What is a Doubled Verb?
A doubled verb (الفعل المضعف) has a root where the second and third letters are identical. Instead of writing the same letter twice, Arabic combines them using a shadda (ّ).
In the present tense for most subjects (like I, he, she, and we), the root remains doubled.
| I used to assume that you are sick. | كنت أظن أنك مريض.kuntu azhunnu annaka marîd |
| She doubts everything because she is sad. | هي تشك في كل شيء لأنها حزينة.hiya tashukku fî kulli shay'in li'annahâ hazînah |
Un-doubling in the Past Tense
When conjugating these verbs in the past tense for the first person (I, we) and second person (you), the root "un-doubles." You drop the shadda and write the identical root letters twice, followed by the standard past tense suffix.
For example, instead of keeping the shadda in ظنّ (he assumed), it splits into two letters to become ظننتُ (I assumed).
| I assumed that you were in the house. | ظننت أنك في البيت.zanantu annaka fi al-bayti |
| Did you doubt the truth? | هل شككت في الحقيقة؟hal shakakta fi al-haqiqati? |
Applying the Rule to Other Verb Forms
This un-doubling rule applies to doubled verbs across different verb patterns, including Form IV verbs like أحسّ (to feel) and أصرّ (to insist).
| I felt a pain in my foot. | أحسست بألم في قدمي.ahsastu bi'alamin fi qadami |
| Why did you insist on this appointment? | لماذا أصررتم على هذا الموعد؟limâdhâ asrartum 'alâ hâdhal maw'idi? |
Physical Actions
Many common doubled verbs describe physical actions, such as pulling, shaking, pouring, and knocking. The un-doubling rule applies consistently across all of them when talking about yourself or the person you are addressing in the past tense.
| I shook the tree and the apples fell. | هززت الشجرة وسقط التفاح.hazaztu ash-shajarata wa saqata at-tuffâh |
| I poured the water in the cup. | صببت الماء في الكوب.sababtu al-maa'a fi al-kuubi |
| I knocked on the door but no one replied. | دققت الباب لكن لم يرد أحد.daqaqtu al-bâba lakin lam yarudda aḥad |
