Language/Moroccan-arabic/Grammar/Formation-of-Passive-Constructions

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Moroccan Arabic Grammar → Passive Voice → Formation of Passive Constructions

Passive voice is one of the most important parts of the Arabic language. In Moroccan Arabic, it is used to express the same constructions that would be made in active voice but with a different focus. In this lesson, you will learn how to form passive voice constructions in Moroccan Arabic and when to use them.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Demonstrative Pronouns & The verb To Walk.

Formation of Passive Constructions

To form the passive voice in Moroccan Arabic, you need to follow these steps:

1. Put the verb in the past tense or the present continuous tense. 2. Add the auxiliary verb يتم y'tim before the verb in the present, or كان kan before the verb in the past, and then conjugate it according to the subject. 3. Change the object of the active voice to be the subject of the passive voice.

Here are some examples:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English Translation
الطالب يكتب الكتاب	Eṭ-ṭalib yekteb l-ktab	The student writes the book (active voice)
الكتاب يُكتب من قبل الطالب	L-ktab yuktob men qbel eṭ-ṭalib	The book is written by the student (passive voice)

As you can see, the object of the active voice (الكتاب al-ktab) is now the subject of the passive voice (الكتاب l-ktab). The auxiliary verb يتم y'tim in the present, or كان kan in the past, changes according to the subject, as in any other verb in the Arabic language.

Uses of the Passive

The passive voice can be used for various reasons, such as emphasizing the object, hiding the identity of the doer, or simply changing the focus of the sentence. Here are some examples:

• Emphasis: الكتاب يُكتب من قبل الطالب (The book is written by the student). In this sentence, the focus is on the book, not on the action or the doer.

• Hiding the identity of the doer: النافذةُ كُسِرَتْ (The window was broken). In this example, the identity of the doer is not mentioned.

• Changing the focus: الجدار يُبنَى (The wall is being built). In this sentence, the focus is on the action, not on the doer or the result.

It is important to note that the passive voice is not used as much in Moroccan Arabic as it is in other Arabic dialects, such as the Classical Arabic. However, it is still an important aspect of the language that should be learned.

Conclusion

The passive voice is an important aspect of the Arabic language. In this lesson, you have learned how to form passive voice constructions in Moroccan Arabic and when to use them. Remember that the passive voice is not used as much in Moroccan Arabic as it is in Classical Arabic. Keep practicing and don't forget to use it correctly when needed.

Sources

• Arabic Grammar
• Moroccan Arabic

Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Negation & Present Tense.

Table of Contents - Moroccan Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction

• Alphabet and Writing
• Pronunciation

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Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Asking for Directions
• Numbers and Counting

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Plurals
• Demonstratives
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Food and Drink

• Ordering Food in a Restaurant
• Describing Food
• Beverages and Ordering Drinks

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

House and Home

• Rooms and Furniture
• Household Chores
• Renting an Apartment

  ---

Adjectives

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

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Traditions and Customs

• Weddings and Celebrations
• Greetings and Etiquette

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Prepositions

• Directional Prepositions
• Temporal Prepositions

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Transportation

• Taking a Taxi
• Public Transportation

  ---

Imperative Mood

• Affirmative Imperative
• Negative Imperative

  ---

Shopping and Bargaining

• Shopping for Clothes
• At the Market
• Bargaining and Haggling

  ---

Historical Sites and Landmarks

• The Medina
• Kasbahs

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Relative Clauses

• Direct and Indirect Object Clauses
• Relative Pronouns

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Health and Emergencies

• At the Hospital
• Emergencies and First Aid

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Passive Voice

• Formation of Passive Constructions
• Uses of the Passive

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Leisure and Entertainment

• Music and Dance
• Sports and Activities

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Holidays and Festivals

• Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha
• Ramadan

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Conditional Mood

• Formation of the Conditional
• Uses of the Conditional

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Regional Dialects

• Darija and Other Dialects
• Language Use and Social Context

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Indirect Speech

• Reported Speech
• Indirect Questions

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Weather and Climate

• Describing the Weather
• Seasons and Climate

Other Lessons

• Uses of the Conditional
• The verb "To want"
• Demonstrative Pronouns
• Verb “to want”
• Direct and Indirect Object Clauses
• How to use “to speak” in Moroccan Arabic
• Conditional Mood
• The Accusative Case in Moroccan Arabic
• Indefinite Articles in Moroccan Arabic
• The verb "to Get up"

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