Doubled verbs (الفعل المضعّف) are verbs where the second and third root letters are identical. For example, the verb مَدَّ (he extended) comes from the root م-د-د, where the دال is repeated. These verbs undergo special conjugation changes to simplify pronunciation.
How Doubling Works
In many conjugation forms, the two identical letters merge into one letter with a shadda (ّ). This is why مَدَدَ becomes مَدَّ — the two daals combine. However, when a suffix beginning with a consonant is added, the letters may separate again:
- هُوَ: مَدَّ (he extended) — letters merged.
- هِيَ: مَدَّتْ (she extended) — letters stay merged before تْ.
- أَنَا: مَدَدْتُ (I extended) — letters separate before consonant suffix تُ.
- هُمْ: مَدُّوا (they extended) — letters merged.
- أَنْتَ: مَدَدْتَ (you extended) — letters separate.
In the Present Tense
In the present tense, doubled verbs keep their letters merged in most forms: يَمُدُّ (he extends). The letters only separate when a vowelless suffix forces them apart. The same principle applies to other derived forms as well.
Common doubled verbs include: مَرَّ (he passed), ضَلَّ (he went astray), حَجَّ (he performed Hajj), ظَنَّ (he thought), and رَدَّ (he returned/replied). Practice these frequently used verbs to build familiarity with the doubling patterns.
While doubled verbs require some additional attention, the rules governing them are consistent and straightforward. The key principle is simple: identical letters merge when possible and separate when the suffix demands it.