Hollow Verbs

Hollow verbs have a long vowel (ا, و or ي) in the middle: قال (to say, root q-w-l), باع (to sell, root b-y-ʿ), نام (to sleep). It changes with the ending:

• Before an ending that starts with a consonant (ت، نا، تم، ن), the vowel becomes short and disappears from writing: قلت (I said), زرنا (we visited), نمن (they, f., slept).
• With no ending, or an ending that starts with a vowel (-at for she, -ū for they), it stays: كان (he was), باعت (she sold), عادوا (they returned).
• In the present most verbs show و or ي (يقول، يزور، يبيع), while نام and خاف keep ا (ينام، يخاف).
• After لم, the jussive has no ending, so the long vowel drops: لم أقل (I did not say), لم يكن (he was not). With an ending it stays: لم يعودوا (they did not return).