Lesson 90
Verb Measures IX and X
افعلّ استفعل
Form IX is used exclusively for colours and physical defects; Form X expresses seeking, requesting, or considering something. Both complete the ten-form Arabic verb system.
Forms IX and X
FormPatternUse/MeaningExample
IXاِفْعَلَّBecome a colour/defectاِحْمَرَّ (reddened)
XاِسْتَفْعَلَSeek / consider / deemاِسْتَغْفَرَ (sought forgiveness)
FormMasdarActive participle
IXاِفْعِلَالمُفْعَلّ
Xاِسْتِفْعَالمُسْتَفْعِل
اِسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Istaghfirū rabbakum thumma tūbū ilayhi Iyyāka naʿbudu wa-iyyāka nastaʿīn
"Seek forgiveness from your Lord then repent to Him." (11:3) "You alone we worship, You alone we ask for help." (1:5) اِسْتَغْفِرُوا (Form X: seek forgiveness) and نَسْتَعِينُ (Form X: seek help).
وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً اِحْمَرَّتِ الشَّمْسُ عِنْدَ الْغُرُوب
Wa-tarā l-jibāla taḥsabuhā jāmidatan Iḥmarrati sh-shamsu ʿinda l-ghurūb
"You see the mountains and think them solid." (27:88) The sun reddened at sunset. (اِحْمَرَّتْ = Form IX entering the state of redness)
- Form X (اِسْتِفْعَال) is one of the most productive forms: اِسْتَعَانَ (sought help), اِسْتَعَاذَ (sought refuge), اِسْتَجَابَ (responded), اِسْتَغْفَرَ (sought forgiveness).
- نَسْتَعِينُ (1:5): Form X present tense of اِسْتَعَانَ "we seek help" يَا before يَ drops, leaving نَسْتَعِين.
- مُسْتَشْفَى (hospital): Form X location/mafʿūl noun from شَفَى "place where healing is sought."
- Form X "deeming" meaning: اِسْتَعْظَمَ (found great/deemed great), اِسْتَحْسَنَ (deemed good/approved of) the internal assessment sense of Form X.
- Form IX is exclusively for colours and physical defects entering a new state: اِحْمَرَّ (reddened), اِخْضَرَّ (greened) the shaddah on the final root letter is the diagnostic.