This section of the annotation guidelines provides an introduction and overview to verb forms in the Quran. More detailed explanations can be found in standard references of traditional Arabic grammar. In the Quran, verbs, and other words that denote related semantic concepts, are formed through a system known as derivation. The idea is that words are derived from a stem or template that is defined by a sequence of letters known as radicals. These are often referred to as triliteral or quadriliteral radicals, for 3 or 4 root letters respectively.
Arabic shares this linguistic feature with other Semitic languages such as Hebrew, which has seven different verb forms. The basic rule of derivation in Quranic Arabic is that nearly all words are derived from a three root (triliteral) or a four root (quadriliteral) pattern system. The Arabic letters fā ʿayn lām (ف ع ل) are typically used as placeholders in verb patterns to denote three different radical letters, since فَعَلَ is a prototypical verb that means "to do" or "to act". This is denoted by F-3-L in figure 1 below. Roots in Arabic convey a basic meaning which then allow for more complex semantic concepts to be derived, whether these are verbs or nouns. Based on this system nouns and verbs can have up to fourteen to fifteen forms, although though ten is the norm for most roots.
F-3-L |
Fig 1. Three roots in a triliteral pattern.
For example, take the three root concept of D-R-S which gives the basic meaning of "to study". By adding letters to the three root template (before, in between or after the radicals in the stem) other more complex meanings are formed such as "school", "teacher", "lesson" or even "legislation". In figure 2 below the x's are the extra letters that can be added to the original 3 root letters. These additional letters do not have to all added at the same time. Notice that the root is still present in the template and has not changed. In some forms, the root letters are doubled, and in other forms vowels may be added or elongated.
x-D-x-R-x-S-x |
Fig 2. Derivation of possible forms.
Using derivation system of roots and patterns, nouns (singular, dual, plural), and verbs (singular, dual, plural, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person, imperatives and verbal nouns) are derived in an almost mathematical way, leaving little room for confusion as to the desired meaning of the word. Of course the ideal model of this derivation is the Quran, and as you look through the Quran you will see these in play. In the remainder of this section, examples are quoted from the Quran, so that it becomes easy to see the forms. These derived forms allow for the language to reflect the state of how a particular action (i.e. a verb) was performed. The derived forms even indiciate how many individuals participated in the action, and if it was reciprocal or not.
Triliteral Verb Forms
To illustrate the idea of derived forms, the examples below use a three letter root (although not all roots feature in all verb forms) and lists the first ten standard forms (I to X). When annotating Arabic verb forms, the convention in the Quranic Arabic Corpus is to use Roman numerals, e.g. IX denotes a form nine verb or noun. In the examples below, root letters are capitalized and their meanings are shown in brackets. The first column in the table below specifies the template used in the derivation, as found in standard references of traditional Quranic Arabic grammar. Letters shown in capitals denote a radical that is part of the original root used in the derived verb form. Example words are taken from the Quran. You can click on an Quranic word below to see details of the verse in context.
Form | Derived Verb | Meaning | Examples |
Form I F-a-3-a-L-a فَعَلَ |
K-a-T-a-B-a ("to write") |
The simplest form, "he wrote". Verbs of this form are generally transitive so that they require an object, as in "he wrote a book" or "he ate an apple". However it is possible to have intransitive verbs that require no object verbs in this class as well. |
Example: (2:187:28) |
Form II F-a-33-a-L-a فَعَّلَ |
3-a-LL-a-M-a ("to teach") |
A verb that is already transitive becomes doubly so,
as it takes a meaning of "make do" or "make become", so the meaning
could be "to make one learn" i.e. "to teach". This form reflects
meaning in three ways:
|
Causative: (96:4:2) Intensity: (12:23:8) |
Form III F-aa-3-a-L-a فَاعَلَ |
Q-aa-T-a-L-a ("to fight") |
This form implies that there is someone or
something else present and that the action is performed upon
him/her/it. This forms reflects meaning in two ways:
In the second example, the verb "fight" requires someone to be fought with, and so the action is mutual. |
Causative: (12:26:7) Intensity: (2:244:1) |
Form IV a-F-3-a-L-a أَفْعَلَ |
a-H-L-a-K-a ("to destory") |
This pattern is similar to form II in
that it makes intransitive verbs transitive, and transitive verbs
doubly so. This form has the meaning of:
In the second example, the verb is causative, so that he made himself "want to harm". In the third example, he was not of the losers before this action of killing, but now was transformed into that state. |
Example 1: (2:205:8) Example 2: (12:25:15) Example 3: (5:30:7) |
Form V t-a-F-33-a-L-a تَفَعَّلَ |
t-a-DH-KK-a-RR-a ("to receive admonition") |
Form 5 is linked to form 2. Whatever action is
done through a
F-a-33-a-L-a
form 2 verb, the
t-a-F-33-a-L-a
form 5 verb is from the point of view of the object of the verb. This
usually reflects the reflexive or effective meaning, e.g. "he made
himself" or "he made something undergo an action".
In the first example on the right, DH-a-KK-a-R-a "to remind" is form II, and now in form V it is from the point of view of the object, i.e. "he received the reminder". In the second example, the verb here is t-a-GH-a-YY-a-R-a "to undergo change", so these rivers in paradise do not undergo any change of state or taste even if ones tries to do that (in relation to form II: GH-a-YY-a-R-a "to cause to change"). |
Example 1: (2:269:13) Example 2: (47:15:16) |
Form VI t-a-F-aa-3-a-L-a تَفَاعَلَ |
t-a-DH-aa-H-a-R-a ("to support one another") |
Form 6 is the reflection of how the object underwent
the action of form 3
(F-aa-3-a-L-a).
Notice that as in form 5, this
is obtained by adding ta- before the verb. Since form 3 implies an
action done on someone, form 6 implies reciprocity as in the English
sentence "they looked at each other".
The subject cannot be singular in this function of the form. For example, t-a-K-aa-T-a-B-a itself would mean "they corresponded with each other" (they wrote to each other). Here they support one another in this particular action. This usually reflects the meaning of:
|
Mutuality: (2:85:11) Conative: (46:16:8) |
Form VII i-n-F-a-3-a-L-a إِنْفَعَلَ |
i-n-Q-a-L-a-B-a ("to turn away") |
This form expresses submission to an action or effect.
In the case of an animate being, this is an involuntary submission. The
form reflects meaning on two levels:
|
Reflexive: (3:144:18) Agentless passive: (73:18:2) |
Form VIII i-F-t-a-3-a-L-a إِفْتَعَلَ |
i-3-t-a-R-a-DH-a ("to excuse oneself") |
This form is generally the reflexive of the simple
form
K-a-T-a-B-a
"he wrote", where the object of form 1 becomes its own object. This form reflects two meanings:
In the causative example, they made themselves take a conscious effortful action. |
Conative: (9:94:8) Causative : (2:51:7) |
Form IX i-F-3-a-LL-a إِفْعَلَّ |
i-S-W-a-DD-a ("to turn black in color") |
This form usually reflects the meaning of stativity, and typically refers to bodily defects and colors. For example, i-3-W-a-JJ-a "to be crocked or lame". |
Color: (3:106:4) |
Form X i-s-t-a-F-3-a-L-a إِسْتَفْعَلَ |
i-s-t-a-H-Z-a-A-a ("to make oneself mock at") |
The tenth form usually reflects the meaning of
someone seeking something. Typically the form reflects the meaning
of:
|
Reflexive causative: (13:32:2) Causative: (4:106:1) |
Fig 3. Triliteral verb forms (I to X).
Quadriliteral Verb Forms
Quadriliteral verb forms have four radical root letters. These are much rarer than triliterals. In Arabic grammar, quadriliteral verbs have four standard forms, I to IV. The table below illustrates example quadriliteral verbs from the Quran.
Form | Derived Verb | Meaning | Examples |
Form I F-a-3-L-a-L-a فَعْلَلَ |
D-a-H-R-a-J-a ("he rolled") |
The basic quadriliteral verb form with four radical root letters. |
Example: (7:20:1) |
Form II t-a-F-a-3-L-a-L-a تَفَعْلَلَ |
t-a-D-a-H-R-a-J-a ("he rolled [intransitive]") |
This form has the meaning of reflexive, or reflexive causative. | |
Form III i-F-3-a-n-L-a-L-a إِفْعَنْلَلَ |
i-B-R-a-n-SH-a-Q-a ("to bloom, to flourish") |
This form corresponds in meaning to the form VII triliteral verb, and is usually intransitive. | |
Form IV i-F-3-a-L-a-LL-a إِفْعَلَلَّ |
i-Q-SH-a-3-a-RR-a ("to be in a state of shuddering or shivering") |
This form has a stative meaning. |
Example: (39:23:8) |
Fig 4. Quadriliteral verb forms (I to IV).