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Questions & Answers about السيارة سريعة.
Where is the word for "is" in this sentence?
In Arabic, simple descriptive sentences like this are called nominal sentences because they don't use a verb for "is" or "are" in the present tense. You simply put the subject (السيارة) and the descriptive adjective (سريعة) next to each other, and the "is" is automatically understood.
Why doesn't the word for fast (سريعة) start with "ال" (al-) like the car does?
This is exactly how Arabic shows the difference between a complete sentence and a descriptive phrase! If both words had "ال", the phrase would just mean "the fast car" (السيارة السريعة). By leaving "ال" off the adjective, it becomes the predicate, giving us the complete sentence "The car is fast."
Why does سريعة end with the letter taa marbuuta (ة)?
Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they are describing. Because the word for car (السيارة) is a feminine word (which we can tell by its own taa marbuuta at the end), the base adjective for fast (سريع) must also add a taa marbuuta to become feminine (سريعة).
Why don't we hear the "l" sound when pronouncing "السيارة"?
The letter seen (س) is a "sun letter." As a quick refresher: when a word starts with a sun letter, the "l" sound in the "ال" (al-) prefix blends into it. Instead of pronouncing it al-sayyaara, you double the "s" sound and say as-sayyaara.