To translate an Arabic verb accurately, its lexical root is not enough. Person, number, gender, voice and negation all contribute to its meaning.
Word / formMeaning / explanation
مَا كَتَبُواthose men did not write; third-person masculine plural, negative active.
مَا مَنَعْتُمْyou men did not prevent; second-person masculine plural, negative active.
اِجْتَنَبْتُنَّyou women avoided; second-person feminine plural, affirmative active.
كُتِبَit was written; third-person masculine singular, affirmative passive.
The particle mā marks negation in the first two; ـتُنَّ marks feminine plural address in the third; passive stem vowels determine the fourth.