Language/Standard-arabic/Grammar/Differences-from-the-active-voice
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| ◀️ Formation and usage — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Formation and usage ▶️ |
In this lesson, we will learn about the passive voice in Arabic and the differences between the passive and active voice. Understanding the passive voice is essential for developing fluency in Arabic and expressing a wide range of ideas and actions. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to form and use the passive voice correctly in Arabic sentences.
What is the Passive Voice?[edit | edit source]
The passive voice is a grammatical construction that emphasizes the recipient of an action rather than the doer. In English, the passive voice is formed by using the auxiliary verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, "The book was written by the author."
In Arabic, the passive voice is formed by using a combination of verbal forms and pronouns. The passive voice allows speakers to focus on the object or receiver of an action rather than the subject or doer. It is commonly used to describe actions that happen to someone or something.
Formation of the Passive Voice in Arabic[edit | edit source]
To form the passive voice in Arabic, we need to use a specific verbal form called "mafrūl bih" (مفعول به) in combination with the corresponding pronouns. The "mafrūl bih" verbal form is derived from the root verb and expresses the passive action or state.
The formation of the passive voice depends on the tense of the verb. Let's take a look at the different tenses and how the passive voice is formed in each.
Present Tense[edit | edit source]
In the present tense, the passive voice is formed by using the present tense of the verb "to be" (يكون) followed by the "mafrūl bih" form of the main verb. The pronouns are added as suffixes to the verb. Here is the conjugation of the verb "to write" (كتب) in the present tense passive voice:
| Standard Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| يُكتَب | yuktabu | It is written |
| تُكتَب | tuktabu | You (singular feminine) are written |
| تُكتَب | tuktabu | You (singular masculine) are written |
| يُكتَب | yuktabu | He is written |
| تُكتَب | tuktabu | She is written |
| نُكتَب | nuktabu | We are written |
| تُكتَبُون | tuktabūna | You (plural) are written |
| يُكتَبون | yuktabūna | They are written |
Past Tense[edit | edit source]
In the past tense, the passive voice is formed by using the past tense of the verb "to be" (كان) followed by the "mafrūl bih" form of the main verb. The pronouns are added as suffixes to the verb. Here is the conjugation of the verb "to write" (كتب) in the past tense passive voice:
| Standard Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| كُتِبَ | kutiba | It was written |
| كُتِبَت | kutibat | You (singular feminine) were written |
| كُتِبَ | kutiba | You (singular masculine) were written |
| كُتِبَ | kutiba | He was written |
| كُتِبَت | kutibat | She was written |
| كُتِبَ | kutiba | We were written |
| كُتِبتُم | kutibtum | You (plural) were written |
| كُتِبُوا | kutibu | They were written |
Future Tense[edit | edit source]
In the future tense, the passive voice is formed by using the future tense of the verb "to be" (سيكون) followed by the "mafrūl bih" form of the main verb. The pronouns are added as suffixes to the verb. Here is the conjugation of the verb "to write" (كتب) in the future tense passive voice:
| Standard Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| سَيُكتَب | sayuktabu | It will be written |
| سَتُكتَب | sataktabu | You (singular feminine) will be written |
| سَتُكتَب | sataktabu | You (singular masculine) will be written |
| سَيُكتَب | sayuktabu | He will be written |
| سَتُكتَب | sataktabu | She will be written |
| سَنُكتَب | sanuktabu | We will be written |
| سَتُكتَبُون | sataktabūna | You (plural) will be written |
| سَيُكتَبون | sayuktabūna | They will be written |
Differences Between the Passive and Active Voice in Arabic[edit | edit source]
Now that we understand how to form the passive voice in Arabic, let's explore the differences between the passive and active voice.
1. Focus on the Object: In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action, while in the passive voice, the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence. This shift in focus allows speakers to highlight and emphasize the object or recipient of the action.
Example: Active Voice: الطبيب يعالج المريض. (The doctor treats the patient.) Passive Voice: يعالج المريض بواسطة الطبيب. (The patient is treated by the doctor.)
2. Omission of the Subject: In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is often omitted because the focus is on the object or receiver of the action. The subject can be included for clarity or emphasis, but it is not necessary for the sentence to be grammatically correct.
Example: Passive Voice: كتب الكتاب من قبل الطالب. (The book was written by the student.) Passive Voice (without subject): كتب الكتاب من قبل. (The book was written.)
3. Verb Agreement: In the active voice, the verb agrees with the subject in terms of gender and number. In the passive voice, the verb agrees with the object or receiver of the action.
Example: Active Voice: الأطفال يقرأون الكتب. (The children read the books.) Passive Voice: تُقرأ الكتب من قبل الأطفال. (The books are read by the children.)
4. Change in Word Order: In the active voice, the word order follows the subject-verb-object pattern. In the passive voice, the word order changes to object-verb-subject.
Example: Active Voice: الشيف يطبخ الطعام. (The chef cooks the food.) Passive Voice: يُطبخ الطعام من قبل الشيف. (The food is cooked by the chef.)
5. Emphasis on the Doer: In the passive voice, the doer of the action can be mentioned using the preposition "من قبل" (by). This allows speakers to provide additional information and emphasize the doer, if desired.
Example: Passive Voice: يتم الإعلان عن النتائج من قبل اللجنة. (The results are announced by the committee.)
These are some of the key differences between the passive and active voice in Arabic. It is important to understand these differences and use the appropriate voice based on the intended meaning and emphasis of the sentence.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we learned about the passive voice in Arabic and the differences between the passive and active voice. We explored the formation of the passive voice in different tenses and discussed how the focus shifts from the doer to the recipient of the action. Understanding the passive voice is crucial for expressing a wide range of ideas and actions in Arabic. With practice, you will become proficient in using the passive voice correctly and effectively.
Sources=[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Masculine and feminine nouns
- Coordination words
- Be Polite
- THE IMPERFECT
- Adjectives
- NOMINATIVE SEPARATE PERSONAL PRONOUNS
- Arabic consonants
- Nouns
- THE USE OF THE AFFIXED PERSONAL PRONOUNS
- Adjective agreement and placement
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