ضَرَبَ and يَضْرِبُ belong to the same root but differ in form and temporal reference. The perfect refers to a past action, while the imperfect can refer to the present or future.
ضَرَبَ زَيْدٌ — Zayd struck.
يَضْرِبُ زَيْدٌ — Zayd strikes or will strike.
زَيْدٌ is the doer in both expressions. The distinguishing feature here is the verb form and time, not a change in the actor.
Opening interactive controls...
Comparing past and imperfect forms
Introduction to ʿIlm al-Ṣarf and Basic Terminology
ضَرَبَ and يَضْرِبُ belong to the same root but differ in form and temporal reference. The perfect refers to a past action, while the imperfect can refer to the present or future.
ضَرَبَ زَيْدٌ — Zayd struck.
يَضْرِبُ زَيْدٌ — Zayd strikes or will strike.
زَيْدٌ is the doer in both expressions. The distinguishing feature here is the verb form and time, not a change in the actor.