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Intermediate

Verb–Subject Agreement

Word order and agreement

Verb-first: verb stays singular

In verb–subject–object order, a verb before a plural subject stays singular but agrees in gender.

💬 Examples
ذَهَبَ الأولادُ
dhahaba al-awlaadu
The boys went
📝 Verb singular before plural subject
ذَهَبَتِ البَناتُ
dhahabati al-banaatu
The girls went
📝 Feminine singular verb
Subject-first: full agreement

If the subject comes first, the verb agrees fully in gender and number.

💬 Examples
الأولادُ ذَهَبوا
al-awlaadu dhahabuu
The boys went
📝 Plural verb after plural subject
البَناتُ ذَهَبنَ
al-banaatu dhahabna
The girls went
📝 Feminine plural agreement
Gender agreement is required either way

Whatever the order, the verb matches the subject's gender.

💬 Examples
جاءَتْ فاطِمة
jaa'at faaṭima
Fatima came
📝 Feminine verb
جاءَ مُحمَّد
jaa'a muḥammad
Muhammad came
📝 Masculine verb