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Im Kapitel

Actions and Results: Nouns and Passives

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A1 root_pattern 3 Min. Lesezeit

Passive Participles as N

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To describe the result of an action on a 3-letter root, use the `maf'ool` pattern.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Pattern is `ma-`-1-2-`oo`-3 (`maf'ool`).
  • Means 'done to' (written, broken).
  • Acts like an adjective.
  • Must agree in gender/number.

Quick Reference

Root Meaning Root Letters Passive Pattern English Equivalent
To write K - T - B Ma-K-T-oo-B Written (Destiny)
To open F - T - H Ma-F-T-oo-H Open
To break K - S - R Ma-K-S-oo-R Broken
To know 3 - R - F Ma-3-R-oo-F Known / Famous
To drink Sh - R - B Ma-Sh-R-oo-B Drink (noun)
To allow S - M - H Ma-S-M-oo-H Allowed

Wichtige Beispiele

3 von 8
1

البابُ مفتوحٌ.

The door is open.

2

أنا مشغولٌ اليوم.

I am busy today.

3

هذا الكرسي مكسور.

This chair is broken.

🎯

The 'Ma-' Magnet

If you hear a word starting with 'Ma-' and it has a long 'oo' sound later, it's 99% likely a passive participle describing an object. Spotting this pattern is a superpower.

💬

It is Written

The word `Maktoob` means 'written', but in Arab culture, it often means 'Destiny' or 'Fate'—as in, it is written by God and cannot be changed.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Pattern is `ma-`-1-2-`oo`-3 (`maf'ool`).
  • Means 'done to' (written, broken).
  • Acts like an adjective.
  • Must agree in gender/number.

Overview

Passive participles are the secret sauce of Arabic descriptions. They describe the object that received an action. Think of English words ending in "-ed" or "-en" like "broken," "eaten," or "written." In Arabic, these follow a super catchy rhythm. If you want to say something is "open," "closed," or even "crazy," you need this pattern. It turns a verb root into an adjective describing the result.

How This Grammar Works

Arabic loves roots (usually 3 letters). To make a passive participle, we pour these three letters into a mold called the maf'ool (مفعول) pattern. This pattern implies that something has been done to the object. It’s static. It describes a state.

Formation Pattern

  1. 1Let's bake a word using the standard 3-letter root mold.
  2. 2Take your root letters. Example: K-T-B (to write).
  3. 3Add a m- (mim with fatha) to the very front.
  4. 4Add an -oo- (waw) before the final letter.
  5. 5Result: m + k + t + oo + b = maktoob (written).

When To Use It

Use this when you want to describe the state of an object or person resulting from an action.

  • Describing objects: "The door is maftooh" (open).
  • Describing status: "This seat is mashghool" (occupied/busy).
  • Describing rules: "Smoking is mamnoo'" (forbidden).

It works just like an adjective, so it must agree in gender. If the door is a window (naafidha, feminine), it becomes maftooha.

When Not To Use It

Don't use this if you are doing the action.

  • I am opening (Active) ≠ I am opened (Passive).
  • Also, don't use it for past tense verbs. kataba (he wrote) is an action. maktoob (written) is the state of the letter afterwards.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing it with the Active Participle (the doer). Kaatib is the writer; Maktoob is the letter.
  • Forgetting the gender. If you are a woman saying "I am busy," you must say "Ana mashghoola," not mashghool.
  • Applying it to irregular verbs blindly. We're sticking to strong 3-letter roots here. Weak roots (roots with vowels) get a bit weird, but don't worry about them yet.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • Active Participle (faa'il): The doer. Daaris (studying/student).
  • Passive Participle (maf'ool): The receiver. Madroos (studied).

Think of it like a transaction: The kaatib (writer) creates the maktoob (book).

Quick FAQ

Q: Is this a verb?

No, grammatically it acts like a noun or adjective.

Q: Can I make it plural?

Yes! Just add normal plural endings (maftooh -> maftooh-een or maftooh-aat).

Q: Does it work for slang?

Totally. Ma'qool (reasonable/logical) is used constantly in chats.

Reference Table

Root Meaning Root Letters Passive Pattern English Equivalent
To write K - T - B Ma-K-T-oo-B Written (Destiny)
To open F - T - H Ma-F-T-oo-H Open
To break K - S - R Ma-K-S-oo-R Broken
To know 3 - R - F Ma-3-R-oo-F Known / Famous
To drink Sh - R - B Ma-Sh-R-oo-B Drink (noun)
To allow S - M - H Ma-S-M-oo-H Allowed
🎯

The 'Ma-' Magnet

If you hear a word starting with 'Ma-' and it has a long 'oo' sound later, it's 99% likely a passive participle describing an object. Spotting this pattern is a superpower.

💬

It is Written

The word `Maktoob` means 'written', but in Arab culture, it often means 'Destiny' or 'Fate'—as in, it is written by God and cannot be changed.

⚠️

People can be objects too

Don't be scared to use these for people. `Mahboob` means 'beloved' (someone who is loved). You are describing their state of being loved.

💡

The 'Not' Rule

To make these negative, just add `ghayr` (non/un) or `mish` (dialect not) before them. `Ghayr ma'qool` = Unreasonable.

Beispiele

8
#1 Al-baab maftooh.

البابُ مفتوحٌ.

Focus: maftooh

The door is open.

Standard usage for a state.

#2 Ana mashghool al-yawm.

أنا مشغولٌ اليوم.

Focus: mashghool

I am busy today.

Used for people occupying their time.

#3 Hadha al-kursi maksoor.

هذا الكرسي مكسور.

Focus: maksoor

This chair is broken.

Physical state of damage.

#4 Al-tadkheen mamnoo' huna.

التدخين ممنوع هنا.

Focus: mamnoo'

Smoking is forbidden here.

Common on signs.

#5 Hiya mashhoora jiddan.

هي مشهورة جداً.

Focus: mashhoora

She is very famous (known).

Feminine agreement added (-a).

#6 ✗ Ana maksoor al-yadd. → ✓ Yaddi maksoora.

يدي مكسورة.

Focus: maksoora

My hand is broken.

Correction: The hand is the broken object, not 'I'.

#7 Hal huwa majnoon?

هل هو مجنون؟

Focus: majnoon

Is he crazy?

Lit: Possessed by Jinn.

#8 Hadha ghayr ma'qool!

هذا غير معقول!

Focus: ma'qool

That is unreasonable/unbelievable!

Used to express shock.

Teste dich selbst

Choose the correct word for 'The window is open' (Al-naafidha ___).

النافذة ___.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: maftooha

Window (naafidha) is feminine, so the adjective must have the feminine marker (-a).

Complete the phrase: 'It is written' (Huwa ___).

هو ___.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: maktoob

Maktoob fits the passive pattern 'written'. Kitaab is book, Yaktub is he writes.

Select the word for 'Busy': 'I am ___'.

أنا ___.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: mashghool

Mashghool follows the pattern for 'occupied/busy'.

🎉 Ergebnis: /3

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Doer vs. Receiver

Doer (Faa'il)
Kaatib Writer
Saami' Hearer
Receiver (Maf'ool)
Maktoob Written (Letter)
Masmoo' Heard (Audible)

Is it a Passive Participle?

1

Does it start with 'Ma-'?

YES ↓
NO
Not Form 1 Passive
2

Does it have 'oo' before the last letter?

YES ↓
NO
Check other forms
3

Is it describing a receiver?

YES ↓
NO
Might be a noun of place
4

Match found!

NO
It's a Maf'ool!

Common Daily Uses

🚦

Status

  • • Mashghool (Busy)
  • • Mawjood (Present/Here)
🛑

Rules

  • • Mamnoo' (Forbidden)
  • • Masmooh (Allowed)
📦

Conditions

  • • Maksoor (Broken)
  • • Maftooh (Open)
⭐

Qualities

  • • Mashhoor (Famous)
  • • Mahboob (Beloved)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

20 Fragen

It's a word that describes the person or thing that received an action. If you break a chair, the chair is maksoor (broken).

Because the subject isn't doing anything; it's just sitting there having things done to it. It's the receiver, not the doer.

It works for most 3-letter verbs (Form I). Bigger verbs (like 'participate') have a slightly different pattern (starts with mu-), but master this one first!

Just add the 'ta-marbuta' (ة) sound at the end. Maftooh becomes Maftooha.

Yes! Mashroob literally means 'drunk' (past participle), but we use it as the noun for 'a drink' or 'beverage'.

Maftooh (open) and Mashghool (busy/occupied) are top tier. You'll use them daily.

Grammatically, yes! It comes from the root J-N-N (to cover/hide). It implies someone 'possessed' or 'covered' by Jinn. Spooky, right?

Past tense is an action: 'He broke it' (Kasara). Passive participle is the result: 'It is broken' (Maksoor).

Absolutely. Egyptian, Levantine, and Gulf dialects use this pattern constantly, often without changing it at all.

Ah, the 'hollow' verbs. They get a bit tricky (like baa' -> mabee'). For A1, stick to the strong consonants like K-T-B or D-R-S.

That means 'I am open', which sounds weird unless you're emotionally vulnerable or... a shop. Better to say 'I am frank' (sareeh).

It comes from W-J-D (to find). So it literally means 'found', but we use it to mean 'present', 'available', or 'existing'.

Yes! From F-H-M (understand). Mafhoom means 'understood'. You can say it to confirm you get the point.

Use Masmooh. It comes from S-M-H (to permit).

Use Mamnoo'. From M-N-3 (to prevent/ban).

Yes, English uses '-ed' (bored, tired) or irregulars (broken, seen). Arabic just uses a pattern instead of suffixes.

It means 'known' or a 'favor/kindness'. As an adjective, it means 'well-known' or 'famous'.

Yup. Mawjood (singular) -> Mawjoodeen (plural/people present).

ma-1-2-oo-3. MA-fuh-OOL. Clap it out!

Yes! Majhool means 'unknown' or 'anonymous'. It's also the Arabic word for the Passive Voice itself!

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Verbal Noun (المصدر) - Form I

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