Breakdown of كم كلمة كتبت في الرسالة؟
فيfî
in / about, regarding
رسالةrisâla
letter / message
كتبkataba
to write
كمkam
how many
كلمةkalima
word
Questions & Answers about كم كلمة كتبت في الرسالة؟
Why does the Arabic sentence use the singular word كلمة (word) instead of the plural for "words"?
In Arabic, the question word كم (how many) is always followed by a singular noun. Even though we translate it as "how many words" in English, the Arabic literally says "how many word".
How do I know if the verb كتبت means "you wrote" to a male or a female?
Without written vowel marks, the spelling is exactly the same for both! You pronounce it katabta when talking to a man, and katabti when talking to a woman. The context of the conversation tells you which one it is.
Where is the word for "did" in this question?
Arabic does not use a helper verb like "did" to make a question in the past tense. The verb كتبت simply means "you wrote", and putting the question word كم at the start is enough to ask "did you write".
I've seen الرسالة translated as "letter" before. Can it also mean a digital message?
Yes! الرسالة is a versatile word. It traditionally means a physical "letter", but in modern Arabic, it is also the standard word for an SMS text, an email, or any other kind of written message.
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