LessonsLevel 20: Inflection of the Present VerbQuiz

Core definition: The present verb is nominative when free of a subjunctive or jussive governor, accusative after a subjunctive particle, and jussive after a jussive particle.
• A sound-ending present verb takes ḍammah in the nominative, fatḥah in the accusative, and sukūn in the jussive.
• The five verb forms retain their nūn in the nominative.
• The five verb forms drop their nūn in the accusative and jussive.
• A weak-final verb may drop its weak letter in the jussive.

Opening interactive controls...

Level 20: Inflection of the Present Verb

Classical Arabic syntax through clear rules and worked examples Read the bilingual lesson for Level 20: Inflection of the Present Verb and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. Inflection of the Present Verb: Core Idea

Core definition: The present verb is nominative when free of a subjunctive or jussive governor, accusative after a subjunctive particle, and jussive after a jussive particle.
• A sound-ending present verb takes ḍammah in the nominative, fatḥah in the accusative, and sukūn in the jussive.
• The five verb forms retain their nūn in the nominative.
• The five verb forms drop their nūn in the accusative and jussive.
• A weak-final verb may drop its weak letter in the jussive.

2. Inflection of the Present Verb: Key Terms

Key terms

Arabic termEnglish meaning
الْمَرْفُوعُnominative
الْمَنْصُوبُaccusative
الْمَجْزُومُjussive
الْأَفْعَالُ الْخَمْسَةُthe five verb forms

3. Inflection of the Present Verb: Worked Examples

Example and grammatical analysis

Arabic exampleMeaningGrammatical point
هُوَ يَضْرِبُHe strikes.nominative present verb
لَنْ يَضْرِبَHe will not strike.accusative present verb
لَمْ يَضْرِبْHe did not strike.jussive present verb
لَنْ يَفْعَلُواThey will not do.accusative through nūn deletion

4. Inflection of the Present Verb: Rules and Distinctions

Keep the rules distinct
• Rule 1: A sound-ending present verb takes ḍammah in the nominative, fatḥah in the accusative, and sukūn in the jussive.
• Rule 2: The five verb forms retain their nūn in the nominative.
• Rule 3: The five verb forms drop their nūn in the accusative and jussive.
• Rule 4: A weak-final verb may drop its weak letter in the jussive.

5. Inflection of the Present Verb: Review and Application

Lesson summary
• The present verb is nominative when free of a subjunctive or jussive governor, accusative after a subjunctive particle, and jussive after a jussive particle.
• هُوَ يَضْرِبُ: nominative present verb
• لَنْ يَضْرِبَ: accusative present verb
• لَمْ يَضْرِبْ: jussive present verb
• لَنْ يَفْعَلُوا: accusative through nūn deletion
Next step: Identify the governor, governed word, and case sign separately in each example.

Practice questions

Question 1: Core Idea

Which statement gives the core definition of this lesson?

  • nominative
  • accusative
  • jussive
  • The present verb is nominative when free of a subjunctive or jussive governor, accusative after a subjunctive particle, and jussive after a jussive particle.

Question 2: Terms and Meanings

Match each Arabic term with its correct meaning.

Question 3: Meaning of the Example

Choose the correct meaning of هُوَ يَضْرِبُ.

  • They will not do.
  • He strikes.
  • He will not strike.
  • He did not strike.

Question 4: Rule Check

Is this statement true or false? A sound-ending present verb takes ḍammah in the nominative, fatḥah in the accusative, and sukūn in the jussive.

  • True
  • False
  • Only with nouns
  • Only with verbs

Question 5: Examples and Meanings

Match each Arabic example with its correct meaning.

Question 6: Identify the Term

What is the correct meaning of الْمَرْفُوعُ?

  • jussive
  • the five verb forms
  • nominative
  • accusative

Question 7: Grammatical Analysis

Choose the correct grammatical analysis of لَنْ يَضْرِبَ.

  • accusative through nūn deletion
  • nominative present verb
  • accusative present verb
  • jussive present verb

Open the interactive quiz