246
Chapter 33
Verbs with a weak final
radical, doubly weak verbs
and weak verbs with hamzah
33.1 Verbs with a weak final radical و /w/ or ي /y/ are called defective
verbs نا ِقصََّأْل ِف ْع ُل ل. The final weak radical appears as
alif (^) ا /a ̄/ or
alif
maqs
̇
u ̄rah (^) ى /a ̄/ in the basic verb form (perfect, third person masc. sing.)
upon combining with the personal ending. The defective verbs fall into
the following categories according to their vocalization.
33.2 If the final radical is و /w/, then the basic form (perfect, third
person masc. sing.) ends in
alif (^) ا... /...a ̄/ (contraction of...a-w-a),
and the imperfect (in most persons) ends in و.ُ .. /...u ̄/ (contraction
of...u-w-u), e.g.
33.3 If the final radical is ي /y/ and the middle radical has the vowel
kasrah /i/, then the basic form ends quite regularly in َي .ِ .. /...iya/, but
the imperfect ends in
alif maqs
̇
u ̄rah (^) ى..َ. /...a ̄/ (contraction of ...a-y-u),
e.g.
Perfect (3. masc. sing.) Imperfect (3. masc. sing.)
َد َعا (for: َد َع َو َي ْد ُعو
da
a ̄, to invite da
awa) yad
u ̄
َغ َزا (for: َغ َز َو َي ْغ ُزو
g ̇aza ̄, to raid g ̇azawa) yag ̇zu ̄
Perfect (3. masc. sing.) Imperfect (3. masc. sing.)
َل ِق َي َيْل َقى (for: َيْل َق ُي
laqiya, to meet yalqa ̄ yalqayu)