A Lesson in the Ten Forms
I talk about my life, sometimes, with the customers who walk through my place of work. I currently work as a barista, and in between the lattes and hot chocolates, I tend to geek out about my projects. Which means, I have spent a fair amount of time explaining a critical component of Arabic in a minute and a half (or even less) with an espresso machine working hard in the background. Let's see if I can top it. In Arabic, there are the roots and the forms. A root is usually three letters long, sometimes four if it is irregular. The root on it's own has it's own meaning and when you apply one of the ten forms to it, then it takes on a new meaning. When applying a form, it means that sometimes extra letters or accents are added. When a form is applied to a root, then the root is transformed to take on a whole new meaning. It just depends on what form you are dressing it in. Keep in mind, that not every root can take on every form. Form 1 - Expresses the general meaning of the word, usually the root. Form 2 - The causative/intensive version of Form 1. Form 3 - Gives associative meaning to the Form 1 verb; describes someone doing the act in question to or with someone else. Form 4 - Usually a causative version of Form 1. Form 5 - The reflexive version of the Form 2 verb, or the intensive version of a Form 1. Form 6 - Usually a reflexive version of the form 3 verb. Form 7 - Usually a reflexive and/or passive version of the Form 1 verb. Form 8 - Often a reflexive version of the form 1 verb but it can sometimes just have it's own special meaning. Form 9 - A form ONLY for colours (reddens, blackens, etc.). Form 10 - Often a considerative version of the Form 1 verb; means "to consider or to deem someone to have the quality" of the form 1 verb in question. Often a requestive version of a form 1 verb; means "to request or to seek something" for oneself.
Help for explaining this concept comes from old Arabic notes and Arabic online study guides like this one.