The Arabic Verb System
Arabic verbs are built on three-letter roots. Understanding the root-and-pattern system is the key to unlocking vocabulary and grammar simultaneously.
Past Tense (الماضي)
Root: ك-ت-ب (to write) → كَتَبَ (he wrote)
- أَنَا كَتَبْتُ – I wrote
- أَنْتَ كَتَبْتَ – You (m) wrote
- هُوَ كَتَبَ – He wrote
- هِيَ كَتَبَتْ – She wrote
- نَحْنُ كَتَبْنَا – We wrote
Present Tense (المضارع)
يَكْتُبُ (he writes), تَكْتُبُ (she writes), أَكْتُبُ (I write), نَكْتُبُ (we write)
Verb Patterns
Arabic has 10 common verb patterns (أوزان). Pattern I (فَعَلَ) is the simplest. Each pattern modifies the basic meaning: كَتَبَ (write) → كَاتَبَ (correspond) → كَتَّبَ (dictate).