Auxiliary Verbs (الأفعال المُساعِدة)
In Arabic, there are certain verbs that work like “helper verbs” — they don’t usually appear on their own but help to describe how an action happens. They are similar to how we use “do” or “have” in English, but in Arabic, they often take on a different meaning when used alone.
For example, the verb أَخَذَ (ʾakhadha) can mean “to take” on its own. But when used with another verb, it can mean “he began to…”
These verbs usually come before the main verb, and the subject (doer) is placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.
١. Inchoative Verbs (أفعال البِداية)
These verbs express the start of an action. They are followed by a verb in the imperfect tense (المضارع).
Examples (أمثلة):
Verb Meaning Example with ḥarakāt
أَخَذَ (u) He began to… أَخَذَ يُسْرِعُ فِي المَشْيِ
أَصْبَحَ (a) He began to… / He became أَصْبَحَ التَّلَامِيذُ يَكْتُبُونَ
بَدَأَ (u) He began to… بَدَأَ الْمُعَلِّمُ يَشْرَحُ الدَّرْسَ
جَعَلَ (u) He started to… جَعَلَ الطِّفْلُ يَبْكِي
صَارَ (u) He started to… / He became صَارَ الطَّقْسُ بَارِدًا
Examples in Sentences (مَعَ الجُمَل):
• أَخَذَ سُلُوكُهُ يَسْتَرْعِي ٱنْتِبَاهَ زُمَلَائِهِ فِي ٱلْكُلِّيَّةِ.
His behavior had begun to attract the attention of his colleagues.
• بَدَأَ ٱلْمُدَرِّسُ يَصْرُخُ عِنْدَمَا أَدْرَكَ أَنَّ جَمِيعَ ٱلطُّلَّابِ لَمْ يُؤَدُّوا وَاجِبَهُمْ.
The teacher started to shout when he realized none of the students had done their homework.
• سَتَجْعَلُ ٱلْعَرَبُ يُقَدِّمُونَ تَنَازُلَاتٍ جَدِيدَةً.
The Arabs will make new concessions.
٢. Possibility and Probability (الإِمْكَانِيَّة وَالِاحْتِمَال)
These verbs are used when we want to express possibility, probability, or uncertainty about something. They are often followed by a verb in the imperfect tense (فِعْل مُضَارِع).
Main Verbs in This Group:
Verb Meaning Example with ḥarakāt
أَوْشَكَ (yūshiku) He is about to… / Almost… أَوْشَكَ الْقِطَارُ أَنْ يَصِلَ
كَادَ (kāda) Almost / Nearly كَادَ الطِّفْلُ يَسْقُطُ
عَسَى (ʿasā) Perhaps / Hopefully عَسَى اللهُ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ لَنَا
رُبَّمَا (rubbamā) Maybe / Perhaps رُبَّمَا تَنْجَحُ فِي ٱلْاِخْتِبَارِ
Examples in Sentences (أمثلة في جمل):
• أَوْشَكَ الْمَطَرُ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ.
It’s about to rain.
• كَادَ الْوَلَدُ يَقَعُ فِي الْبِئْرِ.
The boy almost fell into the well.
• عَسَى اللهُ أَنْ يُحَقِّقَ لَنَا آمالَنَا.
May Allah fulfill our hopes.
• رُبَّمَا نُسَافِرُ غَدًا.
Maybe we will travel tomorrow.
Notes (مُلَاحَظَات):
• أَوْشَكَ and كَادَ are often followed by أَنْ + فعل مضارع (imperfect verb).
• عَسَى is often used in religious or formal expressions.
• رُبَّمَا is followed directly by a فعل مضارع or اسم (noun).
٣. Beginning and Continuation of Action (الشُّرُوع وَالاِسْتِمْرَار)
These verbs are used to show that someone starts doing something or continues doing it. They are followed by a verb in the imperfect tense (فِعْل مُضَارِع).
Main Verbs in This Group:
Verb Meaning Example with ḥarakāt
جَعَلَ Began / Started جَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ يَصِيحُ
طَفِقَ Started suddenly طَفِقَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ تَبْكِي
أَخَذَ Started / Began أَخَذَ الطِّفْلُ يَضْحَكُ
بَدَأَ Began / Started بَدَأَ التِّلْمِيذُ يَكْتُبُ
اِنْهَمَكَ Became deeply involved اِنْهَمَكَ الطُّلَّابُ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ
ظَلَّ Kept on / Continued ظَلَّ الْمُعَلِّمُ يَشْرَحُ
Examples in Sentences (أمثلة في جمل):
• جَعَلَ الْوَلَدُ يُغَنِّي بِنَغْمَةٍ جَمِيلَةٍ.
The boy began to sing with a beautiful tune.
• طَفِقَ الرَّجُلُ يَجْرِي فِي الطَّرِيقِ.
The man suddenly started running on the road.
• أَخَذَتِ الْبِنْتُ تَكْتُبُ رِسَالَةً.
The girl began writing a letter.
• بَدَأَ الْمُدَرِّسُ يُعَلِّمُ الدَّرْسَ.
The teacher began teaching the lesson.
• اِنْهَمَكَ الشُّبَّانُ فِي العَمَلِ.
The young men were deeply involved in work.
• ظَلَّ الطِّفْلُ يَلْعَبُ طَوِيلًا.
The child kept on playing for a long time.
Notes (مُلَاحَظَات):
• All these verbs are followed by a فعل مضارع (imperfect verb).
• اِنْهَمَكَ is often followed by فِي + a مصدر (verbal noun) or noun.