Alternations of Modern Standard Arabic
| Alternation name | Coded? | Description | Examples | Verbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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C
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y | Stem shape (i)nCaCaCa (stem VII), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa (stem I). The derived form expresses the passive of the base form event. In the process of passivization the object of the verb (accusative noun phrase or prepositional phrase) is deleted. | 7 | |
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C
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y | Stem shape (i)CtaCaCa (stem VIII), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa (stem I), and marginally from verbs with stem shape 'aCCaCa (stem IV). The derived form expresses the reflexive meaning of the base form event. In the process of this derivation the object of the verb (accusative noun phrase or prepositional phrase) is deleted (see examples 47, 102 and 200). In some cases the direct object of the base form becomes an oblique (prepositional phrase) (see example 104). | 3 | |
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C
|
y |
Stem shape aCCaCA (stem IV), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa/CaCuCa (stem I). The derived form expresses causation of the base form event. The valency of the base verb is extended by an accusative object. |
14 | |
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U
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n |
the prepositional phrase in the construction: 1. V.subj[A] A-nom L-acc bi+T is upgraded to a second direct object: 2. V.subj[A] A-nom L-acc T-acc The 2nd construction is more neutral, in the 1st construction the PP is stressed. |
2 | |
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C
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y |
Stem shape taCāCaCa (stem VI), derived from verbs with stem shape CāCaCa (stem III) and marginally from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa/CaCuCa (stem I). The derived form expresses reciprocal actions which are performed by two (see examples 27, 37, 57, 90, 101, 129) or more subjects (see examples 24, 27, 35, 212) who act upon each other. If the subject is a singular NP the second agent of the action can be introduced by the preposition maʿa 'with' (see example 70). In this case the second agent is marked by genitive (all prepositions in MSA govern the genitive case). Two subject noun phrases are coordinated by the prefix-conjunction wa- 'and' attached to the second subject noun phrase (see examples 37, 57, 90, 101, 129). As the result of the derivation the valency of the basic verb is reduced > a direct object is deleted. |
9 | |
|
C
|
y |
Stem shape taCāCaCa (stem VI) derived from verbs with stem shape CāCaCa (stem III) and marginally from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa/CaCuCa (stem I) or from verbs with stem shape 'aCCaCA (stem IV). The derived form expresses the reflexive meaning of the base form event. In the process of reflexivization the object of the verb (accusative noun phrase or prepositional phrase) is deleted. |
1 | |
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U
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n |
With verbs that undergo this alternation, two constructions are possible: one with an object of preposition: V.subj[1] 1-nom min+2 and one with a direct object: V.subj[1] 1-nom 2-acc The two constructions have identical meaning. In case of ġādara 'leave' the one with the accusative object is more basic. |
2 | |
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C
|
y |
Stem shape CaCCaCa (stem II), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa/CaCuCa (stem I). The derived form expresses causation of the base event. In some cases, when both - causatives of stem II and stem IV - are derived from a verb of stem I, stem II has an intensive meaning in addition to causation. The valency of the base verb is extended by an accusative object |
11 | |
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C
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y | Stem shape taCaCCaCa (stem V), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCCaCa (stem II) marginally from stem shape CaCaCa (stem I). The derived form expresses the anticausative of the base form event. As the result of the derivation the direct accusative object of the base verb is deleted. | 4 | |
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C
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y |
Stem shape taCaCCaCa (stem V), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCCaCa (stem II), marginally from stem shape ʾaCCaCa (stem IV). The derived form expresses the reflexive of the base form event. As the result of the derivation the direct accusative object of the base verb is deleted. |
4 | |
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C
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y | Stem shape taCāCCaCa (stem VI), derived from verbs with stem shape CāCaCa (stem III) and marginally from stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa/CaCuCa (stem I). The derived form expresses the passive of the base form event. In the process of passivization the object of the verb (accusative noun phrase or prepositional phrase) is deleted. | 1 | |
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C
|
y |
Stem shape (i)CtaCaCa (stem VIII), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa/CaCuCa (stem I). The derived form expresses reciprocal actions which are performed by two or more subjects (see example 216) who act upon each other. The second agent of the action can be introduced by a noun phrase which is coordinated with the subject noun phrase by the prefix-conjunction wa- (see examples 67, 105), or it can be introduced by the prepositions maʿa 'with' (example 71) or bi- 'with' (example 76). The verb iʿtanaqa 'hug each other' is derived from ʿānaqa (III) 'hug so./sth.', because the verb of stem I does not exist. |
6 | |
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U
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n |
The prepositional phrase in the construction: V.subj[A] A-nom T-acc li+R (examples 86, 88) is upgraded to a direct object: V.subj[A] A-nom R-acc T-acc (examples 87, 206) According to a native speaker the construction V.subj[A] A-nom T-acc li+R is more common and therefore it is to be considered as basic (at least for the purpose of the database). The meaning of the two constructions is identical. |
2 | |
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U
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n |
The basic form V.subj[A] A-nom T-acc ʿalâ+L (partitive meaning) alternatives with the derived form V.subj[A] A-nom L-acc bi-T (holistic meaning) The second coding frame is identical to the basic form of the Locative alternation 1. |
2 | |
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C
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y | Stem shape (i)staCCaCa (stem X), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa/CaCuCa (stem I). The derived form expresses causation of the base form event. The valency of the base verb is extended by an accusative object | 3 | |
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U
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n |
With verbs that undergo this alternation, two constructions are possible: one with an object of preposition: V.subj[1] 1-nom bi+2 and one with a direct object: V.subj[1] 1-nom 2-acc This alternation is possible with verbs of recognition and experience (know, hear, comprehend). For the semantic difference of this alternations see examples 4 and 210, 177 and 209, 207 and 208. |
3 | |
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C
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y | Stem shape (i)nCaCaCa (stem VII), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa (stem I). The derived form expresses the anticausative meaning of the base form event. In the process of this derivation the object of the verb (accusative noun phrase or prepositional phrase) is deleted. | 3 | |
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C
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y | Stem shape (i)CtaCaCa (stem VIII), derived from verbs with stem shape CaCaCa/CaCiCa (stem I), and marginally from verbs with stem shape 'aCCaCa (stem IV). The derived form expresses the anticausative meaning of the base form event. In the process of this derivation the object of the verb (accusative noun phrase or prepositional phrase) is deleted. | 3 | |
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U
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n |
With verbs that undergo this alternation, two constructions are possible: V.subj[A] A-nom P-acc <-> V.subj[A] A-nom X-acc min+P |
1 | |
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U
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n |
Verbs denoting movement towards a goal or arrival e.g. ʾatâ ‘come to’, ǧāʾa ‘come to’, ḥaḍara ‘attend sth.’, waṣala ‘arrive at’, daḫala ‘enter sth.’, allow the alternation: V.subj[A] A-nom ʾilâ+G V.subj[A] A-nom G-acc with no significant semantic difference. The preposition ʾilâ often flags a noun phrase expressing inanimate and non-human goal whereas accusative is used predominantly with human arguments. The Verb d̠ahaba 'go' does not allow this alternation. |
1 | |
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U
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n |
With verbs that undergo this alternation, two constructions are possible: V.subj[A] A-nom P-acc <-> V.subj[A] A-nom In this group of verbs, we find action verbs with an agent as subject and patient or theme as object: ʾakala ‘eat (sth.)’(ex. 7 and 218), šariba ‘drink (sth.)’, ḥalaqa ‘shave (sth.) (ex. 48 and 202)’, ṭabaḫa ‘cook (sth.)’ (ex. 180 and 213), nabaḥa ‘bark (at so./sth.)’ etc. |
5 | |
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U
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n |
With verbs that undergo this alternation, tree constructions are possible: V.subj[A] A-nom T-acc V.subj[A] A-nom SOURCE-acc V.subj[A] A-nom min+SOURCE If both THEME and SOURCE are expressed in the sentence the only available construction is: V.subj[A] A-nom T-acc min+SOURCE For the purpose of the database the V.subj[A] A-nom T-acc min+SOURCE coding frame is to be considered as basic. |
1 | |
|
C
|
y |
The multipurpose preposition bi- serves productively as a transitivizer of motion-verb constructions. It occurs only with verbs of stem I. If it marks a human noun phrase it can be analysed as comitative: ǧāʾa bi- ‘come with’, d̠ahaba bi- ‘go with’, but it is used with inanimate entities as well. The coding frames of the alternation are: V.subj[A] A-nom <-> V.subj[A] A-nom bi-T |
3 | |
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U
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n |
With verbs that undergo this alternation, two constructions are possible: V.subj[A] A-nom P-acc <-> V.subj[A] A-nom In this group of verbs, we find action verbs with an agent as subject and patient or theme as object: ʾakala ‘eat (sth.)’(ex. 7 and 218), šariba ‘drink (sth.)’, ḥalaqa ‘shave (sth.) (ex. 48 and 202)’, ṭabaḫa ‘cook (sth.)’ (ex. 180 and 213), nabaḥa ‘bark (at so./sth.)’ etc. |
3 |