle (Form I)
| Gender | Singular | Dual | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
مَفْعُول (Maf'ul)
|
مَفْعُولَان (Maf'ulan)
|
مَفْعُولُونَ (Maf'ulun)
|
|
Feminine
|
مَفْعُولَة (Maf'ula)
|
مَفْعُولَتَان (Maf'ulatani)
|
مَفْعُولَات (Maf'ulat)
|
Meanings
The passive participle (Ism al-Maf'ul) is a noun derived from a verb that indicates the person or thing upon which the action has been performed.
State of being
Describes the state of an object after an action is completed.
“الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ (The door is opened.)”
“الطَّعَامُ مَأْكُولٌ (The food is eaten.)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + Participle
|
الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ (The door is open)
|
|
Negative
|
Laysa + Participle
|
الْبَابُ لَيْسَ مَفْتُوحًا (The door is not open)
|
|
Question
|
Hal + Noun + Participle
|
هَلِ الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ؟ (Is the door open?)
|
|
Short Answer (Yes)
|
Na'am, ...
|
نَعَمْ، هُوَ مَفْتُوحٌ (Yes, it is open)
|
|
Short Answer (No)
|
La, ...
|
لَا، لَيْسَ مَفْتُوحًا (No, it is not open)
|
|
Variation (Feminine)
|
Noun(f) + Participle(f)
|
الرِّسَالَةُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ (The letter is written)
|
Formality Spectrum
الْبَابُ مَغْلُوقٌ (Daily life)
الْبَابُ مَغْلُوقٌ (Daily life)
الْبَابُ مَسْدُودٌ (Daily life)
الْبَابُ مَقْفُول (Daily life)
The Root-Pattern System
Active
- كَاتِب Writer
Passive
- مَكْتُوب Written
Examples by Level
البَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ
The door is open.
الطَّعَامُ مَأْكُولٌ
The food is eaten.
الكِتَابُ مَكْتُوبٌ
The book is written.
الرِّسَالَةُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ
The letter is written.
هَلِ الْبَابُ مَغْلُوقٌ؟
Is the door closed?
الْغُرْفَةُ مُرَتَّبَةٌ
The room is tidy/arranged.
هَذَا مَشْرُوبٌ بَارِدٌ
This is a cold drink.
الْمَكَانُ مَحْجُوزٌ
The place is reserved.
الْمُشْكِلَةُ مَعْرُوفَةٌ
The problem is known.
الْقَرَارُ مَدْرُوسٌ
The decision is studied.
الْمَوْضُوعُ مَطْرُوحٌ
The topic is proposed/raised.
الْفِكْرَةُ مَفْهُومَةٌ
The idea is understood.
الْأَمْرُ مَحْسُومٌ
The matter is settled.
الْخُطَّةُ مَوْضُوعَةٌ
The plan is laid out.
الْأَدِلَّةُ مَفْقُودَةٌ
The evidence is missing/lost.
الْحَقُّ مَصُونٌ
The right is protected/guarded.
الْأَهْدَافُ مَرْسُومَةٌ بِدِقَّةٍ
The goals are precisely drawn/defined.
الْقَانُونُ مَفْرُوضٌ عَلَى الْجَمِيعِ
The law is imposed on everyone.
الْقَصِيدَةُ مَنْظُومَةٌ بِبَرَاعَةٍ
The poem is composed with skill.
الْأَسْرَارُ مَكْتُومَةٌ
The secrets are kept/hidden.
الْحَقِيقَةُ مَحْجُوبَةٌ عَنِ الْعُيُونِ
The truth is veiled from the eyes.
الْمَشْرُوعُ مَرْهُونٌ بِالنَّجَاحِ
The project is contingent upon success.
الْكَلِمَاتُ مَنْقُوشَةٌ عَلَى الْحَجَرِ
The words are engraved on the stone.
الْأَمَلُ مَعْقُودٌ عَلَيْكَ
The hope is pinned on you.
Easily Confused
Both are adjectives derived from roots.
Common Mistakes
الرِّسَالَةُ مَكْتُوبٌ
الرِّسَالَةُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ
هُوَ مَكْتُوبُ
هُوَ مَكْتُوبٌ
الْبَابُ كَاتِبٌ
الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ
الْقَرَارُ مَكْتُوبٌ
الْقَرَارُ مَكْتُوبٌ (Contextually wrong)
Sentence Patterns
الـ ___ ___.
هَلِ الـ ___ ___؟
الـ ___ لَيْسَ ___.
الـ ___ (f) ___ (f).
Real World Usage
الرِّسَالَةُ مَرْسُولَةٌ
الطَّلَبُ مَطْبُوخٌ
الْمَلَفُّ مَطْلُوبٌ
الْفُنْدُقُ مَحْجُوزٌ
الْمَنْشُورُ مَعْرُوفٌ
الْبَحْثُ مَدْرُوسٌ
The 'Ma-' Magnet
Don't be the Object
ana maktub (I am written) when you mean ana katib (I am a writer). People will look for the ink on your face!Mabruk vs. Baraka
Smart Tips
Always check the gender of the noun first.
Look for the root letters to identify the meaning.
Use passive participles to sound professional.
Keep the 'Ma' prefix even if the ending changes.
Pronunciation
Tanween
The 'un' sound at the end is the indefinite marker.
Declarative
Al-bab maftuh ↘
Stating a fact.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'Maf'ul' as 'My-Full'—the object is 'full' of the action.
Visual Association
Imagine a letter (maktub) sitting on a desk. The letter is the 'done-to' object. It has a big 'M' (for Ma) and a 'W' (for Waw) drawn on it.
Rhyme
Root letters in the middle, Ma at the start, Waw before the end, that's the passive part!
Story
Ahmed wrote a letter (kataba). Now the letter is 'maktub'. He put it in a box. The box is 'mahjuz' (reserved). He sent it to his friend. The friend is 'ma'ruf' (known).
Word Web
Challenge
Look around your room for 5 minutes. Find 5 objects and try to describe them using the 'maf'ul' pattern (e.g., 'the light is turned on' -> 'al-daw' maftuh').
Cultural Notes
Often uses 'maqful' instead of 'maghluq'.
Very common to use passive participles in daily speech.
Formal usage is preferred in business.
Derived from the Semitic root system where patterns indicate grammatical function.
Conversation Starters
هَلِ الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ؟
هَلِ الطَّعَامُ مَطْبُوخٌ؟
هَلِ الرِّسَالَةُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ؟
هَلِ الْمَكَانُ مَحْجُوزٌ؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
الْبَابُ ___ (open)
الرِّسَالَةُ ___ (written)
Find and fix the mistake:
الْكِتَابُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ
الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
مَفْتُوح -> ?
A: هَلِ الطَّعَامُ مَطْبُوخٌ؟ B: ___
الْغُرْفَةُ / مُرَتَّبَةٌ
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesالْبَابُ ___ (open)
الرِّسَالَةُ ___ (written)
Find and fix the mistake:
الْكِتَابُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ
الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ
كَتَبَ -> ?
مَفْتُوح -> ?
A: هَلِ الطَّعَامُ مَطْبُوخٌ؟ B: ___
الْغُرْفَةُ / مُرَتَّبَةٌ
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesالأكل هنا ___ (forbidden).
الرسالة مكتوب.
محجوزة / الطاولة
Translate: I am busy.
Identify the word for 'Known':
Match roots to forms:
الطعام ___.
هو بارك.
الحساب / محظور
The shop (mahall) is closed (root g-l-q, form IV concept: mughlaq).
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It functions as an adjective in most sentences, but can act as a noun (e.g., 'the written one').
Usually, it's the three letters left after removing the 'Ma' and the 'Waw'.
Yes, but Form I is the most common. Other forms have different patterns.
Yes, it is very common in all dialects.
Because it describes the object receiving the action, not the doer.
The pattern adjusts slightly (e.g., 'qala' becomes 'maqul').
No, it is a participle (noun/adjective). It doesn't conjugate like a verb.
Yes, it follows standard sound plural rules.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Participio Pasado
Arabic uses a prefix 'ma-' while Spanish uses suffixes.
Participe Passé
Arabic is more consistent with its root-pattern system.
Partizip II
German syntax is much more rigid regarding placement.
Passive form (reru/rareru)
Arabic treats the passive state as a noun/adjective.
Bei-structure
Chinese does not have morphological patterns for this.
Ism al-Maf'ul
It is the source of the logic for all other comparisons.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
The Passive Participle (Maktūb Pattern)
Overview The Arabic **Passive Participle**, known as `Ism al-Maf'ūl` (اِسْم الْمَفْعُول), functions as an adjective deri...
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 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...
