The Use of Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic Grammar

Understanding Arabic grammar is essential for anyone serious about mastering the language. One of the fundamental topics learners encounter is the Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic. It plays a crucial role not only in formal Arabic but also in literary texts, news reports, and everyday communication. In this blog, we will explore the concept of the passive voice in Arabic grammar, its formation, uses, and how it differs from the active voice. We will also highlight why mastering this topic is important for your Arabic learning journey and how Al Arabiya Institute can support you with the best Arabic courses online, offering free trial lessons and competitive prices.

What Is the Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic?

In simple terms, the passive voice (المبني للمجهول) is used when the focus is on the action itself or its result rather than on the doer (the subject performing the action). Unlike the active voice, where the subject performs the action, in the passive voice, the subject is often unknown, unimportant, or intentionally omitted.

For example, in English:

• Active: “The teacher explains the lesson.”

• Passive: “The lesson is explained.”

Similarly, Arabic uses the passive voice (المبني للمجهول) to emphasize the action or the object receiving the action.

Formation of the Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic

Arabic grammar is highly structured, and the passive voice is formed differently depending on whether the verb is in the past tense (الماضي) or the present tense (المضارع). Let’s break down the formation rules:

1. Passive Voice in the Past Tense (الماضي)

For regular triliteral verbs (verbs with three root letters), the passive is formed by changing the vowels (diacritics) of the active past tense verb.

• The pattern of vowels changes from فَعَلَ (faʿala) to فُعِلَ (fuʿila).

Examples:

• كَتَبَ (kataba) —> كُتِبَ (kutiba)
  He wrote —> It was written

• دَرَسَ (darasa) —> دُرِسَ (durisa)
  He studied —> It was studied

2. Passive Voice in the Present Tense (المضارع)

For the present tense, the pattern shifts as follows:

• The pattern changes from يَفْعَلُ (yafʿalu) to يُفْعَلُ (yufʿalu).

Examples:

• يَكْتُبُ (yaktubu) —> يُكْتَبُ (yuktabu)
  He writes —> It is written

• يَدْرُسُ (yadrusu) —> يُدْرَسُ (yudrasu)
  He studies —> It is studied

Why Is Learning Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic Important?

Grasping the Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic is vital for several reasons:

1. Common Usage in Arabic Texts

Arabic, especially Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), frequently employs the passive voice in official news, formal writing, and classical texts. Understanding it helps learners read newspapers, academic articles, and classical literature with better comprehension.

2. Expressing Unknown or Unimportant Agents

Sometimes the doer of the action is unknown, irrelevant, or deliberately left out. For example:

• The book was lost.
  (الكتابُ ضاعَ)
  If you want to say “The book was lost” without mentioning who lost it, you use the passive voice.

3. Mastery of Sentence Structure

Arabic sentences in the passive voice follow specific rules that differ from English. Learning these structures enhances your overall command of Arabic syntax and makes your expression more versatile.

Differences Between Passive Voice in Arabic and English

Though the concept of the passive voice exists in both languages, their implementation is quite different.

• Verb conjugation: Arabic changes internal vowel patterns of the verb, while English adds auxiliary verbs like is or was plus the past participle.

• No agent in Arabic passive: Arabic passive sentences often omit the doer entirely.

• Tense consistency: Arabic passive applies mostly in past and present tenses, while English can form passive in all tenses.

Examples of Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic

Let’s look at a few sentences with their active and passive forms to clarify the concept:

Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Different Verb Forms (الأوزان)

Arabic verbs come in many patterns (called awzan). The passive voice rules for triliteral verbs are straightforward, but verbs with more complex forms (quadriliteral or derived forms) have passive voice formation rules that are more advanced. These are usually taught after mastering the basics.

Common Mistakes When Learning Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic

Many learners find the passive voice challenging because:

• They try to translate passive structures directly from English to Arabic without adjusting for vowel changes.

• They forget that the verb endings (like subject pronouns) are dropped in passive voice sentences.

• They confuse the passive with the verbal noun (المصدر) or the participle.

Tips to Master the Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic

• Practice verb conjugation: Focus on the vowel patterns of past and present tense verbs.

• Read Arabic texts: Pay attention to passive constructions in newspapers or books.

• Use exercises: Practice transforming active sentences into passive.

• Listen to Arabic speakers: Passive voice is common in news broadcasts and formal speeches.

• Join structured courses: To grasp these nuances well, taking professional lessons is highly recommended.

Learn Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic with Al Arabiya Institute

If you want to master the Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic along with other key grammar topics, Al Arabiya Institute is one of the best websites for learning Arabic online. With expert instructors, interactive lessons, and a student-focused curriculum, you will find the support and guidance needed to excel in Arabic.

• Best prices for high-quality Arabic courses

• Free trial lessons so you can explore before committing

• Courses tailored to different skill levels, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced

Whether you want to improve your reading comprehension, writing skills, or spoken Arabic, mastering the passive voice will be a vital part of your journey, and Al Arabiya Institute can help you achieve that smoothly and efficiently.

Conclusion

Mastering the Passive Voice (المبني للمجهول) in Arabic is a crucial step for learners who want to deepen their understanding of Arabic grammar and improve their overall language skills. Unlike English, Arabic forms the passive voice by changing internal vowel patterns, which requires practice and familiarity. The passive voice is commonly used in formal texts and everyday conversations where the doer is unknown or unimportant.

If you want to study this topic and more with expert teachers, visit Al Arabiya Institute at https://learning-arabic.com/. They offer the best Arabic learning courses online with affordable prices and free trial lessons to help you start your Arabic learning journey with confidence.

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