Questions & Answers about شاهد الصديقان مباراة تنس.
Why does the sentence start with the singular verb شاهد if the subject is two people?
In an Arabic verbal sentence (where the verb comes first), the verb always stays in its singular form, even if the subject is dual or plural. It only needs to match the gender of the subject. Since الصديقان (the two friends) is masculine, we use the singular masculine verb شاهد.
Can I put the subject first and use Subject-Verb-Object order instead?
Yes, but if you put the subject first, the verb must fully match the subject in number. You would have to change the verb to the dual form and say الصديقان شاهدا مباراة تنس. The Verb-Subject-Object order used in this sentence is very common in Arabic and often easier for beginners because the verb just stays singular!
How does the word الصديقان mean exactly two friends?
The suffix ان (-aan) at the end of الصديقان is the Arabic dual ending. You take the singular word for 'the friend', الصديق, and add ان to refer to exactly two friends.
Why isn't there an Arabic word for 'a' in 'a tennis match'?
Arabic doesn't have an indefinite article like 'a' or 'an'. When a word doesn't have 'the' (ال) attached to it, it is usually indefinite by default. Also, مباراة تنس is a phrase called an Idafa (a noun relationship phrase) meaning 'a match of tennis'. You simply place the two nouns directly next to each other.