Verb Conjugation Tables

Master the complete conjugation system for all ten Arabic verb forms. These tables show every possible combination of person (1st, 2nd, 3rd), number (singular, dual, plural), gender (masculine, feminine), and tense (past, present, imperative) for each verb pattern.

How to Use These Tables

Arabic verbs follow predictable patterns based on their form (وَزْن / wazn). Each form has a distinct morphological pattern that conveys specific meanings:

• Forms I-III: Basic actions and their variations
• Forms IV-VI: Causative and reflexive meanings
• Forms VII-X: Advanced passive, reflexive, and seeking patterns

The tables use root letters (ك ت ب for writing, ف ع ل as the abstract template) to demonstrate each pattern. Once you memorize the pattern for a form, you can conjugate any root that follows it.

Quick Navigation

• Form I (فَعَلَ) - Basic action
• Form II (فَعَّلَ) - Intensive/causative
• Form III (فَاعَلَ) - Mutual action
• Form IV (أَفْعَلَ) - Causative
• Form V (تَفَعَّلَ) - Reflexive of Form II
• Form VI (تَفَاعَلَ) - Reflexive of Form III
• Form VII (اِنْفَعَلَ) - Passive/reflexive
• Form VIII (اِفْتَعَلَ) - Reflexive
• Form IX (اِفْعَلَّ) - Colors and defects
• Form X (اِسْتَفْعَلَ) - Seeking/requesting

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Form I (فَعَلَ)

Pattern: فَعَلَ (faʿala) Meaning: Basic action, the foundation of all verb forms Example Root: ك ت ب (k-t-b) meaning “to write”

Form I is the simplest and most common verb pattern in Arabic. It represents the basic, unadorned meaning of the root. From this foundational form, all other forms (II-X) are derived with additional patterns that modify the meaning.

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb كَتَبْنَا (katabnā) is Form I past tense, first person plural (“we wrote/ordained”). Notice how it follows the exact pattern shown in the tables above.

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form I weak verbs (with و, ي, or ا in the root) follow modified patterns:

Hollow Verbs (middle weak): قَالَ (qāla - to say)

• Past: قَالَ، قَالَتْ، قَالُوا، قُلْتُ
• Present: يَقُولُ، تَقُولُ، يَقُولُونَ، أَقُولُ

Defective Verbs (final weak): رَمَى (ramā - to throw)

• Past: رَمَى، رَمَتْ، رَمَوْا، رَمَيْتُ
• Present: يَرْمِي، تَرْمِي، يَرْمُونَ، أَرْمِي

Assimilated Verbs (initial weak): وَجَدَ (wajada - to find)

• Follows regular Form I pattern mostly
• Imperative drops initial و: جِدْ (jid - find!)

Learn More: Study Form I patterns in depth in Level 3: Verb Form I

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Form II (فَعَّلَ)

Pattern: فَعَّلَ (faʿʿala) - doubled middle radical Meaning: Intensive, causative, or making something happen Example Root: ع ل م (ʿ-l-m) meaning “knowledge/to know”

Form II takes the basic action of Form I and intensifies it or makes it causative. The key feature is doubling the middle root letter (indicated by شَدَّة / shadda). Example: كَسَرَ (to break) → كَسَّرَ (to shatter into pieces).

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb عَلَّمَ (ʿallama) is Form II, meaning “to teach” (causative of عَلِمَ “to know”). Allah caused Adam to know/learn the names—this is the intensive/causative force of Form II.

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form II weak verbs maintain the doubled middle radical but show modifications:

Hollow Verbs (middle weak): قَوَّمَ (qawwama - to straighten/establish)

• Past: قَوَّمَ، قَوَّمَتْ، قَوَّمُوا
• Present: يُقَوِّمُ، تُقَوِّمُ، يُقَوِّمُونَ

Defective Verbs (final weak): زَكَّى (zakkā - to purify)

• Past: زَكَّى، زَكَّتْ، زَكَّوْا، زَكَّيْتُ
• Present: يُزَكِّي، تُزَكِّي، يُزَكُّونَ، أُزَكِّي

Learn More: Explore Form II patterns in Level 3: Verb Form II

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Form III (فَاعَلَ)

Pattern: فَاعَلَ (fāʿala) - long ā after first radical Meaning: Attempting, mutual action, or doing something with/to someone Example Root: ج ه د (j-h-d) meaning “effort/struggle”

Form III inserts a long alif (ا) between the first and second root letters. This typically expresses attempting to do something or doing it with someone else (mutual action). Example: قَتَلَ (to kill) → قَاتَلَ (to fight/battle with).

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb جَاهِدُوا (jāhidū) is Form III imperative, plural masculine (“strive!”). The root ج-ه-د means “effort,” and Form III extends it to “strive/struggle with dedication.”

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form III weak verbs maintain the long alif but show final modifications:

Defective Verbs (final weak): نَادَى (nādā - to call)

• Past: نَادَى، نَادَتْ، نَادَوْا، نَادَيْتُ
• Present: يُنَادِي، تُنَادِي، يُنَادُونَ، أُنَادِي

Doubly Weak Verbs: وَاعَدَ (wāʿada - to promise)

• Past: وَاعَدَ، وَاعَدَتْ، وَاعَدُوا
• Present: يُوَاعِدُ، تُوَاعِدُ، يُوَاعِدُونَ

Learn More: Study Form III in Level 3: Verb Form III

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Form IV (أَفْعَلَ)

Pattern: أَفْعَلَ (afʿala) - hamza prefix Meaning: Causative (making someone do the action) Example Root: ن ز ل (n-z-l) meaning “to descend”

Form IV adds a hamza (أ) prefix and often means causing the basic action to happen. Example: نَزَلَ (to descend) → أَنْزَلَ (to send down/cause to descend). This is the most common causative form in the Quran.

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb أَنْزَلْنَاهُ (anzalnāhu) is Form IV past tense with attached pronoun (“We sent it down”). Allah caused the Quran to descend—the causative meaning of Form IV.

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form IV weak verbs show modified patterns:

Hollow Verbs (middle weak): أَقَامَ (aqāma - to establish)

• Past: أَقَامَ، أَقَامَتْ، أَقَامُوا، أَقَمْتُ
• Present: يُقِيمُ، تُقِيمُ، يُقِيمُونَ، أُقِيمُ

Defective Verbs (final weak): أَعْطَى (aʿṭā - to give)

• Past: أَعْطَى، أَعْطَتْ، أَعْطَوْا، أَعْطَيْتُ
• Present: يُعْطِي، تُعْطِي، يُعْطُونَ، أُعْطِي

Assimilated Verbs (initial weak): أَوْحَى (awḥā - to reveal)

• Past: أَوْحَى، أَوْحَتْ، أَوْحَوْا
• Present: يُوحِي، تُوحِي، يُوحُونَ

Learn More: Master Form IV in Level 3: Verb Form IV

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Form V (تَفَعَّلَ)

Pattern: تَفَعَّلَ (tafaʿʿala) - ta- prefix + doubled middle radical Meaning: Reflexive of Form II (doing the action to oneself) Example Root: ع ل م (ʿ-l-m) meaning “knowledge”

Form V is the reflexive counterpart of Form II. If Form II is “to teach” (عَلَّمَ), Form V is “to learn” (تَعَلَّمَ - to cause oneself to know). It adds تَـ prefix and doubles the middle root letter.

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb تَعَلَّمُوا (taʿallamū) is Form V past tense, third person plural (“they learned”). Notice the تَـ prefix and doubled ل—the reflexive form of عَلَّمَ (to teach).

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form V weak verbs maintain the تَـ prefix and doubled middle:

Defective Verbs (final weak): تَوَلَّى (tawallā - to turn away/take charge)

• Past: تَوَلَّى، تَوَلَّتْ، تَوَلَّوْا، تَوَلَّيْتُ
• Present: يَتَوَلَّى، تَتَوَلَّى، يَتَوَلَّوْنَ، أَتَوَلَّى

Hollow Verbs: تَبَيَّنَ (tabayyana - to become clear)

• Past: تَبَيَّنَ، تَبَيَّنَتْ، تَبَيَّنُوا
• Present: يَتَبَيَّنُ، تَتَبَيَّنُ، يَتَبَيَّنُونَ

Learn More: Study Form V patterns in Level 3: Verb Form V

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Form VI (تَفَاعَلَ)

Pattern: تَفَاعَلَ (tafāʿala) - ta- prefix + long ā Meaning: Reflexive of Form III (mutual/reciprocal action) Example Root: ب ر ك (b-r-k) meaning “blessing”

Form VI is the reflexive counterpart of Form III. It adds the تَـ prefix and long alif (ا) to express mutual or reciprocal actions, or to show something happening gradually/intensively to oneself.

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb تَبَارَكَ (tabāraka) means “He is supremely blessed” — blessing manifested abundantly in Himself. This intensive, self-manifesting meaning is characteristic of Form VI.

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form VI weak verbs maintain تَـ prefix and long alif:

Defective Verbs (final weak): تَنَادَى (tanādā - to call to each other)

• Past: تَنَادَى، تَنَادَتْ، تَنَادَوْا، تَنَادَيْتُ
• Present: يَتَنَادَى، تَتَنَادَى، يَتَنَادَوْنَ، أَتَنَادَى

Doubly Weak: تَوَالَى (tawālā - to follow consecutively)

• Past: تَوَالَى، تَوَالَتْ، تَوَالَوْا
• Present: يَتَوَالَى، تَتَوَالَى، يَتَوَالَوْنَ

Learn More: Explore Form VI in Level 3: Verb Form VI

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Form VII (اِنْفَعَلَ)

Pattern: اِنْفَعَلَ (infaʿala) - in- prefix Meaning: Passive or reflexive of Form I Example Root: ف ط ر (f-ṭ-r) meaning “to split/cleave”

Form VII adds the prefix اِنْـ (in-) to express passive or reflexive meanings of Form I verbs. It often indicates something happening to the subject naturally or inevitably. Example: كَسَرَ (to break something) → اِنْكَسَرَ (to become broken).

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb اِنْفَطَرَتْ (infaṭarat) means “it split/broke open” (passive). The sky doesn’t split itself actively—it undergoes splitting. This passive/intransitive meaning is typical of Form VII.

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form VII weak verbs maintain the اِنْـ prefix:

Defective Verbs (final weak): اِنْتَهَى (intahā - to end, be finished)

• Past: اِنْتَهَى، اِنْتَهَتْ، اِنْتَهَوْا، اِنْتَهَيْتُ
• Present: يَنْتَهِي، تَنْتَهِي، يَنْتَهُونَ، أَنْتَهِي

Note: Form VII cannot be formed from assimilated verbs (initial و/ي) or doubled verbs.

Learn More: Study Form VII in Level 3: Verb Form VII

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Form VIII (اِفْتَعَلَ)

Pattern: اِفْتَعَلَ (iftaʿala) - ت inserted after first radical Meaning: Reflexive, reciprocal, or intensive action Example Root: س م ع (s-m-ʿ) meaning “to hear”

Form VIII inserts a ت (tāʾ) after the first root letter and adds the prefix اِ. It often expresses reflexive actions or doing something for oneself. Example: سَمِعَ (to hear) → اِسْتَمَعَ (to listen attentively).

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb اِسْتَمِعُوا (istamiʿū) is Form VIII imperative plural (“listen attentively!”). It means more than just hearing (سَمِعَ)—it implies actively, intentionally listening.

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form VIII weak verbs show various modifications:

Defective Verbs (final weak): اِبْتَغَى (ibtaghā - to seek)

• Past: اِبْتَغَى، اِبْتَغَتْ، اِبْتَغَوْا، اِبْتَغَيْتُ
• Present: يَبْتَغِي، تَبْتَغِي، يَبْتَغُونَ، أَبْتَغِي

Assimilated Verbs: اِتَّقَى (ittaqā - to be conscious of God, fear)

• Root: و-ق-ي but و drops and ت doubles: اِتَّقَى
• Past: اِتَّقَى، اِتَّقَتْ، اِتَّقَوْا، اِتَّقَيْتُ
• Present: يَتَّقِي، تَتَّقِي، يَتَّقُونَ، أَتَّقِي

Learn More: Master Form VIII in Level 3: Verb Form VIII

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Form IX (اِفْعَلَّ)

Pattern: اِفْعَلَّ (ifʿalla) - doubled final radical Meaning: Colors and physical defects Example Root: ح م ر (ḥ-m-r) meaning “redness”

Form IX is a specialized pattern used almost exclusively for colors and physical defects. It doubles the final root letter and adds the prefix اِ. This form is relatively rare in the Quran but important for descriptive language.

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

While this example uses the noun حُمُر (donkeys, from the root ح-م-ر for “red”), it demonstrates the color-related usage. The verb اِحْمَرَّ means “to become red” or “to turn red.”

Pattern Notes

Additional Color Examples (click to expand)

Other Form IX color verbs:

• اِسْوَدَّ (iswadda) - to become black (root: س-و-د)
• اِبْيَضَّ (ibyaḍḍa) - to become white (root: ب-ي-ض)
• اِصْفَرَّ (iṣfarra) - to become yellow (root: ص-ف-ر)
• اِخْضَرَّ (ikhḍarra) - to become green (root: خ-ض-ر)

All follow the same pattern: اِفْعَلَّ with doubled final radical.

Learn More: Study rare forms including IX in Level 3: Verb Forms IX-X

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Form X (اِسْتَفْعَلَ)

Pattern: اِسْتَفْعَلَ (istafʿala) - است prefix Meaning: Seeking, requesting, considering something to be Example Root: غ ف ر (gh-f-r) meaning “forgiveness”

Form X adds the prefix اِسْتَـ (ista-) to express seeking or requesting the basic action. It’s very common in the Quran, especially in prayers and supplications. Example: غَفَرَ (to forgive) → اِسْتَغْفَرَ (to seek forgiveness).

Past Tense (الْمَاضِي / al-māḍī)

Present Tense (الْمُضَارِع / al-muḍāriʿ)

Imperative (الْأَمْر / al-amr)

Quranic Example

The verb اِسْتَغْفِرُوا (istaghfirū) is Form X imperative plural (“seek forgiveness!”). It means actively requesting Allah’s forgiveness, not just acknowledging it.

Pattern Notes

Weak Verb Variations (click to expand)

Form X weak verbs maintain the اِسْتَـ prefix:

Defective Verbs (final weak): اِسْتَوَى (istawā - to settle, be established)

• Past: اِسْتَوَى، اِسْتَوَتْ، اِسْتَوَوْا، اِسْتَوَيْتُ
• Present: يَسْتَوِي، تَسْتَوِي، يَسْتَوُونَ، أَسْتَوِي

Hollow Verbs: اِسْتَقَامَ (istaqāma - to be upright/straight)

• Past: اِسْتَقَامَ، اِسْتَقَامَتْ، اِسْتَقَامُوا، اِسْتَقَمْتُ
• Present: يَسْتَقِيمُ، تَسْتَقِيمُ، يَسْتَقِيمُونَ، أَسْتَقِيمُ

Assimilated Verbs: اِسْتَوْصَى (istawṣā - to enjoin, recommend)

• Follows regular pattern despite initial و

Learn More: Master Form X in Level 3: Verb Form X

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Summary of All Ten Forms

Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned all ten verb form conjugation patterns, practice recognizing them in Quranic verses:

1. Identify the form by its distinctive pattern (doubled letters, prefixes, long vowels)
2. Determine the root by removing the pattern additions
3. Apply the meaning pattern (causative, reflexive, seeking, etc.)
4. Check the person/number/gender from the conjugation endings

With consistent practice, you’ll be able to instantly recognize any verb form and understand its morphological meaning—a crucial skill for deep Quranic comprehension.

Continue learning:

• Root System Overview - Understand how roots work
• Pronoun Charts - Master attached pronouns on verbs
• 200 Most Common Quranic Words - Build vocabulary
• Start Level 3 Curriculum - Study forms systematically in lessons