Back
Advanced

The Ten Verb Forms

Augmented verb patterns (awzan)

Form I is the base

The triliteral root takes ten major patterns (forms I–X), each adding meaning. Form I (فَعَلَ) is the simple base.

📊 Selected verb forms of root ف-ع-ل
Form Pattern Example Sense
I فَعَلَ كتب basic
II فَعَّلَ علّم causative/intensive
III فاعَلَ كاتب reciprocal
IV أفعَلَ أكرم causative
X استَفعَلَ استخرج to seek/ask
💬 Examples
كَتَبَ
kataba
he wrote
📝 Form I, root k-t-b
دَرَسَ
darasa
he studied
📝 Form I
Form II doubles the middle radical

Form II (فَعَّلَ) often makes a verb causative or intensive.

💬 Examples
عَلَّمَ
'allama
he taught
📝 Form II of 'to know' = to cause to know
كَسَّرَ
kassara
he smashed
📝 Intensive of 'to break'
Forms add predictable meaning

Each form has typical meanings (e.g. III reciprocal, VII passive, X requestive).

💬 Examples
كاتَبَ
kaataba
he corresponded with
📝 Form III, reciprocal
استَخرَجَ
istakhraja
he extracted
📝 Form X