Some verbs follow the conjugation patterns exactly. Others change shape because their root has a weak letter: w, y or a hamza (ء). The verb's class tells you which kind it is.
Sound verbs
Three ordinary consonants, no surprises.
- كتب / كتبتُ / يكتبُkataba / katabtu / yaktubuhe wrote / I wrote / he writes
Assimilated verbs: w at the start
The w drops out of the present of most Form I verbs:
- وصل / يصلُwasala / yasiluhe arrived / he arrives
- وجد / يجدُwajada / yajiduhe found / he finds
Hollow verbs: w or y in the middle
The middle letter shows up as a long aa in the past, and shortens before endings that start with a consonant:
| Past (he) | Past (I) | Present (he) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| say | قال qaala | قلتُ qultu | يقولُ yaquulu |
| sell | باع baa3a | بعتُ bi3tu | يبيعُ yabii3u |
| sleep | نام naama | نمتُ nimtu | ينامُ yanaamu |
Defective verbs: w or y at the end
The verb ends in a vowel, which merges with the endings:
| Past (he) | Past (I) | Present (he) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| walk | مشى mashaa | مشيتُ mashaytu | يمشي yamshii |
| call | دعا da3aa | دعوتُ da3awtu | يدعو yad3uu |
| forget | نسي nasiya | نسيتُ nasiitu | ينسى yansaa |
Doubled verbs: the same letter twice
When an ending starts with a consonant, the doubled letter splits:
- ظنّ / ظننتُ / يظنُّzanna / zanantu / yazunnuhe thought / I thought / he thinks
Hamzated verbs
A hamza in the root is spelled on different "seats" (أ، ؤ، ئ، ء) depending on the vowels around it, but conjugates mostly like a sound verb:
- سأل / سألتُ / يسألُsa2ala / sa2altu / yas2aluhe asked / I asked / he asks
- أكل / يأكلُ / كُلْakala / ya2kulu / kulhe ate / he eats / eat!