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Questions & Answers about تكلم ببطء من فضلك.
Why does the verb تكلم look like a past tense verb here?
تكلم (takallam) is an imperative (command) verb meaning 'speak!'. For this specific type of verb pattern (Form V), the command looks exactly like the past tense verb تكلم (takallama - he spoke) when written without short vowels. You can tell it is a command here from the context of making a request.
How is the word ببطء (slowly) formed?
In Arabic, adverbs like 'slowly' are often made by combining the prefix بـ (bi-), which means 'with', and a noun. Here, it attaches to بطء (but'), which means 'slowness'. So literally, you are saying 'speak with slowness'.
How would I change this sentence if I am speaking to a woman?
You need to add the feminine suffix ـي to the command verb, making it تكلمي (takallami). You also change the pronunciation of the 'your' suffix at the end of من فضلك from an 'a' sound (fadlika) to an 'i' sound (fadliki).
I have also learned لو سمحت for 'please'. Can I use that here instead of من فضلك?
Yes, they are completely interchangeable in everyday Arabic. من فضلك literally means 'from your favor' or 'from your grace', while لو سمحت means 'if you allowed'. Both are perfectly polite ways to say 'please' at the end of a request.