Derived Verb Form VII (انفعل)
Arabic verbs are often modified into different patterns, or "forms," to change their meaning. Form VII is created by adding the prefix انـ to the three-letter root.
This form is almost always intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object. Instead of someone actively doing an action to something else, Form VII describes an action happening to the subject—often spontaneously, by accident, or as a result of yielding to an outside force.
| to break (intransitive) | انكسرinkasara |
Past and Present Conjugation
Conjugating Form VII is straightforward. In the past tense, it behaves like a regular verb. Notice how the subject of the sentence is the thing undergoing the change.
| The glass broke suddenly. | انكسر الزجاج فجأة.inkasara az-zujâju faj'atan |
In the present tense, the initial vowel drops, and you add the standard present tense prefixes (like يـ for "he/it") directly before the ن.
| The cup will not break if you put it here. | لن ينكسر الكوب إذا وضعته هنا.lan yankasira alkûbu idhâ wada'tahu hunâ |
Here is how you describe things opening and closing, whether in the past or present:
| The door opened and the dog entered. | انفتح الباب ودخل الكلب.infataha al-bâbu wa dakhala al-kalbu |
| The man wanted the door to open. | أراد الرجل أن ينفتح الباب.arâda ar-rajulu an yanfatiha al-bâbu |
| The window closed suddenly. | انغلقت النافذة فجأة.inghalaqati n-nâfidhatu faj'atan |
Describing Accidents and Failures
Because Form VII focuses on the result of an action rather than the person who caused it, it is the perfect verb form for describing accidents, mechanical failures, or sudden changes in state.
| How many times did the internet disconnect today? | كم مرة انقطع الإنترنت اليوم؟kam marratin inqata'a al-internet al-yawma |
| The car engine exploded in the street. | انفجر محرك السيارة في الشارع.infajara muharriku as-sayyarati fi ash-shari'i |
| The fire went out after the rain. | انطفأت النار بعد المطر.intafa'ati an-naru ba'da al-matari |
Sudden Movements and Spills
You will also use Form VII extensively for spontaneous physical movements, such as flipping over, slipping, spilling, or rushing forward.
| The truck overturned on the bridge. | انقلبت الشاحنة على الجسر.inqalabat ish-shâhinatu 'ala l-jisr |
| The player slipped on the pitch. | انزلق اللاعب في الملعب.inzalaqa l-lâ'ibu fi l-mal'abi. |
| The coffee spilled on my shirt. | انسكبت القهوة على قميصي.insakabati l-qahwatu alâ qamîsî |
| The water rushed from the pipe that broke. | اندفع الماء من الأنبوب الذي انكسر.indafa'a al-mâ'u mina l-unbûbi alladhî inkasara. |
| The old bridge collapsed yesterday evening. | انهار الجسر القديم مساء أمس.inhâra al-jisru al-qadîmu masâ'a amsi |
