يَكْتُبُ
yaktubu
he writes
Action verbs in context
Visual verb bank
27 present-tense actions
The colours group related ideas. Each Arabic form means ‘he …’; use the information icon for an occasional extra note.
Learning and languageActions used for reading, writing, understanding, and teaching.12 actions
يَقْرَأُ
yaqraʾu
he reads / recites
يَشْرَحُ
yashraḥu
he explains
يَفْهَمُ
yafhamu
he understands
يُصَحِّحُ
yuṣaḥḥiḥu
he corrects
يُفَكِّرُ
yufakkiru
he thinks
يَسْأَلُ
yasʾalu
he asks
يُجِيبُ
yujību
he answers / responds
يَتَعَلَّمُ
yataʿallamu
he learns
يُذَاكِرُ
yudhākiru
he studies / revises
The shaddah is essential; without it the reading changes.
يُعَلِّمُ
yuʿallimu
he teaches
For ‘he listens’, use يَسْتَمِعُ.
يَسْمَعُ
yasmaʿu
he hears
Movement and positionActions that describe where someone goes or how they move.6 actions
It can also describe rising from a seated position.
يَقِفُ
yaqifu
he stands / stops
يَجْلِسُ
yajlisu
he sits
يَدْخُلُ
yadkhulu
he enters
يَخْرُجُ
yakhruju
he exits / leaves
يَمْشِي
yamshī
he walks
يَجْرِي
yajrī
he runs
Everyday classroom actionsPractical actions for objects, pictures, and classroom activities.9 actions
يَفْتَحُ
yaftaḥu
he opens
يُغْلِقُ
yughliqu
he closes
يَرْسُمُ
yarsumu
he draws
يُلَوِّنُ
yulawwinu
he colours
يَأْخُذُ
yaʾkhudhu
he takes
يُعْطِي
yuʿṭī
he gives
يُشِيرُ
yushīru
he points / indicates
يُشَاهِدُ
yushāhidu
he watches
يَمْسَحُ
yamsaḥu
he wipes
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الطَّالِبُ يَفْهَمُ الدَّرْسَ.
The student understands the lesson.
الطَّالِبُ يُذَاكِرُ الدَّرْسَ.
The student studies or revises the lesson.
الْمُدَرِّسُ يَشْرَحُ الدَّرْسَ.
The teacher explains the lesson.
الطَّالِبُ يَفْتَحُ الْبَابَ.
The student opens the door.
الطَّالِبُ يُشَاهِدُ الْمُحَاضَرَةَ.
The student watches the lecture.
الْمُدَرِّسُ يَسْأَلُ الطَّالِبَ.
The teacher asks the student.
الطَّالِبُ يُجِيبُ عَنِ السُّؤَالِ.
The student answers the question.
الْمُدَرِّسُ يَجْلِسُ عَلَى الْكُرْسِيِّ.
The teacher sits on the chair.
الطَّالِبُ يَتَعَلَّمُ اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ.
The student learns Arabic.
الْمُدَرِّسُ يَمْسَحُ السَّبُّورَةَ.
The teacher wipes the board.
الطَّالِبُ يَأْخُذُ الدَّفْتَرَ مِنَ الْمُدَرِّسِ.
The student takes the notebook from the teacher.