Term 10 : Flexibility of Fi’l

This short Arabic grammar class introduces students to one of the fundamental classifications of the Arabic verb: its grammatical flexibility. The course focuses on understanding the distinction between al-Fiʿl al-Mabnī (the fixed verb) and al-Fiʿl al-Muʿrab (the inflected verb), enabling students to recognize how verbs behave grammatically in different contexts.

Students will learn that most Arabic verbs are inherently mabnī, meaning their endings remain fixed regardless of their grammatical role, while the muḍāriʿ (present tense verb) can become muʿrab, with its ending changing according to grammatical factors such as particles of rafʿ, naṣb, and jazm. The class will explore the signs of inflection, the particles that affect the muḍāriʿ verb, and the practical application of these rules in Qur’anic and classical Arabic texts.

Through examples, parsing exercises, and guided analysis, students will gain confidence in identifying whether a verb is mabnī or muʿrab and explaining the grammatical reasons behind its form.