The Verb

Most verbs in Arabic are triliteral. This means that they are composed of three letters.



While most verbs are composed of three letters, there are also verbs which are composed of four letters.




The verb has a first or ground form. From this ground form other verb forms are derived. These derived forms are related in some way, usually, to the ground form of the verb they are derived from.


The first or ground form of the tiliteral verb is


فَعَلَ

Fa'ala

From this ground form are derived:


فَعَّلَ

Fa''ala


فَاعَلَ
   
Fa'ala

أَفْعَلَ

'Af'ala

تَفَعَّلَ

Tafa''ala

تَفَاعَلَ

Tafaa'ala

اِنْفَعَلَ

'infa'ala

اِفْتَعَلَ

'ifta'ala

اِفْعَلَّ

'if'alla

اِسْتَفْعَلَ

'istaf'ala

اِفْعَالَّ

'ifaalla

اِفْعَوْعَلَ

'if'au'ala

اِفْعَوَّلَ

'if'awwala

اِفْعَنْلَلَ

'if'anlala

اِفْعَنْلَى

'if'anlaa