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### What is a Verbal Noun (المصدر)?

In Arabic, the verbal noun (المصدر) represents an action or idea independent of time. In English, these correspond to "-ing" or "-tion" words (like "arriving" or "arrival"), as well as abstract concepts (like "success" or "justice").

Unlike derived verbs (Forms II through X), the verbal nouns for basic Form I verbs are unpredictable. You must memorize the verbal noun along with each new Form I verb. 

Here are three common Form I verbal noun patterns:

| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| فَعْل | عَدْل | justice |
| فُعُول | دُخُول | entry / entering |
| فَعَال | نَجَاح | success |

### Abstract Concepts and the Definite Article

Because verbal nouns are true nouns, they behave exactly like regular nouns in a sentence. When speaking about an abstract concept in a general sense—such as justice, patience, or knowledge—you must attach the definite article (ال). For example, "Justice is important" is literally "The justice is important."

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### Using Verbal Nouns for Actions and Events

Verbal nouns are heavily used to describe events or the act of doing an action. You will frequently see them in a possessive construction (إضافة) or following prepositions (like "before" or "after") instead of a full verb phrase. For example, rather than saying "before he exits," Arabic often uses "before exiting."

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Base verbal nouns (المصدر)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

interrogative

noun

numeral

particle

prefix

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The definite article and locatives (الـ)

Basic noun gender (ة)

Sun and moon letters

Singular subject pronouns (أنا، أنت، هو، هي)

Indefinite nouns and nominal sentences (ـٌ)

Demonstrative pronouns for 'this' (هذا / هذه)

Separate prepositions (في، من، إلى، على)

Attributive adjectives

Predicative adjectives

Yes/No questions (هل، أ)

Basic questions (من، ما، أين)

Singular possessive pronouns (ـي، ـك، ـه، ـها)

Plural subject pronouns (نحن، أنتم، هم)

Plural possessive pronouns (ـنا، ـكم، ـهم)

Noun possession

Attached prepositions (بـ، لـ، كـ)

Pronouns with prepositions

Having and possessing (عند، لـ، مع)

Regular plural nouns (ـون، ـين، ـات)

Broken plurals

Dual nouns (ـان / ـين)

Plural and distant demonstratives (هؤلاء، ذلك، تلك)

Non-human plural agreement

Present tense singular verbs

Verbal sentences (VSO)

Present tense plural verbs

Topicalized sentences (SVO)

The indefinite accusative case (ـاً)

Verb object pronouns (-ني، -ك، -ه)

Present tense negation (لا)

Question words with verbs (متى، كيف...)

Adverbs of time and place

The future tense (سـ / سوف)

Intentions and desires (أن)

Negating states and possession (ليس)

Past tense singular suffixes

Past tense plural suffixes

Negating past events (ما)

Singular commands

Numbers 1 to 10

Number agreement for 1 and 2 (واحد، اثنان)

Asking how many (كم)

Numbers 3 to 10 (ثلاثة إلى عشرة)

Ordinal numbers 1 to 10 (الأول، الثاني)

Basic conjunctions (فـ، أو، لكن)

Ordering at a café (واحد، اثنان)

Food and drink with conjunctions (و، ف، أو، لكن)

There is and there are (هناك / ليس هناك)

Direct address (يا)

Giving reasons (لأنّ)

Relative pronouns (الذي / التي)

Quantifiers (كل / بعض)

The past tense of 'to be' (كان)

Past possession

Numbers 11 to 19 and tens to 80

Telling time (الساعة)

This book vs this is a book (هذا الكتاب، هذا كتاب)

Greetings (مرحبا، السلام عليكم)

How are you? and goodbye (كيف حالك، مع السلامة)

Nationalities (مصري، مصرية)

Roots and patterns (كتب، كتاب، مكتب)

Politeness (من فضلك، آسف)

Complex possession chains

Colors and traits (أفعل / فعلاء)

Plural colors and traits (فُعْل)

Comparative adjectives (أفعل من)

Superlative adjectives (أفعل)

Adverbs of manner (ـاً)

The nominative case (ـُ)

The genitive case (ـِ)

The accusative case (ـَ)

Dual noun cases (ـان / ـين)

Masculine plurals and 'the best of' (أفضل النجارين)

Emphasizing sentences (إنّ)

Connecting clauses (أنّ)

Reporting speech (قال إنّ)

Expressing contrast (لكنّ)

Comparison and probability (كأنّ, لعلّ)

Distant plural pointing (أولئك)

Plural relative pronouns (الذين, اللواتي)

Past habits (كان + present)

Ongoing actions (ما زال)

Masculine plurals online (مبرمجون، مؤثرون)

Perfective past (قد)

Probability (قد)

The subjunctive mood (أن)

Question	Answer
success	نجاحnajâh
The success of the project is important.	نجاح المشروع مهم.najâhu al-mashrû'i muhimm
This success is very big.	هذا النجاح كبير جدا.hâdhâ an-najâhu kabîrun jiddan
justice	عدل'adl
Justice is important in society.	العدل مهم في المجتمع.al-'adlu muhimmun fi al-mujtama'i
This is justice.	هذا هو العدل.hâdhâ huwa al-'adlu
Do not reject justice.	لا ترفض العدل.lâ tarfudi al-adla.
injustice	ظلمzhulm
Injustice is a dangerous thing.	الظلم شيء خطير.az-zulmu shay'un khatîrun.
patience	صبرsabr
Patience is always beautiful.	الصبر جميل دائما.as-sabru jamîlun dâ'iman
I need patience.	أحتاج إلى الصبر.ahtâju ilâ as-sabri
knowledge / science	علم'ilm
He seeks knowledge at the university.	هو يطلب العلم في الجامعة.huwa yatlubu al-'ilma fi l-jâmi'ah.
Knowledge is the path of success.	العلم طريق النجاح.al-'ilmu tarîqu n-najâh
love	حبhubb
Love gathers people.	الحب يجمع الناس.al-hubbu yajma'u an-nâsa.
This love is strong.	هذا الحب قوي.hâdhâ al-hubbu qawiyyun
research / search (for something)	بحثbahth
I read this research yesterday.	قرأت هذا البحث أمس.qara'tu hâdhâ al-bahtha amsi
Research here is impossible.	البحث هنا مستحيل.al-bahthu hunâ mustahîl.
arrival	وصولwusûl
The time of arrival is tomorrow evening.	وقت الوصول غدا مساء.waqtu alwusûli ghadan masâ'an.
He called me after arriving at the hotel.	اتصل بي بعد الوصول إلى الفندق.ittasala bî baAda al-wusûli ilâ al-funduq
entry	دخولdukhûl
Entry is from this door only.	الدخول من هذا الباب فقط.ad-dukhûlu min hâdhâ al-bâbi faqat
The entry door is open now.	باب الدخول مفتوح الآن.bâbu ddukhûli maftûhun al-âna
going out / exit (the act)	خروجkhurûj
The exit door is there.	باب الخروج هناك.bâbu al-khurûji hunâka
He waits before exiting.	ينتظر قبل الخروج.yantaziru qabla al-khurûj
Injustice is a big problem in the society.	الظلم مشكلة كبيرة في المجتمع.azzulmu mashkalatun kabiratun fil mujtama'i

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