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:

1. After the negative particle lam (لم), as in verse (112:3).
2. After the imperative lām prefix.
3. As a prohibition (negative imperative) with the particle lā (لا).
4. As the result of an imperative.
5. 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).

See Also

• Subordinate Clauses
• Imperative Verbs
• The particle fa (ف)