Questions & Answers about إذا رميت النرد، بدأ دورك.
Why are the verbs رميت and بدأ in the past tense when the English translation is in the present tense?
This is a major rule for Arabic conditionals! When you use إذا (if) for a real, possible situation, you almost always use past tense verbs for both the condition and the result. Even though they are grammatically in the past, إذا automatically shifts their meaning to the present or future.
Is رميت (you rolled) addressed to a male or a female here?
It can be either! Without short vowel marks, رميت can be read as ramayta (masculine) or ramayti (feminine). The written spelling is identical for both.
Why does the second part say بدأ دورك (began your turn) instead of دورك بدأ?
While both are understood, Arabic strongly prefers to start clauses with the verb. Putting the verb بدأ (began) before the subject دورك (your turn) is the standard and most natural word order for the result of a condition.
Do I pronounce the L sound in النرد (the dice)?
No, you skip the L sound. The letter Noon is a Sun letter, meaning the L in the definite article merges into it. You pronounce it as an-nard instead of al-nard.