Weak Letters 63

Lesson Six: Mu’tal Overview

The mu’tal class of verbs have a waw and/or ya’ as one (or two) of its base
letters. The letters waw and ya’ are also known as weak letters ( ‫) ﹶﺣ ﹾﺮﻑ ﻋ ﱠﻠﺔ‬
‫ﹺ‬
because their presence in the root often causes weakness that necessitates some
type of deviation from standard conjugations. Mu’tal verbs are frequently
encountered in the language and exhibit a wide range of deviations from the
saheeh class, depending on which base letter(s) is weak. These deviations arise
from the fact that waw and ya’ are normally used as long vowels to extend the
sound of the previous letter (i.e. ‫ ﹶﻳ ﹾﻔ ﹶﻌ ﹸﻠ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻥ‬and ‫ﲔ‬ ‫ﹺ‬
‫) ﹶﻳ ﹾﻔ ﹶﻌﻠ ﹾ ﹶ‬, with the letter waw
extending a dammah and the letter ya’ extending a kasrah. But, when waw or
ya’ are used as base letters, they have to accept other vowels as well, which
results in pronunciation problems.

PRINCIPLE ONE
Any type of transformation that is done to alleviate pronunciation problems
‫ﹺ‬
involving a waw or ya’ is called ta’leel ( ‫) ﹶﺗ ﹾﻌﻠ ﹾﻴﻞ‬.

PRINCIPLE TWO
Similar to mahmuz verbs, mu’tal verbs can be further classified according to
the position of the weak base letter: mu’tal fa’, ‘ain, or lām. However, since
each type has its own distinct rules for ta’leel, each has been given a unique
name. Verbs with a weak letter in the fa’ position are called mithal ( ‫) ﻣ ﹶﺜﺎﻝ‬,
‫ﹺ‬

those with a weak letter in the ‘ain position are called ajwaf ( ‫ ) ﹶأ ﹾﺟ ﹶﻮﻑ‬and those
‫ﹺ‬
with a weak letter in the lām position are called naqis ( ‫) ﻧﹶﺎﻗﺺ‬. Furthermore,
‫ﹺ‬
verbs with 2 weak letters are called lafeef mafruq ( ‫ ) ﹶﻟﻔ ﹾﻴﻒ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻔ ﹸﺮ ﹾﻭﻕ‬if the weak

letters are in the in the fa’ and lām positions, i.e. non-consecutive, or lafeef
‫ﹺ‬
maqrun ( ‫ ) ﹶﻟﻔ ﹾﻴﻒ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻘ ﹸﺮ ﹾﻭﻥ‬if the weak letters are in the ‘ain and lām positions, i.e

consecutive.
 FUNDAMENTALS OF CLASSICAL ARABIC 65

Lesson Seven: Mithal Wawi

‫ﹺ‬
Mithal ( ‫ ) ﻣ ﹶﺜﺎﻝ‬verbs can be subdivided into two types depending on which
‫ﹺ‬
‫ ) ﻣ ﹶﺜﺎﻝ ﹶﻭ ﹺاﻭ ﹾ‬verbs have a waw as the
letter is in the fa’ position. Mithal wawi ( ‫ﻱ‬

first base letter, for example ‫( ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ‬he promised) and ‫ﺐ‬

‫( ﹶﻭ ﹶﻫ ﹶ‬he gifted), while
‫ﹺ‬
mithal yayi ( ‫ ) ﻣ ﹶﺜﺎﻝ ﹶﻳﺎﻳﹺ ﹾﻲ‬verbs have a ya’ as the first base letter. The former type,

covered in this lesson, is more frequently found in the language and has more
rules for ta’leel. Similar to mahmuz verbs, mithal verbs do not have many
deviations from their saheeh models.

PRINCIPLE ONE
If you have a dhal ( ‫ ) د‬which is sakin (vowel-less), followed by a ta’ ( ‫) ت‬

which is vowelled, then the dhal is changed into a ta’ and assimilation ( ‫) إﹺ ﹾدﻏﹶﺎﻡ‬

occurs. For example, ‫ت‬

‫ ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹾ ﹶ‬becomes ‫ﺪت‬
‫ ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋ ﱠ‬. Note that this principle is general
and applies to all verbs, not just mithal verbs.

PRINCIPLE TWO
The waw in the present tense active voice drops for all mithal wawi verbs that are
‫ﴐ ﹶب ﹶﻳ ﹾ ﹺ‬ ‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﹺ‬
on the pattern of Form I Type B ( ‫ب‬
‫ﴬ ﹸ‬ ‫ ) ﹶ ﹶ‬and Type F ( ‫ﺐ‬
‫ﳛﺴ ﹸ‬
‫ﺐ ﹶﹾ‬
‫) ﹶﺣﺴ ﹶ‬.
‫( ﹶﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹺ‬to find) becomes ‫ ﹶﳚﹺﺪﹸ‬and ‫ث‬
For example, ‫ﺟﺪﹸ‬ ‫( ﹶﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹺر ﹸ‬to inherit) becomes ‫ث‬
‫ ﹶﻳ ﹺﺮ ﹸ‬.

PRINCIPLE THREE
The waw in the present tense active voice drops for most mithal wawi verbs that
‫ﹺ‬
are on the pattern of Form I Type C ( ‫ ) ﹶﺳﻤ ﹶﻊ ﹶﻳ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻤ ﹸﻊ‬and Type D ( ‫) ﹶﻓﺘ ﹶﹶﺢ ﹶﻳ ﹾﻔﺘ ﹸﹶﺢ‬. In

general the waw will drop in verbs which have one of the six guttural letters
‫ﹺ‬
( ‫ ) ﹸﺣ ﹸﺮ ﹾﻭﻑ ﹶﺣ ﹾﻠﻘ ﹾﻲ‬in the ‘ain or lām position. The six guttural letters are ‫ء ﻩ ح خ ع‬

‫غ‬. For example, ‫( ﹶﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﺿ ﹸﻊ‬to place) becomes ‫ ﹶﻳ ﹶﻀ ﹸﻊ‬and ‫ﺐ‬

‫( ﹶﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻫ ﹸ‬to gift) becomes ‫ﺐ‬
‫ ﹶ ﹶﳞ ﹸ‬.
66 Weak Letters

PRINCIPLE FOUR
The waw in the verbal noun ( ‫ ) ﹶﻣ ﹾﺼﺪﹶ ر‬of some mithal wawi verbs drops and a

ta’ al-ta’neeth ( ‫ ) ة‬is appended to the end of the word, in order to indicate that
‫ﹺ‬
a letter was dropped. Thus, ‫ ﹺﻭ ﹾﻋﺪ‬becomes ‫ ﻋﺪﹶ ة‬and ‫ ﹺﻭ ﹾﻫﺐ‬becomes ‫ﻫ ﹶﺒﺔ‬. This
‫ﹺ‬

change occurs for mithal wawi verbal nouns which are on the pattern of ‫ﻓ ﹾﻌﻞ‬,
‫ﹺ‬

and whose waw gets dropped in the present tense active voice.

PRINCIPLE FIVE
When a waw sakin (i.e. vowel-less) is preceded by any letter which has a kasrah,
‫ﹺ‬
it is mandatory to change that waw into a ya’. For example, ‫( ﻣ ﹾﻮزﹶاﻥ‬a scale) is
‫ﹺ‬
changed into ‫ ﻣ ﹾﻴﺰﹶاﻥ‬and ‫( إﹺ ﹾﻭ ﹶﺟﺎب‬making compulsory) becomes ‫ﳚﺎب‬
‫إﹺ ﹾ ﹶ‬. Note: this
principle is general and applies to all verbs, not just mithal verbs.

PRINCIPLE SIX
For all mithal verbs on the verb form I pattern, the noun of time and place will
‫ﹺ‬
always be on the pattern of ‫ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻔﻌﻞ‬.

PRINCIPLE SEVEN
For mithal wawi verbs on the verb form VIII pattern, the waw is changed into a
ta’ ( ‫ ) ت‬and assimilation ( ‫ ) إﹺ ﹾدﻏﹶﺎﻡ‬occurs. For example, the original form for

the base letters ( ‫ﻝ‬−‫ص‬−‫ ) ﻭ‬on verb form VIII, ‫ﹶﺼ ﹶﻞ‬
‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﹺ‬
‫ ا ﹾﻭﺗ ﹶ‬, first becomes ‫ ا ﹾﺗﺘ ﹶﹶﺼ ﹶﻞ‬and
finally ‫ﱠﺼ ﹶﻞ‬
‫ﹺ‬
‫ا ﺗ ﹶ‬.

PRINCIPLE EIGHT
Table 7.1 provides examples of some common mithal wawi verbs for verb form
I. While mithal verbs utilize all six patterns for verb form I, not all six types are
used for both mithal wawi and yayi. Tables 7.2-7.12 provide sample
conjugations for a mithal wawi verb. For the most part, these conjugations are
similar to the conjugations of regular verbs.
 Weak Letters 67

PRINCIPLE NINE
Table 7.13 provides patterns for verb forms II-X for mithal wawi verbs. Verb
forms VII and IX are not utilized by the mithal subclass of verbs. Any ta’leel
that ocurrs on these patterns can be explained using the principles above.
‫‪68‬‬ ‫‪Weak Letters‬‬

‫‪TABLE 7.1‬‬
‫‪EXAMPLES OF MITHAL WAWI VERBS IN THEIR SIMPLE FORM‬‬

‫ﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ ﻳ ﹺﻌﺪﹸ ﹺﻋﺪﹶ ﹰة ﹶﻓﻬﻮ ﻭ ﹺ‬

‫اﻋﺪﹲ‬ ‫ﹸﹶ ﹶ‬ ‫ﹶ ﹶ‬
‫ﹶﻭ ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪﹶ ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮﻋﹶﺪﹸ ﹺﻋﺪﹶ ﹰة ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻮ ﹸﻋ ﹾﻮ ﹲد‬
‫‪FORM I, TYPE B‬‬
‫‪On the pattern of‬‬
‫ﴐ ﹶب \ ﹶﻳ ﹾ ﹺ‬
‫ﹶا ﹾﻷﹶ ﹾﻣ ﹸﺮ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹺﻋﺪﹾ ﹶﻭ اﻟﻨ ﹾﱠﻬ ﹸﻲ ﹶﻋﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻻ ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹾ‬ ‫ﴬ ﹸب‬ ‫ﹶ ﹶ‬

‫ﻑ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻮ ﹺﻋﺪﹲ ﹶﻭ ﹾاﻵ ﹶﻟ ﹸﺔ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹺﻣ ﹾﻴ ﹶﻌﺪﹲ‬ ‫ﹶاﻟ ﱠﻈ ﹾﺮ ﹸ‬ ‫‪ , He promised‬ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ‬

‫ﱠﺚ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹸﻭ ﹾﻋﺪٰ ￯‬ ‫ﹶأ ﹾﻓ ﹶﻌ ﹸﻞ اﻟ ﱠﺘ ﹾﻔ ﹺﻀ ﹾﻴ ﹺﻞ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶأ ﹾﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹸ ﹶﻭ ا ﹾﹸﳌ ﹶﺆﻧ ﹸ‬

‫اﺟ ﹲﻞ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹺﺟ ﹶﻞ ﹶﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﺟ ﹸﻞ ﹶﻭ ﹾﺟ ﹰﻼ ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻭ ﹺ‬

‫ﹶﻭ ﹸﻭ ﹺﺟ ﹶﻞ ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﺟ ﹸﻞ ﹶﻭ ﹾﺟ ﹰﻼ ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻮ ﹸﺟ ﹾﻮ ﹲﻝ‬
‫‪FORM I, TYPE C‬‬
‫‪On the pattern of‬‬
‫ﹺ ﹺ‬ ‫ﹶﺳ ﹺﻤ ﹶﻊ \ ﹶﻳ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻤ ﹸﻊ‬
‫ﳚ ﹾﻞ ﹶﻭ اﻟﻨ ﹾﱠﻬ ﹸﻰ ﹶﻋﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻻ ﺗ ﹾﹶﻮ ﹶﺟ ﹾﻞ‬ ‫ﹶا ﹾﻷﹶ ﹾﻣ ﹸﺮ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ا ﹾ ﹶ‬
‫ﻑ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻮ ﹺﺟ ﹲﻞ ﹶﻭ ﹾاﻵ ﹶﻟ ﹸﺔ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹺﻣ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺠ ﹲﻞ‬ ‫ﹶاﻟ ﱠﻈ ﹾﺮ ﹸ‬ ‫‪ , He was afraid‬ﹶﻭ ﹺﺟ ﹶﻞ‬

‫ﱠﺚ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹸﻭ ﹾﺟ ٰﲆ‬ ‫ﹶأ ﹾﻓ ﹶﻌ ﹸﻞ اﻟ ﱠﺘ ﹾﻔ ﹺﻀ ﹾﻴ ﹺﻞ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶأ ﹾﻭ ﹶﺟ ﹸﻞ ﹶﻭ ا ﹾﹸﳌ ﹶﺆﻧ ﹸ‬

‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﻭ ﹶﻫﺐ ﳞ ﹺ‬
‫ﺐ‬‫ﺐ ﻫ ﹶﺒ ﹰﺔ ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻭاﻫ ﹲ‬ ‫ﹶ ﹶ ﹶﹶ ﹸ‬
‫ﺐ ﹺﻫ ﹶﺒ ﹰﺔ ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻮ ﹸﻫ ﹾﻮ ﹲب‬ ‫ﺐ ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻫ ﹸ‬
‫ﹺ‬
‫ﹶﻭ ﹸﻭﻫ ﹶ‬
‫‪FORM I, TYPE D‬‬
‫‪On the pattern of‬‬
‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﹶﻓﺘ ﹶﹶﺢ \ ﹶﻳ ﹾﻔﺘ ﹸﹶﺢ‬
‫ﺐ‬‫ﺐ ﹶﻭ اﻟﻨ ﹾﱠﻬ ﹸﻰ ﹶﻋﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻻ ﹶ ﹶﲥ ﹾ‬ ‫ﹶا ﹾﻷﹶ ﹾﻣ ﹸﺮ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻫ ﹾ‬
‫ﹺ ﹺ‬ ‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﹶاﻟ ﱠﻈﺮ ﹸ ﹺ‬
‫ﺐ‬ ‫ﺐ ﹶﻭ ﹾاﻵ ﹶﻟ ﹸﺔ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﻣ ﹾﻴ ﹶﻬ ﹲ‬ ‫ﻑ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻮﻫ ﹲ‬ ‫ﹾ‬ ‫ﺐ‬
‫‪ , He gifted‬ﹶﻭ ﹶﻫ ﹶ‬
‫ﱠﺚ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹸﻭ ﹾﻫ ٰﺒﻰ‬ ‫ﺐ ﹶﻭ ا ﹾﹸﳌ ﹶﺆﻧ ﹸ‬ ‫ﹺ ﹺ‬
‫ﹶأ ﹾﻓ ﹶﻌ ﹸﻞ اﻟ ﱠﺘ ﹾﻔﻀ ﹾﻴ ﹺﻞ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶأ ﹾﻭ ﹶﻫ ﹸ‬
 Weak Letters 69

TABLE 7.2
THE PAST AND PRESENT TENSE: SIMPLE FORM, MITHAL WAWI

PRESENT TENSE PAST TENSE

PASSIVE VOICE ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE ACTIVE VOICE

‫ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮﻋﹶﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﹶﻳ ﹺﻌﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪﹶ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ‬

He/It (S/M) is being promised He/It (S/M) promises He/It (S/M) was promised He/It (S/M) promised

‫ﻳﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ ﹺ‬
‫اﻥ‬ ‫ﻳ ﹺﻌﺪﹶ ﹺ‬
‫اﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪﹶ ا‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ ا‬
‫ﹸﹾ‬ ‫ﹶ‬
They (D/M) are being promised They (D/M) promise They (D/M) were promised They (D/M) promised

‫ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹸ ﹾﻭ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹶﻳ ﹺﻌﺪﹸ ﹾﻭ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪﹸ ﹾﻭا‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹸ ﹾﻭا‬
They (P/M) are being promised They (P/M) promise They (P/M) were promised They (P/M) promised

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪﹶ ﹾت‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ ﹾت‬

She/It (S/F) is being promised She/It (S/F) promises She/It (S/F) was promised She/It (S/F) promised

‫ﺗﹸﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ ﹺ‬
‫اﻥ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹶ ﹺ‬
‫اﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪﹶ ﺗﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ ﺗﹶﺎ‬
‫ﹾ‬
They (D/F) are being promised They (D/F) promise They (D/F) were promised They (D/F) promised

‫ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹾ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹶﻳ ﹺﻌﺪﹾ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪﹾ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹾ ﹶﻥ‬
They (D/P) are being promised They (P/F) promise They (P/F) were promised They (P/F) promised

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪ ﱠت‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪ ﱠت‬

You (S/M) are being promised You (S/M) promise You (S/M) were promised You (S/M) promised

‫ﺗﹸﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ ﹺ‬
‫اﻥ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹶ ﹺ‬
‫اﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋ ﱡ‬
‫ﺪﲤ ﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋ ﱡ‬
‫ﺪﲤ ﹶﺎ‬
‫ﹾ‬
You (D/M) are being promised You (D/M) promise You (D/M) were promised You (D/M) promised

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹸ ﹾﻭ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹸ ﹾﻭ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪ ﱡﺗ ﹾﻢ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪ ﱡﺗ ﹾﻢ‬
You (P/M) are being promised You (P/M) promise You (P/M) were promised You (P/M) promised

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﻋ ﹺﺪ ﹾﻳ ﹶﻦ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌ ﹺﺪ ﹾﻳ ﹶﻦ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪ ﱢت‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪ ﱢت‬
You (S/F) are being promised You (S/F) promise You (S/F) were promised You (S/F) promised

‫ﺗﹸﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹶ ﹺ‬
‫اﻥ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹶ ﹺ‬
‫اﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋ ﱡ‬
‫ﺪﲤ ﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋ ﱡ‬
‫ﺪﲤ ﹶﺎ‬
‫ﹾ‬
You (D/F) are being promised You (D/F) promise You (D/F) were promised You (D/F) promised

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﻋﺪﹾ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﺗ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹾ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪ ﱡﺗ ﱠﻦ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪ ﱡﺗ ﱠﻦ‬
You (D/F) are being promised You (P/F) promise You (P/F) were promised You (P/F) promised

‫ﹸأ ﹾﻭﻋﹶﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﹶأ ﹺﻋﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪ ﱡت‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪ ﱡت‬
I am being promised I promise I was promised I promised

‫ﻧ ﹾﹸﻮﻋﹶﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﻧ ﹺﹶﻌﺪﹸ‬ ‫ﹸﻭ ﹺﻋﺪﹾ ﻧﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﹶﻭ ﹶﻋﺪﹾ ﻧﹶﺎ‬

We are being promised We promise We were promised We promised
 Weak Letters 83

Lesson Eight: Mithal Yayi

Recall that mithal verbs can be subdivided into two types, mithal wawi ( ‫ﻣ ﹶﺜﺎﻝ‬
‫ﹺ‬
‫ﹺ‬
‫ ) ﹶﻭ ﹺاﻭ ﹾ‬and mithal yayi ( ‫) ﻣ ﹶﺜﺎﻝ ﹶﻳﺎﻳﹺ ﹾﻲ‬, depending on which letter is in the fa’
‫ﻱ‬
position. Mithal yayi verbs have a ya’ as the first base letter, for example ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺲ‬

(he dried) and ‫ﴪ‬

‫( ﹶﻳ ﹸ ﹶ‬he made easy).

PRINCIPLE ONE
When a ya’ sakin (i.e. vowel-less) is preceded by any letter which has a
dammah, it is mandatory to change that ya’ into a waw. For example, ‫ﴪ‬
‫ﹺ‬
‫( ﹸﻳ ﹾﻴ ﹸ‬to
make easy) is changed into ‫ﴎ‬
‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﹺ‬
‫ ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹸ‬and ‫ ﹸﻣ ﹾﻴﻘﻦ‬becomes ‫ ﹸﻣ ﹾﻮﻗﻦ‬. Note: this principle is
general and applies to all verbs, not just mithal verbs.

PRINCIPLE TWO
For mithal yayi verbs on the verb form VIII pattern, the ya’ is changed into a ta’
( ‫ ) ت‬and assimilation ( ‫ ) إﹺ ﹾدﻏﹶﺎﻡ‬occurs. For example, ‫ﹶﴪ‬ ‫ﹺ‬
‫ا ﹾﻳﺘ ﹶ ﹶ‬, with base letters (
‫ر‬−‫س‬−‫) ﻱ‬, first becomes ‫ﹶﴪ‬ ‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﹺ‬
‫ ا ﹾﺗﺘ ﹶ ﹶ‬and finally ‫ﱠﴪ‬
‫ا ﺗ ﹶ ﹶ‬.

PRINCIPLE THREE
Table 8.1 provides examples of some common mithal yayi verbs for verb form I
pattern. Recall that while mithal verbs utilize all six patterns for verb form I,
not all six types are used for both mithal wawi and yayi. Tables 8.2-8.12
provide sample conjugations for a mithal yayi verb. For the most part, these
conjugations are similar to the conjugations of regular verbs.

PRINCIPLE FOUR
Table 8.13 provides patterns for verb forms II – X for mithal yayi. Verb forms
VII and IX are not utilized by the mithal subclass of verbs. Any ta’leel that
ocurrs on these patterns can be explained using the principles above.
‫‪84‬‬ ‫‪Weak Letters‬‬

‫‪TABLE 8.1‬‬
‫‪EXAMPLES OF MITHAL YAYI VERBS IN THEIR SIMPLE FORM‬‬

‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺲ ﹶﻳ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺲ ﹶﻳ ﹾﺒ ﹰﺴﺎ ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻳﺎﺑﹺ ﹲﺲ‬

‫ﹶﻭ ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺲ ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹸﺲ ﹶﻳ ﹾﺒ ﹰﺴﺎ ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻴ ﹸﺒ ﹾﻮ ﹲس‬
‫‪FORM I, TYPE C‬‬
‫‪On the pattern of‬‬

‫ﹶا ﹾﻷﹶ ﹾﻣ ﹸﺮ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ اﹺ ﹾﻳ ﹶﺒ ﹾﺲ ﹶﻭ اﻟﻨ ﹾﱠﻬ ﹸﻲ ﹶﻋﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻻ ﹶﺗ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹾﺲ‬ ‫ﹶﺳ ﹺﻤ ﹶﻊ \ ﹶﻳ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻤ ﹸﻊ‬

‫ﻑ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻴﺒﹺ ﹲﺲ ﹶﻭ ﹾاﻵ ﹶﻟ ﹸﺔ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹺﻣ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹲﺲ‬ ‫ﹶاﻟ ﱠﻈ ﹾﺮ ﹸ‬ ‫‪ , He dried‬ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺲ‬

‫ﱠﺚ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹸﻳ ﹾﺒ ٰﺴﻰ‬ ‫ﹶأ ﹾﻓ ﹶﻌ ﹸﻞ اﻟ ﱠﺘ ﹾﻔ ﹺﻀ ﹾﻴ ﹺﻞ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶأ ﹾﻳ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺲ ﹶﻭ ا ﹾﹸﳌ ﹶﺆﻧ ﹸ‬

‫ﹶﻳﻨ ﹶﹶﻊ ﹶﻳ ﹾﻴﻨ ﹸﹶﻊ ﹶﻳﻨﹾ ﹰﻌﺎ ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻳﺎﻧﹺ ﹲﻊ‬
‫ﹶﻭ ﹸﻳﻨﹺ ﹶﻊ ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮﻧ ﹸﹶﻊ ﹶﻳﻨﹾ ﹰﻌﺎ ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻴﻨ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹲع‬
‫‪FORM I, TYPE D‬‬
‫‪On the pattern of‬‬

‫ﹶا ﹾﻷﹶ ﹾﻣ ﹸﺮ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ اﹺ ﹾﻳﻨ ﹾﹶﻊ ﹶﻭ اﻟﻨ ﹾﱠﻬ ﹸﻲ ﹶﻋﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻻ ﹶﺗ ﹾﻴﻨ ﹾﹶﻊ‬ ‫ﹶﻓﺘ ﹶﹶﺢ \ ﹶﻳ ﹾﻔﺘ ﹸﹶﺢ‬

‫ﻑ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻴﻨﹺ ﹲﻊ ﹶﻭ ﹾاﻵ ﹶﻟ ﹸﺔ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹺﻣ ﹾﻴﻨ ﹲﹶﻊ‬ ‫ﹶاﻟ ﱠﻈ ﹾﺮ ﹸ‬ ‫‪ , It ripened‬ﹶﻳﻨ ﹶﹶﻊ‬

‫ﱠﺚ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹸﻳﻨﹾ ٰﻌﻰ‬ ‫ﹶأ ﹾﻓ ﹶﻌ ﹸﻞ اﻟ ﱠﺘ ﹾﻔ ﹺﻀ ﹾﻴ ﹺﻞ ﹺﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶأ ﹾﻳﻨ ﹸﹶﻊ ﹶﻭ ا ﹾﹸﳌ ﹶﺆﻧ ﹸ‬
‫ﴪا ﹶﻓ ﹸﻬ ﹶﻮ ﹶﻳ ﹺﺴ ﹾ ﹲﲑ‬ ‫ﴪ ﹸﻳ ﹾ ﹰ‬ ‫ﴪ ﹶﻳ ﹾﻴ ﹸ ﹸ‬‫ﹶﻳ ﹸ ﹶ‬ ‫‪FORM I, TYPE E‬‬
‫ﹺ‬
‫ﴎ ﹶﻭ اﻟﻨ ﹾﱠﻬ ﹸﻲ ﹶﻋﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻻ ﹶﺗ ﹾﻴ ﹸ ﹾ‬ ‫ﹶا ﹾﻷﹶ ﹾﻣ ﹸﺮ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹸا ﹾﻭ ﹸ ﹾ‬
‫‪On the pattern of‬‬
‫ﴪ‬
‫ﹶﻛ ﹸﺮ ﹶﻡ \ ﹶﻳﻜ ﹸﹾﺮ ﹸﻡ‬
‫ﹺ ﹺ‬ ‫ﹺ‬ ‫ﹶاﻟ ﱠﻈﺮ ﹸ ﹺ‬
‫ﴪ‬ ‫ﴪ ﹶﻭ ﹾاﻵ ﹶﻟ ﹸﺔ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﻣ ﹾﻴ ﹶ ﹲ‬ ‫ﻑ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹶﻣ ﹾﻴ ﹲ‬ ‫ﹾ‬
‫ﴪ‬
‫‪ , He made easy‬ﹶﻳ ﹸ ﹶ‬
‫ﴪ￯‬ ‫ﹶأ ﹾﻓﻌ ﹸﻞ اﻟ ﱠﺘ ﹾﻔ ﹺﻀﻴ ﹺﻞ ﹺﻣﻨﹾﻪ ﹶأﻳﴪ ﻭ ا ﹾﹸﳌ ﹶﺆﻧ ﹸ ﹺ‬
‫ﱠﺚ ﻣﻨﹾ ﹸﻪ ﹸﻳ ﹾ ٰ‬ ‫ﹸ ﹾﹶﹸ ﹶ‬ ‫ﹾ‬ ‫ﹶ‬
 Weak Letters 85

TABLE 8.2
THE PAST AND PRESENT TENSE: SIMPLE FORM, MITHAL YAYI

PRESENT TENSE PAST TENSE

PASSIVE VOICE ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE ACTIVE VOICE

‫ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹶﻳ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺲ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺲ‬

He/It (S/M) is being dried He/It (S/M) dries He/It (S/M) was dried He/It (S/M) dried

‫ﻳﻮﺑﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﻳﻴﺒﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺴﺎ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺴﺎ‬
‫ﹸﹾﹶﹶ‬ ‫ﹶﹾﹶ ﹶ‬
They (D/M) are being dried They (D/M) dry They (D/M) were dried They (D/M) dried

‫ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹸﺴ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹶﻳ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺴ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹸﺴ ﹾﻮا‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹸﺴ ﹾﻮا‬

They (P/M) are being dried They (P/M) dry They (P/M) were dried They (P/M) dried

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹶﺗ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺴ ﹾﺖ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺴ ﹾﺖ‬

She/It (S/F) is being dried She/It (S/F) dries She/It (S/F) was dried She/It (S/F) dried

‫ﺗﹸﻮﺑﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﹶﺗﻴﺒﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺴﺘﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹶﺴﺘﹶﺎ‬
‫ﹾﹶﹶ‬ ‫ﹾﹶ ﹶ‬
They (D/F) are being dried They (D/F) dry They (D/F) were dried They (D/F) dried

‫ﹸﻳ ﹾﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻦ‬ ‫ﹶﻳ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻦ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻦ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻦ‬

They (D/P) are being dried They (P/F) dry They (P/F) were dried They (P/F) dried

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹶﺗ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴ ﹶﺖ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴ ﹶﺖ‬

You (S/M) are being dried You (S/M) dry You (S/M) were dried You (S/M) dried

‫ﺗﹸﻮﺑﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﹶﺗﻴﺒﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﺘ ﹶﹸﲈ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﺘ ﹶﹸﲈ‬
‫ﹾﹶﹶ‬ ‫ﹾﹶ ﹶ‬
You (D/M) are being dried You (D/M) dry You (D/M) were dried You (D/M) dried

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹸﺴ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹶﺗ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺴ ﹾﻮ ﹶﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﺘ ﹾﹸﻢ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﺘ ﹾﹸﻢ‬
You (P/M) are being dried You (P/M) dry You (P/M) were dried You (P/M) dried

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹺﺴ ﹾ ﹶ‬
‫ﲔ‬ ‫ﹶﺗ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹺﺴ ﹾ ﹶ‬
‫ﲔ‬ ‫ﻳﺒﹺﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺖ‬ ‫ﹸ ﹾ‬
‫ﻳﺒﹺﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺖ‬ ‫ﹶ ﹾ‬
You (S/F) are being dried You (S/F) dry You (S/F) were dried You (S/F) dried

‫ﺗﹸﻮﺑﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﹶﺗﻴﺒﺴ ﹺ‬
‫ﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﺘ ﹶﹸﲈ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﺘ ﹶﹸﲈ‬
‫ﹾﹶﹶ‬ ‫ﹾﹶ ﹶ‬
You (D/F) are being dried You (D/F) dry You (D/F) were dried You (D/F) dried

‫ﺗ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻦ‬ ‫ﹶﺗ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹾﺴ ﹶﻦ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﺘ ﱠﹸﻦ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﺘ ﱠﹸﻦ‬
You (D/F) are being dried You (P/F) dry You (P/F) were dried You (P/F) dried

‫ﹸأ ﹾﻭ ﹶﺑ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹶأ ﹾﻳ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴ ﹸﺖ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴ ﹸﺖ‬

I am being dried I dry I was dried I dried

‫ﻧ ﹾﹸﻮ ﹶﺑ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹶﻧ ﹾﻴ ﹶﺒ ﹸﺲ‬ ‫ﹸﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﻨﹶﺎ‬ ‫ﹶﻳﺒﹺ ﹾﺴﻨﹶﺎ‬

We are being dried We dry We were dried We dried