Arabic Verbs 3
4) Defective Verbs
Defective verbs are verbs whose last original letter is a weak letter.
Defective imperfective verbs can end with ى or with apparent ي y or و w. They cannot end with ا as there is no imperfective verb with less than four letters.
Imperfective defective verbs are similar to the perfective ones in that the vowel preceding the final weak letter will determine its form. The general rule is similar to that of the imperfective hollow verbs:
-
If the final original weak letter (the w or y) is preceded by an u , the ending of the verb will be –uw (the corresponding long vowel).
-
If the final original weak letter is preceded by an i , the ending of the verb will be –iy.
-
If the final original weak letter is preceded by an a, it will be changed to a weak A, and the ending of the verb will be –aa.
Because form I defective verbs can have u, i or a before the final weak letter, they can end with –uw,–iy or –aa, respectively. The rest of the forms can be classified as follows:
-
Yu–i Verbs (forms II, III, IV, & QI): always have i, so always end with –iy.
-
Ya–a Verbs (forms V, VI & QII): always have a, so always end with –aa.
-
Ya–i Verbs (the rest of the forms): always have i, so always end with –iy.
I. Verbs Ending With –iy / –uw
►Form I
Example, perfective:
نَمَاْ
namaa
(He) grew (intr.)
The root is: ن م وN M W I
By applying the root to the imperfective formula of form I, we get:
(He) grows |
yanmuw(u) |
يَنْمُوُ |
Since the green vowel is u, the ending of the verb will be –uw .
The final -u (the mood-sign) will be deleted because a long vowel cannot be followed by any vowel:
(He) grows |
yanmuw |
يَنْمُوْ |
The mood-sign is said to be “estimated” مُقَدَّرَةٌ in this case, which means it is “imagined” to be there but it is not apparent.
For the rest of the conjugations, the only irregularity is that the final long vowel will be deleted in the 2nd person feminine singular and the masculine plural conjugations.
المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) نَمَاْ : فَـعَـلَ |
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S I N G U L A R |
(I) grow |
‘anmuw |
أَنْمُوْ |
(You masc.) grow |
tanmuw |
تَنْمُوْ |
|
(You fem.) grow |
tanmeen(a) |
تَنْمِيْنَ |
|
(He) grows |
yanmuw |
يَنْمُوْ |
|
(She) grows |
tanmuw |
تَنْمُوْ |
|
D U A L |
(You) grow |
tanmuwaan(i) |
تَنْمُوَاْنِ |
(They masc.) grow |
yanmuwaan(i) |
يَنْمُوَاْنِ |
|
(They fem.) grow |
tanmuwaan(i) |
تَنْمُوَاْنِ |
|
P L U R A L |
(We dual/plu.) grow |
nanmuw |
نَنْمُوْ |
(You masc.) grow |
tanmoon(a) |
تَنْمُوْنَ |
|
(You fem.) grow |
tanmuwn(a) |
تَنْمُوْنَ |
|
(They masc.) grow |
yanmoon(a) |
يَنْمُوْنَ |
|
(They fem.) grow |
yanmuwn(a) |
يَنْمُوْنَ |
Another example:
بَكَىْ
bakaa
(He) cried
The root is: بك يB K Y I
By applying the root to the imperfective formula of form I, we get:
(He) cries |
yabkiy(u) |
يَبْكِيُ |
Since the green vowel is i, the ending of the verb will be –iy.
The final -u will be deleted because a long vowel cannot be followed by any vowel:
(He) cries |
yabkiy |
يَبْكِيْ |
The case-sign is said to be “estimated” مُقَدَّرَةٌ in this case, which means it is imagined to be there but not apparent.
For the rest of the conjugations, the only irregularity is that the final long vowel will be deleted in the 2nd person feminine singular and the masculine plural conjugations.
المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) بَكَىْ : فَـعَـلَ |
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S I N G U L A R |
(I) cry |
‘abkiy |
أَبْكِيْ |
(You masc.) cry |
tabkiy |
تَبْكِيْ |
|
(You fem.) cry |
tabkeen(a) |
تَبْكِيْنَ |
|
(He) cries |
yabkiy |
يَبْكِيْ |
|
(She) cries |
tabkiy |
تَنْمُوْ |
|
D U A L |
(You) cry |
tabkiyaan(i) |
تَبْكِيَاْنِ |
(They masc.) cry |
yabkiyaan(i) |
يَبْكِيَاْنِ |
|
(They fem.) cry |
tabkiyaan(i) |
تَبْكِيَاْنِ |
|
P L U R A L |
(We dual/plu.) cry |
nabkiy |
نَبْكِيْ |
(You masc.) cry |
tabkoon(a) |
تَبْكُوْنَ |
|
(You fem.) cry |
tabkiyn(a) |
تَبْكِيْنَ |
|
(They masc.) cry |
yabkoon(a) |
يَبْكُوْنَ |
|
(They fem.) cry |
yabkiyn(a) |
يَبْكِيْنَ |
Try conjugating the following u verb:
سَمَاْ
samaa
(He) rose solemnly
المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) سَمَاْ : فَعَلَ |
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S I N G U L A R |
(I) rise |
‘asmuw |
أَسْمُوْ |
(You masc.) rise |
tasmuw |
تَسْمُوْ |
|
(You fem.) rise |
tasmeen(a) |
تَسْمِيْنَ |
|
(He) rises |
yasmuw |
يَسْمُوْ |
|
(She) rises |
tasmuw |
تَسْمُوْ |
|
D U A L |
(You) rise |
tasmuwaan(i) |
تَسْمُوَاْنِ |
(They masc.) rise |
yasmuwaan(i) |
يَسْمُوَاْنِ |
|
(They fem.) rise |
tasmuwaan(i) |
تَسْمُوَاْنِ |
|
P L U R A L |
(We dual/plu.) rise |
nasmuw |
نَسْمُوْ |
(You masc.) rise |
tasmoon(a) |
تَسْمُوْنَ |
|
(You fem.) rise |
tasmuwn(a) |
تَسْمُوْنَ |
|
(They masc.) rise |
yasmoon(a) |
يَسْمُوْنَ |
|
(They fem.) rise |
yasmuwn(a) |
يَسْمُوْنَ |
Form I perfective verbs ending with –aa that is transformed from –aw(ـَاْ) often end with –uw in the imperfective, and sometimes –aa (ـَىْ ). Verbs whose endings in the perfective are –aa that are transformed from –ay(ـَىْ) often end with –iyin the imperfective, and sometimes –aa(ـَىْ ). Note that in words with more than three letters, a final weak A will be always transcribed as (ـَىْ ).
►Forms Other Than Form I
Imperfective defective verbs of forms other than form I will all end with –iy except forms V, VI & QII which will end with –aa. There are no forms that can end with –uwother than form I.
Example, form VIII perfective:
اِنْتَهَىْ
‘intahaa
(He) ended, finished
The root is: ن هـ يN H Y I
By applying the root to the imperfective formula of form VIII, we get:
(He) finishes |
yantahiy(u) |
يَنْتَهِيُ |
The final -u is deleted because a long vowel cannot be followed by any vowel:
(He) finishes |
yantahiy |
يَنْتَهِيْ |
For the rest of the conjugations, the only irregularity is that the final long vowel will be deleted in the 2nd person feminine singular and the masculine plural conjugations.
المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) اِنْتَهَىْ : اِفْتَعَلَ |
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S I N G U L A R |
(I) finish |
‘antahiy |
أَنْتَهِيْ |
(You masc.) finish |
tantahiy |
تَنْتَهِيْ |
|
(You fem.) finish |
tantaheen(a) |
تَنْتَهِِيْنَ |
|
(He) finishes |
yantahiy |
يَنْتَهِيْ |
|
(She) finishes |
tantahiy |
تَنْتَهِيْ |
|
D U A L |
(You) finish |
tantahiyaan(i) |
تَنْتَهِيَاْنِ |
(They masc.) finish |
yantahiyaan(i) |
يَنْتَهِيَاْنِ |
|
(They fem.) finish |
tantahiyaan(i) |
تَنْتَهِيَاْنِ |
|
P L U R A L |
(We dual/plu.) finish |
nantahiy |
نَنْتَهِيْ |
(You masc.) finish |
tantahoon(a) |
تَنْتَهُوْنَ |
|
(You fem.) finish |
tantahiyn(a) |
تَنْتَهِيْنَ |
|
(They masc.) finish |
yantahoon(a) |
يَنْتَهُوْنَ |
|
(They fem.) finish |
yantahiyn(a) |
يَنْتَهِيْنَ |
The conjugation process of form VIII defective verbs is the same for all the verb forms except forms V, VI & QII which end with –aa.
II. Verbs Ending With -aa
Those can only be forms V, VI or QII, in addition to form I verbs that havea after the second root-letter. They end only with ى but not ا as there is no imperfective verb with less than four letters. In the dual and feminine plural conjugations, the ى will be always transformed to y regardless of its true origin.
►Form I
Example:
نَسِيَ
nasiy(a)
(He) forgot
The root is : ن س يN S Y I
By applying the root to the imperfective formula of form I, we get:
(He) forgets |
yansay(u) |
يَنْسَيُ |
Since the green vowel is a, the weak letter y will become a weak A, and the final -u will be deleted because a long vowel cannot be followed by any vowel:
(He) forgets |
yansaa |
يَنْسَىْ |
For the 2nd person feminine singular conjugation, the final weak A will be deleted, but the short a before the deleted weak A will be preserved, thus making the resultant suffix -ayn(a)rather than -iyn(a).
(He) forgets |
yansaa |
يَنْسَىْ |
(Thou fem.) forgets |
tansaaiyn(a) |
تَنْسَىِيْنَ |
(Thou fem.) forgets |
tansayn(a) |
تَنْسَيْنَ |
For the masculine plural conjugations, the final weak A will be deleted, but the short a before it will not, thus making the resultant suffix -awn(a)rather than -uwn(a).
(He) forgets |
yansaa |
يَنْسَىْ |
(They masc.) forget |
yansaauwn(a) |
يَنْسَاُوْنَ |
(They masc.) forget |
yansawn(a) |
يَنْسَوْنَ |
For the dual and feminine plural conjugations, the final weak A will be transformed to y when adding the suffixes.
(He) forgets |
yansaa |
يَنْسَىْ |
(They two) forget |
yansaaaan(i) |
يَنْسَاَاْنِ |
(They two) forget |
yansayaan(i) |
يَنْسَيَاْنِ |
(He) forgets |
yansaa |
يَنْسَىْ |
(They fem.) forget |
yansaan(a) |
يَنْسَاْنَ |
(They fem.) forget |
yansayn(a) |
يَنْسَيْنَ |
The full conjugation:
المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) نَسِيَ : فَعِلَ |
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S I N G U L A R |
(I) forget |
‘ansaa |
أَنْسَىْ |
(You masc.) forget |
tansaa |
تَنْسَىْ |
|
(You fem.) forget |
tansayn(a) |
تنْسَيْنَ |
|
(He) forgets |
yansaa |
يَنْسَىْ |
|
(She) forgets |
tansaa |
تَنْسَىْ |
|
D U A L |
(You) forget |
tansayaan(i) |
تَنْسَيَاْنِ |
(They masc.) forget |
yansayaan(i) |
يَنْسَيَاْنِ |
|
(They fem.) forget |
tansayaan(i) |
تَنْسَيَاْنِ |
|
P L U R A L |
(We dual/plu.) forget |
nansaa |
نَنْسَىْ |
(You masc.) forget |
tansawn(a) |
تَنْسَوْنَ |
|
(You fem.) forget |
tansayn(a) |
تَنْسَيْنَ |
|
(They masc.) forget |
yansawn(a) |
يَنْسَوْنَ |
|
(They fem.) forget |
yansayn(a) |
يَنْسَيْنَ |
Form I perfective verbs ending with –iy(a)often end with –aa(ـَىْ ) in the imperfective. Verbs whose endings are –uw(a) in the perfective are very rare and end with –uwin the imperfective.
►Forms Other Than Form I
Example, form V perfective:
تَمَنَّىْ
tamannaa
(He) wished
The root is : م ن يM N Y I
By applying the root to the imperfective formula of form V, we get:
(He) wishes |
yatamannay(u) |
يَتَمَنَّيُ |
Since the green vowel is a, the weak letter y will become a weak A, and the final -u will be deleted because a long vowel cannot be followed by any vowel:
(He) wishes |
yatamannaa |
يَتَمَنَّىْ |
The rest of conjugations are like those explained above for form I ending with -aa.
المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) تَمَنَّىْ : تَفَعَّلَ |
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S I N G U L A R |
(I) wish |
‘atamannaa |
أَتَمَنَّىْ |
(You masc.) wish |
tatamannaa |
تََتَمَنَّىْ |
|
(You fem.) wish |
tatamannayn(a) |
تَتَمَنَّيْنَ |
|
(He) wishes |
yatamannaa |
يَتَمَنَّىْ |
|
(She) wishes |
tatamannaa |
تََتَمَنَّىْ |
|
D U A L |
(You) wish |
tatamannayaan(i) |
تََتَمَنَّيَاْنِ |
(They masc.) wish |
yatamannayaan(i) |
يَتَمَنَّيَاْنِ |
|
(They fem.) wish |
tatamannayaan(i) |
تََتَمَنَّيَاْنِ |
|
P L U R A L |
(We dual/plu.) wish |
natamannaa |
نََتَمَنَّىْ |
(You masc.) wish |
tatamannawn(a) |
تََتَمَنَّوْنَ |
|
(You fem.) wish |
tatamannayn(a) |
تََتَمَنَّيْنَ |
|
(They masc.) wish |
yatamannawn(a) |
يَتَمَنَّوْنَ |
|
(They fem.) wish |
yatamannayn(a) |
يَتَمَنَّيْنَ |
Endings of Imperfective Defective Verbs (3rd Person Masculine Singular) |
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Form I |
–iw(u) |
-iy |
ـِيْ |
–iy(u) |
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–uw(u) |
-uw |
ـُوْ |
|
–uy(u) |
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–aw(u) |
-aa |
ـَىْ |
|
–ay(u) |
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Forms V, VI & QII |
-aa |
ـَىْ |
|
Remaining Forms |
-iy |
ـِيْ |
Conjugation of Imperfective Defective Verbs |
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3rd person masculine singular |
Dual and feminine plural |
2nd person feminine singular |
Masculine plural |
–iy(u) |
-iy-suffix |
—–-iyn(a) |
—–-uwn(a) |
–uw(u) |
-uw-suffix |
—–-iyn(a) |
—–-uwn(a) |
–aa |
-ay-suffix |
—–-ayn(a) |
—–-awn(a) |
Fa“aa→ yaf”uw |
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شَكَاْ |
بَدَاْ |
دَنَاْ |
تَلا |
نَمَاْ |
عَدَاْ |
رَجَاْ |
صَفَاْ |
عَلا |
رَنَاْ |
غَلا |
طَفَاْ |
سَلا |
Fa“aa→ yaf”iy |
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بَكَىْ |
سَقَىْ |
مَضَىْ |
رَمَىْ |
مَشَىْ |
عَنَىْ |
مَرَىْ |
فَلَىْ |
حَمَىْ |
غَلَىْ |
هَوَىْ |
لَوَىْ |
كَوَىْ |
عَوَىْ |
رَوَىْ |
Fa“aa→ yaf”aa |
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نَحَاْ |
رَأَىْ |
طَغَىْ |
رَعَىْ |
سَعَىْ |
IV. Enfolding Verbs
Enfolding verbs are two types:
-
Verbs that have a middle and final weak original letters C-C–C
-
Verbs that have a first and final weak original letters C-C-C
The first type enfolds the definitions of both hollow and defective verbs, yet it is always treated as a defective verb only, and the middle weak letter is treated as if it were a sound letter.
Example:
أَوَىْ
‘awaa
(He) took refuge (in), stayed (at)
The root is :‘ W Y Iأ و ي
This is an i verb.
المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) أَوَىْ : فَعَلَ |
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S I N G U L A R |
(I) take refuge |
‘a‘<wiy → ‘aawiy |
آوِيْ* |
(You masc.) take refuge |
ta‘<wiy |
تََأْوِيْ |
|
(You fem.) take refuge |
ta‘<wiyn(a) |
تََأْوِيْنَ |
|
(He) takes refugees |
ya‘<wiy |
يَأْوِيْ |
|
(She) takes refugees |
ta‘<wiy |
تََأْوِيْ |
|
D U A L |
(You) take refuge |
ta‘<wiyaan(i) |
تََأْوِيَاْنِ |
(They masc.) take refuge |
ya‘<wiyaan(i) |
يَأْوِيَاْنِ |
|
(They fem.) take refuge |
ta‘<wiyaan(i) |
تََأْوِيَاْنِ |
|
P L U R A L |
(We dual/plu.) take refuge |
na‘<wiy |
نَأْوِيْ |
(You masc.) take refuge |
ta‘<wuwn(a) |
تَأْوُوْنَ |
|
(You fem.) take refuge |
ta‘<wiyn(a) |
تََأْوِيْنَ |
|
(They masc.) take refuge |
ya‘<wuwn(a) |
يَأْوُوْنَ |
|
(They fem.) take refuge |
ya‘<wiyn(a) |
يَأْوِيْنَ |
*The transition ‘a‘< → ‘aa is a general rule of Arabic and not related to the verb being an irregular verb. This transition was mentioned on this page.
Enfolding verbs of the first type that end with –aa in the perfective will end with –iy in the imperfective; the ones that end with –iy(a) in the perfective will end with –aa in the imperfective.
The second type of the enfolding verbs enfolds the definitions of both Mithaaland defective verbs. These verbs get the dealing of both Mithaal and defective verbs together.
Example:
وَعَىْ
wa“aa
(He) understood, comprehended
The root is : و ع يW ” Y I
This is an i verb.
المُضَاْرِعُ الْمَرْفُوْعُ Indicative Imperfective (Active Voice) أَوَىْ : فَعَلَ |
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S I N G U L A R |
(I) understand |
‘a“iy |
أَعِي |
(You masc.) understand |
ta“iy |
تََعِيْ |
|
(You fem.) understand |
ta“iyn(a) |
تََعِيْنَ |
|
(He) understands |
ya“iy |
يَعِيْ |
|
(She) understands |
ta“iy |
تََعِيْ |
|
D U A L |
(You) understand |
ta“iyaan(i) |
تَعِيَاْنِ |
(They masc.) understand |
ya“iyaan(i) |
يَعِيَاْنِ |
|
(They fem.) understand |
ta“iyaan(i) |
تََعِيَاْنِ |
|
P L U R A L |
(We dual/plu.) understand |
na“iy |
نَعِيْ |
(You masc.) understand |
ta“uwn(a) |
تَعُوْنَ |
|
(You fem.) understand |
ta“iyn(a) |
تََعِيْنَ |
|
(They masc.) understand |
ya“uwn(a) |
يَعُوْنَ |
|
(They fem.) understand |
ya“iyn(a) |
يَعِيْنَ |
Enfolding Verbs |
|
Root: C-C–C |
Treat as defective verbs |
Root: C-C-C |
Treat as Mithaal & defective verbs |
Where C is a sound consonant, and C is a weak consonant.
Exercise
(He) extended (tr.) |
مَدَّ |
(He) extended (intr.) |
اِمْتَدَّ |
(He) continued |
اِسْتَمَرَّ |
(He) despaired (a verb) |
يَئِسَ |
(He) stood, stopped (i verb) |
وَقَفَ |
(He) fell (a verb) |
وَقَعَ |
(He) woke up (tr.) |
أَيْقَظَ |
(He) won (u verb) |
فَاْزَ |
(He) walked, strolled (i verb) |
سَاْرَ |
(He) slept (a verb) |
نَاْمَ |
(He) chose |
اِخْتَاْرَ |
(He) resigned, left a job/duty |
اِسْتَقَاْلَ |
(He) remained, stayed (a verb) |
بَقِيَ |
(He) ascended (u verb) |
عَلا |
(He) bought |
اِشْتَرَىْ |
(He) transgressed |
تَعَدَّىْ |
(He) fell (i verb) |
هَوَىْ |
(He) protected (i verb) |
وَقَىْ |
Based on these verbs, can you translate the following to Arabic?
(you need not to translate the pronouns in parenthesis)
(You masc. sing.) extend (tr.) |
(They fem. plu.) extend (tr.) |
(You fem. sing.) extend (intr.) |
(You fem. plu.) extend (intr.) |
(We) continue |
(They fem. plu.) continue |
(I) despair |
(I) stand |
(she) falls |
(You dual) wake up (tr.) |
(She) wins |
(You fem. sing.) walk |
(You masc. sing.) sleep |
(They masc. plu.) choose |
(They fem. plu.) choose |
(They fem. plu.) resign |
(They masc. plu.) resign |
(I) remain |
(You fem. sing) remain |
(You fem. plu) remain |
(We) ascend |
(You fem. sing.) ascend |
(They fem. dual) ascend |
(You masc. sing.) buy |
(They masc. plu.) buy |
(You dual) buy |
(She) transgresses |
(They fem. plu) transgress |
(They masc. plu.) transgress |
(You fem. sing.) fall |
(They fem. plu.) fall |
(I) protect |
(They masc. dual) protect |
(They masc. plu.) protect |
(They fem. plu.) protect |
Answers
(You masc. sing.) extend (tr.) |
تَمُدُّ |
(They fem. plu.) extend (tr.) |
يَمْدُدْنَ |
(You fem. sing.) extend (intr.) |
تَمْتَدِّيْنَ |
(You fem. plu.) extend (intr.) |
تَمْتَدِدْنَ |
(We) continue |
نَسْتَمِرُّ |
(They fem. plu.) continue |
يَسْتَمْرِرْنَ |
(I) despair |
أَيْأَسُ |
(I) stand |
أَقِفُ |
(she) falls |
تَقَعُ |
(You dual) wake up (tr.) |
تُوْقِظَاْنِ |
(She) wins |
تَفُوْزُ |
(You fem. sing.) walk |
تَسِيْرِيْنَ |
(You masc. sing.) sleep |
تَنَاْمُ |
(They masc. plu.) choose |
يَخْتَاْرُوْنَ |
(They fem. plu.) choose |
يَخْتَرْنَ |
(They fem. plu.) resign |
يَسْتَقِلْنَ |
(They masc. plu.) resign |
يَسْتَقِيْلُوْنَ |
(I) remain |
أَبْقَىْ |
(You fem. sing) remain |
تَبْقَيْنَ |
(You fem. plu) remain |
تَبْقَيْنَ |
(We) ascend |
نَعْلُوْ |
(You fem. sing.) ascend |
تَعْلِيْنَ |
(They fem. dual) ascend |
تَعْلُوَاْنِ |
(You masc. sing.) buy |
تَشْتَرِيْ |
(They masc. plu.) buy |
يَشْتَرُوْنَ |
(You dual) buy |
تَشْتَرِيَاْنِ |
(She) transgresses |
تَتَعَدَّىْ |
(They fem. plu) transgress |
يَتَعَدَّيْنَ |
(They masc. plu.) transgress |
يَتَعَدَّوْنَ |
(You fem. sing.) fall |
تَهْوِيْنَ |
(They fem. plu.) fall |
يَهْوِيْنَ |
(I) protect |
أَقِيْ |
(They masc. dual) protect |
يَقِيَاْنِ |
(They masc. plu.) protect |
يَقُوْنَ |
(They fem. plu.) protect |
يَقِيْنَ |