Questions & Answers about أين مركز الشرطة؟
Why isn't there a word for "of" between مركز and الشرطة?
This combination is called an Idafa, which is the standard Arabic structure for showing possession or relationship. Instead of using a separate word for "of," Arabic simply places the two nouns right next to each other. So مركز الشرطة translates directly to "center [of] the police."
The English translation says "the police center," so why doesn't مركز have الـ (the) attached to it?
In an Idafa structure, the first word (here, مركز) is strictly forbidden from having the definite article الـ. It becomes definite automatically because it is linked to the second word, الشرطة (the police), which does have الـ.
How does the Genitive case apply to الشرطة in this sentence?
What vowel ending does مركز take, since it's also part of the Idafa?