Verb Conjugation Tables

The Arabs divide speech into three types: the noun, the verb, and the particle.

We took that the verb is a word with an intrinsic meaning connected to one of the
three tenses. These three tenses are the past, present, and future tense.

Verbs in the Arabic language have been divided to correspond to different tenses.
As such, we have three types of verbs:

1. The Past Tense Verb

2. The Present-Future Tense Verb

3. The Command Tense Verb

 ‫ِف‬
Past Tense Verb (‫املا‬ ‫) ِف ْع ُل‬

A past tense verb is a verb that indicates an action that occurred prior to the
moment of speech. This is why it is also sometimes referred to as a “perfect
verb”, since the action has been completed in the past.

The conjugations of the past tense verb are as follows. We’ve used only one of
the three verb patterns, namely the one with a “fatha” on the middle letter (the
“‫ ”ع‬letter).

Verb Meaning Type

‫َف َع َل‬ He did 3rd Person Masculine Singular

‫َف َع َل ْت‬ She did 3rd Person Feminine Singular

‫َف َعال‬ They [two] did 3rd Person Masculine Dual

‫َف َع َلتا‬ They [two] did 3rd Person Feminine Dual

‫َف َع ُلوا‬ They all did 3rd Person Masculine Plural

‫َف َع ْل َن‬ They all did 3rd Person Feminine Plural

‫َف َع ْل َت‬ You did 2nd Person Masculine Singular

‫َف ْع ِف‬
‫َف‬ You did 2nd Person Feminine Singular

‫َف َع ْلتُام‬ You [two] did 2nd Person Masculine Dual

‫َف َع ْلتُام‬ You [two] did 2nd Person Feminine Dual

 ‫َف َع ْلت ُْم‬ You all did 2nd Person Masculine Plural

‫َف َع ْلت َُن‬ You all did 2nd Person Feminine Plural

‫َف َع ْل ُت‬ I did

1st Person
Masculine/Feminine Singular

‫َف َع ْلنا‬ We did

1st Person
Masculine/Feminine Plural

In all of these verbs, the action of “doing” occurred in the past, before the
moment of speech. When I say “I did” then the act took place and was completed
before I uttered my statement.
 ‫) ِف ْع ُل اُل ِف‬
Present-Future Tense Verb (‫ضملرع‬

A present-future tense verb is a verb that indicates an action that occurs at the
moment of speech. It may also refer to action that occurs at moment of speech
and continues beyond it, as well as to an action that will be done in the future.

This is why it is sometimes referred to as an “imperfect verb”, since the action is

still occurring, may continue to occur, or will occur in the future.

Context is important in determining which tense the verb relates to.

The conjugation of the present-future verb is as follows. We’ve decided to merely

mention one of the three possible ways this verb pattern can be translated,
namely with a “fatha” on the middle letter (the “‫ ”ع‬letter)

Verb Meaning Type

‫َي ْف َع ُل‬ He is doing 3rd Person Masculine Singular

‫َت ْف َع ُل‬ She is doing 3rd Person Feminine Singular

‫َي ْف َعالن‬ They [two] are doing 3rd Person Masculine Dual

‫َت ْف َعالن‬ They [two] are doing 3rd Person Feminine Dual

‫َف ْع َف ُل َفو‬ They all are doing 3rd Person Masculine Plural

‫َي ْف َع ْل َن‬ They all are doing 3rd Person Feminine Plural

‫َت ْف َع ُل‬ You are doing 2nd Person Masculine Singular

َ ِ‫َت ْف َعل‬
‫ني‬ You are doing 2nd Person Feminine Singular
 ‫َت ْف َعالن‬ You [two] are doing 2nd Person Masculine Dual

‫َت ْف َعالن‬ You [two] are doing 2nd Person Feminine Dual

‫َت ْف َع ُلون‬ You all are doing 2nd Person Masculine Plural

‫َت ْف َع ْل َن‬ You all are doing 2nd Person Feminine Plural

‫َأ ْف َع ُل‬ I am doing

1st Person
Masculine/Feminine Singular

‫َن ْف َع ُل‬ We are doing

1st Person
Masculine/Feminine Plural

Here, the act of “doing” is taking place while the person is speaking. When I say “I
am doing” the act is taking place when I utter this statement. I may still continue
to do this act even after I finish speaking or may do it in the future.
 Determining the Middle Letter

There is no set way to determine the middle letter (the “‫ ”ع‬letter) of the past or

present-future tense verb. This can only be known by taking recourse to a

dictionary or experience.

However, there are some general rules that can assist us in determining the
middle letter of the present-future tense verb.

The past tense verb can be on the following three patterns. We have listed the
possible present-future tense patterns each specific past tense verb pattern can
take.

Present Future Tense Verb It Can Be Past Tense Verb

‫َي ْف َي ُل‬

‫َي ْف ِع ُل‬ ‫َف َف َف‬

‫َي ْف ُل ُل‬

‫َي ْف َي ُل‬
‫َف ِف َف‬
‫َي ْف ِع ُل‬

‫َي ْف ُل ُل‬ ‫َف ُل َف‬

Thus, for example, the past tense verb ‫ َف ُل َفر‬has a “damma” on the middle letter

(the “‫ ”ع‬letter) and so the only possibility for the present-future tense verb is that

it also have a “damma” on the “‫ ”ع‬letter. Therefore, it will be ‫ َف ْع ُل ُلر‬.

We took a few other examples in our class recordings that should sufficiently
clarify the above.