A present tense imperfect verb fiʿil mudāriʿ (فعل مضارع) may be found in one of three grammatical moods: the indicative, the subjunctive and the jussive. In traditional Arabic grammar these verb moods are known as marfūʿ (مرفوع), manṣūb (منصوب) and majzūm (مجزوم), and each mark the verb with a different vowelized ending. If a verb is unmodified then it will be in the indicative mood marfūʿ (مرفوع). Depending on context, a verb may also be found in either the subjunctive or the jussive moods. Note that mood is only applicable to imperfect verbs and not perfect verbs fiʿil māḍ (فعل ماض).
The Subjunctive Mood
Semantically, the subjunctive mood occurs when a verb is used in the context of intent, purpose, expectation, permission, possibility or necessity. Syntactically, verbs in the subjunctive mood are found after certain particles. These include the subordinating conjuction an (أَن), and the prefixed particle fa when used as a particle of cause (فاء السببية). The following table lists particles which may place a verb into the subjunctive mood:
Part-of-speech | Particle |
Negative particle | لَن |
Purpose lām prefix | لام التعليل |
Denial lām prefix, e.g. (4:137:16) | لام الجحود |
Cause fa prefix | فاء السببية |
Comitative wa prefix | واو المعية |
Subordinating conjunction | أَنْ |
Subordinating conjunction | كي |
Subordinating conjunction | حَتَّىٰ |
Fig 1. Particles which take the subjunctive mood.
The dependency graph below shows a syntactic analysis for verse (72:12). In this verse, the negative particle lan (لن) at (72:12:9) places the following verb into the subjunctive mood manṣūb (منصوب):
(72:12:11) haraban (by) flight. | (72:12:10) nuʿ'jizahu we can escape Him | (72:12:9) walan and never |
Fig 2. A verb in the subjunctive mood in verse (72:12).
The Jussive Mood
Imperfect verbs in the jussive mood are found in five main contexts:
- After the negative particle lam (لم), as in verse (112:3).
- After the imperative lām prefix.
- As a prohibition (negative imperative) with the particle lā (لا).
- As the result of an imperative.
- In conditional clauses.
Fig 3. below lists particles which can place a verb into the jussive mood:
Part-of-speech | Particle |
Imperative lām prefix | لام الأمر |
Prohibition particle | لا الناهية |
Negative particle | لم |
Negative particle | ما |
Conditional particle | لما |
Conditional particle | إنْ |
Conditional particle | مَنْ |
Conditional particle | مهما |
Conditional particle | متى |
Conditional particle | أين |
Conditional particle | كيف |
Conditional particle | أينما |
Conditional particle | حيثما |
Conditional particle | إذما |
Conditional particle | أنى |
Conditional particle | أيان |
Conditional particle | أين |
Conditional particle | أي |
Fig 3. Particles which take the jussive mood.
An example of the jussive mood can be found in verse (94:1). There is a negation dependency between words (94:1:1) and (94:1:2). The particle lam places the following verb - which depends on it - into the jussive mood majzūm (مجزوم):
(94:1:4) ṣadraka your breast? | (94:1:3) laka for you | (94:1:2) nashraḥ We expanded | (94:1:1) alam Have not |
Fig 4. A verb in the jussive mood in verse (94:1).