Voice
Before voice, there is a prior question to settle about any verb: where does the action stop?
| The term | In English | Which means |
|---|---|---|
| فِعْل لَازِم | Intransitive | the meaning stops at its doer — it needs a fā'il and nothing further |
| فِعْل مُتَعَدٍّ | Transitive | it passes beyond its doer onto an object, and puts that object into nasab |
Only the transitive verb can be built for the passive.
That first answer decides what is possible next. A verb whose meaning stops at its doer has nothing to turn around. Only a verb that passes on to an object can be rebuilt the other way.
Rebuilding it is what voice means — name the doer, or drop him and let the object step into his place.
| The term | What it does | For example |
|---|---|---|
| مَبْنِيّ لِلْمَعْلُوم | Active — the doer is named | كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدٌ الدَّرْسَ |
| مَبْنِيّ لِلْمَجْهُول | Passive — the doer is dropped and something stands in his place | كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ |
The verb itself changes shape. Nothing is added to it — the vowels inside it are what carry the difference.
Can any verb be made passive?
No. Only a verb that passes its action onto an object can be turned around, because it is the object that steps into the doer's empty place. A verb whose meaning stops at its doer has nothing to promote.
Next in the guideمَبْنِيّ لِلْمَعْلُومActive voice →Updated