Questions & Answers about نحن تدربنا مع الفريق أمس.
How do we know تدربنا is a Form V verb, and how does that change its meaning?
The verb تدربنا comes from the root letters د-ر-ب. Form V verbs in the past tense start with the prefix تـ (ta-) and have a doubled middle root letter (indicated by a shadda on the ر). Form V often makes an action reflexive. While the Form II verb درّب means to train someone else, Form V تدرّب means to train oneself or to practice.
How is the past tense conjugated for we in this Form V verb?
Even though it is a longer derived verb, Form V takes the exact same past-tense endings as basic verbs. You take the base تدرّب (tadarrab) and attach the standard we suffix ـنا (-na) to the end, resulting in تدربنا (tadarrabna).
Since تدربنا already means we trained, do we have to include نحن?
No, the verb تدربنا is perfectly clear on its own. Including the separate pronoun نحن at the beginning is optional. It is often done to add a little emphasis, translating closer to As for us, we trained.
Why is the word for with here مع instead of the prefix بـ?
The word مع means with in the sense of accompaniment or being alongside people, which fits practicing with the team (الفريق). The prefix بـ also means with, but it is used for instruments and tools, such as writing with a pen.