The Done-To Word

Level 3

The Ism al-Maf'ul (Passive Participle) often translates an English passive participle (like done or seen). It describes the person or thing that has undergone an action.

How It Works

The Ism al-Maf'ul is a versatile tool in Arabic morphology. It functions as an adjective or a noun to describe a state resulting from an action.

1. Form I (Triliteral) Verbs:
For standard 'sound' verbs, the pattern is fixed as مـفْعـول.

  • كتب (to write) → مَكْتُوب (written)
  • كسر (to break) → مَكْسُور (broken)

2. Weak Verbs (al-af‘āl al-mu‘talla):
These require special attention due to their roots containing weak letters (و or ى/ي).

  • Hollow (Waw-root): The root and pattern weak letters contract to give the long vowel ū. For example, قال (to say) becomes مَقُول (said).
  • Hollow (Yaa-root): The weak letters contract and the result has ī. For example, باع (to sell) becomes مَبيع (sold).
  • Defective (Waw-root): The final weak letter is doubled with a shadda. For example, دعا (to invite) becomes مَدْعُوّ (invited).
  • Defective (Yaa-root): The final weak letter is doubled as a yaa with a shadda. For example, رمى (to throw) becomes مَرْمِيّ (thrown).

3. Derived Forms (II-X):
For derived verb shapes, the process is similar to the Doer Word, but with a different vowel:

  • Take the present tense form.
  • Replace the prefix with مُـ (mu-).
  • Place a fat'ha (a-vowel) on the penultimate (second-to-last) letter.
  • Example: استخدم (to use) → مُسْتَخْدَم (used).

4. Intransitive Verbs:
If a verb does not take a direct object (like 'to go'), the Ism al-Maf'ul normally retains the verb’s required complement, commonly a prepositional phrase (e.g., مَغْضُوب عَلَيْهِ - 'one who is angered upon').

Connection With the Passive Verb: Compare كُتِبَ الكِتَابُ (the book was written) with الكِتَابُ مَكْتُوبٌ (the book is written). Both focus on the affected thing, but the participle is nominal and does not by itself mark past tense. For a derived verb, start from the passive present: يُسْتَخْدَمُ → مُسْتَخْدَم. Weak-root adjustments remain, as in يُعْطَى → مُعْطًى.

Examples (4)

  1. هذا الكتاب مفقود.

    This book is lost.

    Word by Word: This the-book lost.

    Uses the Form I pattern 'maf'ūl' from the root f-q-d (to lose).

  2. الباب متروك مفتوحاً.

    The door is left open.

    Word by Word: The-door left open.

    Both 'matrūk' (left) and 'maftūḥ' (open) follow the Form I passive participle pattern.

  3. هو شخص محترم جداً.

    He is a very respected person.

    Word by Word: He person respected very.

    'Muḥtaram' is the passive participle of a Form VIII verb, marked by the 'mu-' prefix and the 'a' vowel on the 'r'.

  4. هذه الرسالة مكتوبة باللغة العربية.

    This letter is written in the Arabic language.

    Word by Word: This the-letter written in-the-language the-Arabic.

    The passive participle matches the noun in gender, so 'maktūb' becomes 'maktūba' to match 'risāla' (letter).

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing the passive participle with the active participle in derived forms.

    هُوَ مُدَرَّسٌ فِي هَذِهِ المَدْرَسَةِ.
    هُوَ مُدَرِّسٌ فِي هَذِهِ المَدْرَسَةِ.

    For the intended meaning “he is a teacher,” use active مُدَرِّس with i. Passive مُدَرَّس has a and means something taught. Without vowel marks both spellings look identical, so the marks are essential to this contrast.

  • Using the passive participle of an intransitive verb without a preposition.

    الرجل مذهوب.
    الرجل مذهوب به.

    Because 'to go' (dhahaba) is intransitive, its passive participle needs a preposition: 'al-rajulu madhhūbun bihi' means 'the man was taken away'. For 'the man is gone', use the active participle 'dhāhib'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

The Done-To WordLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand the Passive Participle (اسم المفعول), you must first be comfortable with the Arabic root and pattern system. It is also helpful to understand how verbs function in their simplest form (Form I) and how the corresponding Active Participle (اسم الفاعل) is constructed, as these concepts provide the structural foundation for naming the object of an action.

Words in This Pattern

اسم مفعول