Passive of Derived Arabic Verbs (Forms II-X)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To make a derived verb passive, change the vowel pattern to 'u-i' while keeping the root intact.
- For Form II (فَعَّلَ), change to (فُعِّلَ): 'عَلَّمَ' (taught) becomes 'عُلِّمَ' (was taught).
- For Form IV (أَفْعَلَ), change to (أُفْعِلَ): 'أَرْسَلَ' (sent) becomes 'أُرْسِلَ' (was sent).
- For Form V (تَفَعَّلَ), change to (تُفُعِّلَ): 'تَعَلَّمَ' (learned) becomes 'تُعُلِّمَ' (was learned).
Overview
Arabic grammar, particularly the verbal system, offers sophisticated ways to convey meaning. Among these, the passive voice, known as المبني للمجهول (al-mabni lil-majhul), literally 'built for the unknown,' allows you to shift focus from the doer of an action to the action itself or its recipient. This is a fundamental concept for comprehending formal Arabic—from news reports to academic texts—and mastering its nuanced expression.
While English often relies on auxiliary verbs like 'was' or 'been' to form the passive, Arabic achieves this through an internal vowel change within the verb itself, a process often referred to as the 'internal passive.' This internal modification makes the Arabic passive voice remarkably consistent across its various verb forms once the underlying principles are understood.
Derived verb forms (Forms II through X) represent expansions of triliteral roots, each carrying specific semantic connotations and morphological patterns. Mastering the passive of these forms is essential because they constitute a significant portion of the Arabic lexicon and are frequently employed in contexts where the passive voice is prevalent. Understanding their passive patterns allows you to decode complex sentences, enhance your reading comprehension, and communicate with greater precision, particularly in formal or objective discourse.
The concept of the نائب الفاعل (na'ib al-fa'il), or 'Deputy Subject,' is central to this grammatical structure. In a passive sentence, the original direct object of the active verb steps into the subject's role, hence becoming the na'ib al-fa'il and adopting its grammatical case (nominative, marked by a damma at the end for single nouns).
How This Grammar Works
نَامَ (naama, 'he slept') or جَلَسَ (jalasa, 'he sat'), which does not naturally have a direct object, cannot typically be made passive because there is no direct object to become the na'ib al-fa'il. For example, you can say كُتِبَ الكِتَابُ (kutiba al-kitaabu, 'The book was written') because كَتَبَ (kataba, 'he wrote') is transitive and takes الكِتَابَ (al-kitaaba, 'the book') as an object.na'ib al-fa'il in gender and number, just as an active verb agrees with its subject. For instance, if the na'ib al-fa'il is feminine singular, the passive verb will also be feminine singular, as in أُرسِلَتْ الرِّسَالَةُ (ursilat ar-risaalah, 'The letter was sent'). This agreement is crucial for maintaining grammatical coherence in Arabic sentences.Formation Pattern
ضمّ أوله وكسر ما قبل آخره (damma awwalahu wa kasara maa qabla aakhirahu), meaning 'damma on its first (movable letter) and kasra before its last (root letter).' For present tense passive verbs, the rule is ضمّ أوله وفتح ما قبل آخره (damma awwalahu wa fataha maa qabla aakhirahu), meaning 'damma on its first (prefix) and fatha before its last (root letter).' These rules are applied systematically to each derived form, accounting for any additional letters or specific vowel requirements of that form.
دَرَّسَ (darrasa) - taught | دُرِّسَ (durrisa) - was taught | يُدَرِّسُ (yudarrisu) - teaches | يُدَرَّسُ (yudarrasu) - is taught |
كَسَّرَ (kassara) - broke (many pieces) | كُسِّرَ (kussira) - was broken (many pieces) | يُكَسِّرُ (yukassiru) - breaks | يُكَسَّرُ (yukassaru) - is broken |
دُرِّسَ النَّحْوُ للطلاب. (durrisa an-nahwu lit-tullaab., 'Grammar was taught to the students.')
كَاتَبَ (kaataba) - corresponded | كُوتِبَ (kuutiba) - was corresponded with | يُكَاتِبُ (yukaatibu) - corresponds | يُكَاتَبُ (yukaatabu) - is corresponded with |
شَاهَدَ (shaahada) - watched | شُوهِدَ (shuuhida) - was watched | يُشَاهِدُ (yushaahidu) - watches | يُشَاهَدُ (yushaahadu) - is watched |
ألف (alif): In Forms III and VI, the long ألف (ā) in the active voice transforms into a long واو (ū) in the passive voice. This is a phonetic adjustment to accommodate the preceding damma, making pronunciation smoother. For example, شَاهَدَ (shaahada) becomes شُوهِدَ (shuuhida).
أَرْسَلَ (arsala) - sent | أُرْسِلَ (ursila) - was sent | يُرْسِلُ (yursilu) - sends | يُرْسَلُ (yursalu) - is sent |
أَعْلَنَ (a'lana) - announced | أُعْلِنَ (u'lina) - was announced | يُعْلِنُ (yu'linu) - announces | يُعْلَنُ (yu'lanu) - is announced |
أُعْلِنَ الخَبَرُ صباح اليوم. (u'lina al-khabaru sabaaha al-yawm., 'The news was announced this morning.')
تَعَلَّمَ (ta'allama) - learned | تُعُلِّمَ (tu'ullima) - was learned | يَتَعَلَّمُ (yata'allamu) - learns | يُتَعَلَّمُ (yuta'allamu) - is learned |
تَكَسَّرَ (takassara) - broke (itself/spontaneously) | تُكُسِّرَ (tukussira) - was broken (spontaneously) | يَتَكَسَّرُ (yatakassaru) - breaks | يُتَكَسَّرُ (yutakassaru) - is broken |
تُعُلِّمَتْ اللُّغَةُ العربية على يدِ الخبراء. (tu'ullimat al-lughah al-'arabiyyah 'alaa yadi al-khubaraa'., 'The Arabic language was learned at the hands of experts.')
تَبَادَلَ (tabaadala) - exchanged | تُبُودِلَ (tubuudila) - was exchanged | يَتَبَادَلُ (yatabaadalu) - exchanges | يُتَبَادَلُ (yutabaadalu) - is exchanged |
تَسَاعَدَ (tasaa'ada) - helped each other | تُسُوعِدَ (tusuu'ida) - was helped | يَتَسَاعَدُ (yatasaa'adu) - helps each other | يُتَسَاعَدُ (yutasaa'adu) - is helped |
ألف (ā) in the active voice transforms into a long واو (ū) in the passive voice, similar to Form III.
اِنْكَسَرَ (inkasara) - broke (itself) | (rarely passivized as اُنْكُسِرَ if external agent implied) | يَنْكَسِرُ (yankasiru) - breaks | (rarely passivized as يُنْكَسَرُ) |
اُنْفُعِلَ), it is exceedingly rare because the form already carries a passive-like semantic quality. Native speakers almost universally opt for a true passive of the root form (كُسِرَ for كَسَرَ) if an external agent is implied, or simply use Form VII actively to denote the self-breaking action. Hence, its passive conjugation is mostly theoretical.
اِكْتَشَفَ (iktashafa) - discovered | اُكْتُشِفَ (uktushifa) - was discovered | يَكْتَشِفُ (yaktashifu) - discovers | يُكْتَشَفُ (yuktashafu) - is discovered |
اجْتَمَعَ (ijtama'a) - gathered (oneself) | اُجْتُمِعَ (ujtumi'a) - was gathered (by others) | يَجْتَمِعُ (yajtama'u) - gathers | يُجْتَمَعُ (yujtama'u) - is gathered |
اُكْتُشِفَ علاجٌ جديدٌ للمرض. (uktushifa 'ilaajun jadiidun lil-maradh., 'A new treatment for the disease was discovered.')
اِحْمَرَّ (ihmarra) - became red | (rarely passivized due to intransitivity) | يَحْمَرُّ (yahmarru) - becomes red | (rarely passivized) |
اُفْعُلَّ for past and يُفْعَلُّ for present.
اسْتَخْدَمَ (istakhdama) - used/employed | اسْتُخْدِمَ (ustukhdima) - was used/employed | يَسْتَخْدِمُ (yastakhdimu) - uses/employs | يُسْتَخْدَمُ (yustakhdamu) - is used/employed |
اسْتَقْبَلَ (istaqbala) - received | اسْتُقْبِلَ (ustuqbila) - was received | يَسْتَقْبِلُ (yastaqbilu) - receives | يُسْتَقْبَلُ (yustaqbalu) - is received |
اسْتُقْبِلَ الضَّيْفُ بحفاوة. (ustuqbila adh-dhayfu bi-hafaawah., 'The guest was received with warmth.')
damma (ُ), and the vowel immediately preceding the last root letter receives kasra (ِ). All other active vowels between the first and the penultimate are typically converted to damma where phonetically appropriate. For forms with ألف (ā) in the active, it changes to واو (ū) in the passive past (e.g., Forms III and VI).
يـ, تـ, أـ, نـ) receives damma (ُ), and the vowel immediately preceding the last root letter receives fatha (َ). All other active vowels between the prefix and the penultimate are typically converted to damma where phonetically appropriate.
When To Use It
- Unknown Doer: This is the most straightforward use. When the identity of the person or entity performing the action is genuinely unknown, the passive voice is the natural choice. For instance,
سُرِقَ المالُ.(suriqa al-maalu., 'The money was stolen.') Here, the thief is unknown, and the focus is on the unfortunate event.
- Obvious Doer: Sometimes, the agent is so clear from the context that mentioning them would be redundant. For example, in a medical report,
أُجرِيَتْ الجِرَاحَةُ بنجاح.(ujriyat al-jiraahatu bi-najaaH., 'The surgery was performed successfully.') It is understood that a surgeon performed it, so the specific doctor's name is not necessary.
- Unimportant Doer: In many cases, the action itself or the recipient of the action is far more significant than who performed it. Consider a news report stating,
أُطلِقَ قمرٌ صناعيٌّ جديدٌ.(utliqa qamarun sinaa'iyyun jadiidun., 'A new satellite was launched.') The focus is on the launch of the satellite, not the engineering team that launched it.
- Formal and Objective Style: The passive voice lends an air of objectivity and formality, making it indispensable in academic writing, official documents, legal texts, and news reporting. It allows for a more detached presentation of facts. For example, in an academic paper,
يُعتَقَدُ أنَّ النظريةَ صحيحةٌ.(yu'taqadu anna an-nazhariyyata saHiiHatun., 'It is believed that the theory is correct.') This avoids personalizing the belief.
- Politeness or Euphemism: The passive can be used to avoid direct blame or to soften a statement. Instead of saying,
أنتَ أخطأتَ في الحسابات.(anta akhTa'ta fi al-Hisaabaat., 'You made a mistake in the calculations.'), one might say,حُدِثَ خطأٌ في الحسابات.(Huditha khaTa'un fi al-Hisaabaat., 'A mistake occurred in the calculations.'), which implicitly attributes the error to no specific individual, thus reducing confrontation. This is a common strategy in professional communication.
- Instructions and Recipes: When providing directions or steps, the focus is on the actions to be performed, not the person performing them.
يُسخَّنُ الزَّيتُ في المِقلاة.(yusakhkhanu az-zaytu fi al-miqlaah., 'The oil is heated in the pan.') This keeps the instructions clear and universal.
Common Mistakes
- Vowel Confusion (Active vs. Passive): The most frequent mistake is interchanging the active and passive vowel patterns. Forgetting to apply the
dammaon the first movable letter or the correctkasra/fathaon the penultimate vowel will render the verb in the active voice, completely altering the meaning. For example, confusingدُرِّسَ(durrisa, 'was taught') withدَرَّسَ(darrasa, 'taught') can lead to significant misunderstanding. Always double-check the vowel markings, especially in formal writing where tashkeel might be present.
- Inclusion of the Agent: A fundamental rule of the Arabic internal passive is that the agent (the doer) cannot be explicitly mentioned in the passive sentence. This contrasts sharply with English, where phrases like 'by X' are common. Attempting to translate 'by X' directly into Arabic using
بواسطة(bi-waasiTat) orمن قِبل(min qibal) with a passive verb is generally considered unidiomatic and grammatically incorrect for the internal passive structure. If you need to specify the agent, you must restructure the sentence into the active voice. For instance, instead ofاُكْتُشِفَ الكَنْزُ بواسطة الأطفال.(Incorrect: 'The treasure was discovered by the children.'), you must sayاكتشف الأطفالُ الكنزَ.(iktashafa al-aTfaalu al-kanza., 'The children discovered the treasure.').
- Lack of Gender/Number Agreement: The passive verb must agree with its
na'ib al-fa'il(the Deputy Subject) in gender and number. This is a crucial point of concordance often overlooked. If thena'ib al-fa'ilis feminine singular, the passive verb must also be feminine singular, usually by adding a feminineت(taa') at the end of the past passive verb or using the feminine prefix for the present passive. For example,أُرسِلَتْ الرِّسَالَةُ.(ursilat ar-risaalah., 'The letter (feminine) was sent.'), notأُرسِلَ الرِّسَالَةُ.(incorrect).
- Passivizing Intransitive Verbs: Only transitive verbs can form a true passive voice. Mistakenly attempting to passivize an intransitive verb (e.g.,
جَلَسَ- 'to sit') will result in an ungrammatical or nonsensical construction. Always verify the transitivity of the verb before attempting to form its passive.
- Overuse in Casual Contexts: While crucial for formal Arabic, the internal passive is significantly less common in everyday spoken dialects (
'Ammiyya). Using it frequently in informal conversations or texting can sound overly formal, stiff, or even archaic. Dialects often employ alternative structures, such as Form VII-like verbs, prefixed verbs (e.g., Egyptianإتـ), or circumlocutions, to express passive meanings.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Form I Passive: While also an internal passive, the Form I passive (e.g.,
كُتِبَ-kutiba, 'was written') is morphologically simpler, involving only the three root letters. Derived forms are more complex due to their additional letters and specific patterns. However, the coreu-i(past) andu-a(present) vowel changes remain the guiding principle across all forms, albeit applied to their specific structures.
- Form VII (
اِنْفَعَلَ-infa'ala): Verbs in Form VII (e.g.,اِنْكَسَرَ-inkasara, 'it broke') are often referred to as 'reflexive' or 'middle voice' and inherently carry a passive-like meaning, indicating that the subject undergoes an action or that an action happens to it. The key distinction from the true passive is that Form VII focuses on the result or the state of the subject itself, often without implying an external agent. For instance,اِنْكَسَرَ الزُّجَاجُ.(inkasara az-zujaaju., 'The glass broke (by itself).') A true passive (كُسِرَ الزُّجَاجُ.,kusira az-zujaaju., 'The glass was broken (by someone).') implies an unstated external agent. The nuance lies in whether an external force is merely unmentioned or completely irrelevant to the verb's core meaning.
- Form VIII (
اِفْتَعَلَ-iftacala) with Passive Meaning: Some Form VIII verbs can also express a reflexive or passive sense (e.g.,اِجْتَمَعَ-ijtama'a, 'he gathered himself/convened'). However, like Form VII, this is often an inherent semantic quality rather than a true grammatical passive. When Form VIII is used transitively, its grammatical passive (e.g.,اُكْتُشِفَ-uktushifa, 'was discovered') functions identically to other derived passives, clearly indicating an external, unmentioned agent.
- Passive Participles (
اسم المفعول-ism al-maf'ul): Passive participles (e.g.,مُدَرَّسٌ-mudarrasun, 'taught/lectured on';مُسْتَخْدَمٌ-mustakhdamun, 'used/employed') are verbal nouns or adjectives derived from verbs. While they share similar vowel patterns with passive verbs and convey a passive meaning (describing something that was acted upon), they are not conjugated verbs. They function as nouns (e.g., 'the employed person') or adjectives (e.g., 'the used car') and do not take ana'ib al-fa'il. Understanding their morphological connection helps in identifying them, but recognizing their distinct grammatical role is crucial.
Real Conversations
While the internal passive of derived verbs is a cornerstone of formal Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), its appearance in informal or dialectal contexts is more specific, often carrying a formal tone even there. However, it is an indispensable tool for understanding and producing professional communication.
- News and Formal Announcements: This is where the passive voice truly shines. News headlines and reports frequently employ it to present facts objectively, focusing on events rather than agents.
- أُجِّلتْ الرِّحْلَةُ بسبب سوء الأحوال الجوية. (ujjilat ar-riHlatu bi-sababi suu'i al-aHwaali al-jawwiyyah., 'The flight was postponed due to bad weather conditions.') (Form II passive)
- يُسْتَقْبَلُ الزَّوّارُ في الصَّالة الرَّئيسية. (yustaqbalu az-zuwwaaru fi aS-Saalati ar-ra'iisiyyah., 'Visitors are received in the main hall.') (Form X passive)
- Work Emails and Official Correspondence: The passive voice is standard in professional communications to maintain a formal, impersonal tone, especially when conveying tasks, decisions, or results.
- سيتمّ إبلاغُكم بأيّ تحديثات فوراً. (sa-yutammmu iblaaghukum bi-ayyi taHdiithaatin fawran., 'You will be informed of any updates immediately.') (Form IV passive, technically يُبْلَغُ, but يَتِمُّ إبلاغُكم is a common circumlocution.)
- أُرسِلَتْ الفواتيرُ إلى العملاء. (ursilat al-fawaatiiru ila al-'umalaa'., 'The invoices were sent to the clients.') (Form IV passive)
- Social Media (Official Pages/News Feeds): On official company pages, government announcements, or news-oriented social media accounts, the passive voice is frequently used to share information concisely.
- اُفتُتِحَ المَعرِضُ الدوليُّ للكتاب. (uftutiHa al-ma'riDu ad-dawliyyu lil-kitaab., 'The international book fair was opened.') (Form VIII passive)
- تُشَارَكُ الصورُ الحصريةُ على صفحتنا. (tushaaraku aS-Suwaru al-HaSriyyatu 'alaa SafHatina., 'Exclusive photos are shared on our page.') (Form III passive)
- Cultural Insight: The prevalence of the passive voice in formal Arabic reflects a cultural inclination towards objective reporting and the avoidance of direct confrontation or personal attribution in certain contexts. It allows for a focus on the event itself, which can be seen as more respectful or humble, especially when dealing with matters of collective experience or divine will.
Progressive Practice
Mastering the passive of derived verbs requires systematic practice that moves from recognition to active production. Here’s a structured approach:
- Step 1: Pattern Recognition (Reading & Listening): Begin by actively identifying passive verbs in authentic Arabic texts (news articles, formal essays, official statements) or audio (news broadcasts, documentaries). Focus on spotting the characteristic damma on the first movable letter and the kasra (past) or fatha (present) on the penultimate letter. Don't worry about full comprehension initially; just identify the passive structures. Circle them, highlight them, or note them down.
- Step 2: Active-to-Passive Transformation: Take active sentences with derived verbs and practice converting them to the passive voice. This forces you to apply the vowel rules and correctly identify the na'ib al-fa'il. Remember to omit the original agent.
- Example (Active): أَجْرَى الطبيبُ العمليةَ. (ajraa aT-Tabiibu al-'amaliyyata., 'The doctor performed the operation.')
- Transformation: Identify the verb أَجْرَى (Form IV). Change its vowels to passive: أُجْرِيَتْ. Identify the object العمليةَ and make it na'ib al-fa'il (العمليةُ).
- Result (Passive): أُجْرِيَتْ العمليةُ. (ujriyat al-'amaliyyatu., 'The operation was performed.')
- Step 3: Reverse Transformation (Passive-to-Active): While the passive typically hides the agent, for practice, try to infer a logical agent and convert passive sentences back to active. This reinforces your understanding of transitivity and verb-subject agreement.
- Example (Passive): يُعْلَنُ القرارُ غداً. (yu'lanu al-qaraaru ghadan., 'The decision will be announced tomorrow.')
- Transformation: Infer a likely agent (e.g., 'the government,' 'the committee'). Convert يُعْلَنُ to active تُعْلِنُ or يُعْلِنُ depending on the inferred agent. Restore the object case.
- Result (Active): تُعْلِنُ الحكومةُ القرارَ غداً. (tu'linu al-Hukuumatu al-qaraara ghadan., 'The government will announce the decision tomorrow.')
- Step 4: Contextual Sentence Construction: Integrate passive verbs into your own writing. Write short paragraphs about news events, instructions, or observations, intentionally using the passive voice where appropriate. Focus on clarity and correct agreement.
- Step 5: Weak Verb Awareness (Advanced): As you progress, pay special attention to how weak verbs (verbs with و, أ, ي as root letters) adapt to passive patterns. While the core vowel changes remain, the weak letters might transform (e.g., اِستفادَ (istafaada - active Form X) becomes اُستفيدَ (ustufiida - passive Form X), where the ألف changes to ياء due to the kasra). This is a more advanced nuance, but the underlying principle of u-i/u-a around the original radicals persists.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can all derived forms (II-X) be passivized?
- A: Almost all. While a grammatical passive can be formed for most, Forms VII and IX are often inherently intransitive or carry a passive-like meaning, making their true grammatical passive rare or semantically unusual in practice. Transitivity is key.
- Q: What happens to the long
ألف(ā) in Forms III and VI when passivized? - A: In the past tense passive, the long
ألف(ā) consistently transforms into a longواو(ū) to accommodate the precedingdammasound. For example,شَاهَدَ(shaahada) becomesشُوهِدَ(shuuhida).
- Q: How can I tell if a verb is passive if there are no vowel marks (tashkeel)?
- A: Context is paramount. Look for an inanimate or non-agentive
نائب الفاعل(na'ib al-fa'il) that would logically be the recipient of an action rather than the performer. The general sentence structure and the surrounding words will provide strong clues. For instance, inالقرارُ اُعْتُمِدَ.,القرارُ(the decision) is clearly the object of approval, signaling a passive verb, even without explicit vowels.
- Q: Is the passive voice used in Arabic dialects (
'Ammiyya)? - A: Generally, no. The internal passive, as described for MSA, is very rare in spoken dialects. Dialects typically use alternative constructions to express passive meaning, such as reflexive forms (like
إتْفَعَلin Egyptian), verbs with passive-like semantics (e.g.,إتكسرfor 'it broke'), or simply using the active voice with a generalized or implied subject.
- Q: Why is it called 'built for the unknown' (
المبني للمجهول)? - A: This nomenclature directly reflects its primary function: to construct a sentence where the agent (the doer of the action) is either explicitly unknown, deliberately hidden, or deemed unimportant to the communication. The grammatical structure itself is 'built' around this principle of an unnamed agent.
Passive Voice Pattern (Past Tense)
| Form | Active | Passive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
II
|
عَلَّمَ
|
عُلِّمَ
|
Was taught
|
|
III
|
حَاكَمَ
|
حُوكِمَ
|
Was put on trial
|
|
IV
|
أَرْسَلَ
|
أُرْسِلَ
|
Was sent
|
|
V
|
تَعَلَّمَ
|
تُعُلِّمَ
|
Was learned
|
|
VI
|
تَجَاهَلَ
|
تُجُوهِلَ
|
Was ignored
|
|
VII
|
انْكَسَرَ
|
أُنْكُسِرَ
|
Was broken
|
|
VIII
|
احْتَرَمَ
|
أُحْتُرِمَ
|
Was respected
|
|
X
|
اسْتَخْدَمَ
|
أُسْتُخْدِمَ
|
Was used
|
Meanings
The passive voice in Arabic is used when the subject performing the action is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally omitted.
Unknown Agent
When the doer is not known.
“سُرِقَتِ السَّيَّارَةُ (The car was stolen).”
“قُتِلَ الرَّجُلُ (The man was killed).”
Focus on Object
When the object is more important than the actor.
“أُعْلِنَ عَنِ النَّتَائِجِ (The results were announced).”
“تُمُثِّلَ القَانُونُ (The law was represented).”
Polite Omission
Avoiding blame by not naming the actor.
“أُهْمِلَ المَشْرُوعُ (The project was neglected).”
“أُجِّلَ الِاجْتِمَاعُ (The meeting was postponed).”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
u-i pattern
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أُرْسِلَ الرِّسَالَةُ
|
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Negative
|
lam + jussive
|
لَمْ يُرْسَلْ
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Question
|
hal + passive
|
هَلْ أُرْسِلَ؟
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Short Answer
|
na'am/la
|
نَعَمْ، أُرْسِلَ
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Future
|
sa + passive
|
سَيُرْسَلُ
|
|
Present
|
yuf'alu
|
يُرْسَلُ
|
Formality Spectrum
اُتُّخِذَ القَرَارُ (Professional)
تَمَّ اتِّخَاذُ القَرَارِ (Professional)
خَدْنَا القَرَار (Professional)
خَلَّصْنَا (Professional)
Passive Voice Logic
Function
- Focus on Object Object-centric
Vowel Shift
- u-i Damma-Kasra
Examples by Level
أَكَلَ الوَلَدُ التُّفَّاحَةَ
The boy ate the apple.
كَتَبَ الطَّالِبُ الدَّرْسَ
The student wrote the lesson.
شَرِبَ الرَّجُلُ المَاءَ
The man drank the water.
فَتَحَ البَابَ
He opened the door.
أُكِلَتِ التُّفَّاحَةُ
The apple was eaten.
كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ
The lesson was written.
شُرِبَ المَاءُ
The water was drunk.
فُتِحَ البَابُ
The door was opened.
أُجِّلَ الِاجْتِمَاعُ لِيَوْمٍ آخَرَ
The meeting was postponed to another day.
أُلْغِيَتِ الرِّحْلَةُ بِسَبَبِ المَطَرِ
The trip was cancelled because of the rain.
أُعْلِنَ عَنِ الفَائِزِ
The winner was announced.
أُصْلِحَتِ السَّيَّارَةُ
The car was repaired.
أُسْتُخْدِمَتِ التِّكْنُولُوجْيَا فِي التَّعْلِيمِ
Technology was used in education.
أُسْتُقْبِلَ الضُّيُوفُ بِحَفَاوَةٍ
The guests were received warmly.
أُعِيدَ النَّظَرُ فِي القَرَارِ
The decision was reconsidered.
أُكْتُشِفَ مَوْقِعٌ أَثَرِيٌّ
An archaeological site was discovered.
أُسْتُحْسِنَ هَذَا الرَّأْيُ مِنَ الجَمِيعِ
This opinion was approved by everyone.
أُسْتُغِلَّتِ المَوَارِدُ بِشَكْلٍ فَعَّالٍ
The resources were utilized effectively.
أُسْتُعِيدَتِ الثِّقَةُ بَيْنَ الطَّرَفَيْنِ
Trust was restored between the two parties.
أُسْتُجِيبَ لِطَلَبَاتِ المُواطِنِينَ
The citizens' requests were responded to.
أُسْتُشْهِدَ بِهَذَا النَّصِّ فِي المَقَالَةِ
This text was cited in the article.
أُسْتُقْصِيَتِ الحَقَائِقُ بِدِقَّةٍ
The facts were investigated with precision.
أُسْتُهْلِكَتِ المِيزَانِيَّةُ بِالكَامِلِ
The budget was consumed entirely.
أُسْتُبْعِدَ الاحْتِمَالُ الأَخِيرُ
The last possibility was excluded.
Easily Confused
Both look similar in Form V.
Both mean the same thing.
Mixing up the actor.
Common Mistakes
أكلت التفاحة
أُكِلَتِ التُّفَّاحَةُ
كتب الطالب الدرس
كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ
أُسْتُخْدِمَ الحاسوبُ
أُسْتُخْدِمَ الحَاسُوبُ
أُسْتُقْبِلَ الضيوفُ
أُسْتُقْبِلَ الضُّيُوفُ
Sentence Patterns
أُ___ (verb) الـ ___ (noun).
لَمْ يُ___ (verb) الـ ___ (noun).
سَيُ___ (verb) الـ ___ (noun) غَداً.
هَلْ أُ___ (verb) الـ ___ (noun)؟
Real World Usage
أُعْلِنَ عَنِ الفَائِزِ.
أُبْطِلَ العَقْدُ.
أُسْتُخْدِمَتِ المَنْهَجِيَّةُ.
أُجِّلَ الِاجْتِمَاعُ.
أُعْجِبَ بِالصُّورَةِ.
أُرْسِلَتِ الرِّسَالَةُ.
Focus on the Object
Avoid in Speech
Use for Objectivity
Dialectal Difference
Smart Tips
Use passive to sound objective.
Use passive to avoid guessing.
Use passive to keep it neutral.
Use passive to highlight the outcome.
Pronunciation
Damma emphasis
The initial 'u' must be clear and short.
Formal Statement
Sentence ends with a slight drop.
Objective reporting.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'U-I' (You-I) — You are the object, I am the vowel.
Visual Association
Imagine a heavy box (the object) being moved by an invisible hand. The box is the focus, the hand is hidden.
Rhyme
First is U, middle is I, the actor hides, the object is high.
Story
The king (the actor) is gone. The crown (the object) is placed on the table. The crown 'was placed' (wudi'a). No one knows who did it.
Word Web
Challenge
Take 5 active sentences from a news article and convert them to passive in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Used in news and official documents to maintain neutrality.
Rarely used; 'tam' + masdar is preferred.
Avoided in speech; sounds too 'bookish'.
Derived from the Semitic root system where vowel patterns carry grammatical meaning.
Conversation Starters
هل أُعْلِنَ عَنِ النَّتَائِجِ؟
هَلْ أُجِّلَ الِاجْتِمَاعُ؟
أَيْنَ أُسْتُخْدِمَ هَذَا الجِهَازُ؟
هَلْ أُكْتُشِفَ شَيْءٌ جَدِيدٌ؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ الدَّرْسُ.
Find and fix the mistake:
What is wrong?
Select one.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Select.
Answer starts with: a...
Select.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Select.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ الدَّرْسُ.
Find and fix the mistake:
What is wrong?
Select one.
Reorder.
Select.
Select.
عَلَّمَ -> ?
Select.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
5 exercisesThe video is being filmed.
Match these forms:
الرَّابِطُ / أُرْسِلَ
Choose the correct past passive form:
الإِيمِيلُ ___ (أَرْسَلَ) آلآن.
Score: /5
FAQ (8)
No, only transitive verbs.
It sounds too formal.
Use 'min qibal' (by).
No, they are different.
It becomes the subject.
Yes, very common.
Yes, usually avoided.
It is consistent.
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 + participe passé
Arabic is synthetic; French is analytic.
Werden + Partizip II
Arabic does not use auxiliary verbs for passive.
-(r)areru
Arabic is internal; Japanese is suffixal.
Bei (被)
Chinese uses a preposition-like marker.
Internal Passive
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
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