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كان اللص البدين مختبئا وراء الباب.

كان اللص البدين مختبئا وراء الباب.kâna al-lissu al-badînu mukhtabi'an warâ'a al-bâbi.
The fat thief was hiding behind the door.
From Lesson 175:Past continuous states (كان + اسم الفاعل)·Arabic (Modern Standard)

Questions & Answers about كان اللص البدين مختبئا وراء الباب.

How does the active participle مختبئا work with كان in this sentence?
The active participle مختبئا here describes a continuous state rather than an action in progress. When paired with كان (was), it creates a past continuous state: the thief was in a state of hiding. This is often translated the same as a past continuous verb form, but using the active participle emphasizes the ongoing physical condition.
Why does مختبئا end with an extra alif?
It takes the accusative case because it is the predicate (the news) of كان. The predicate of كان always takes this case. Since مختبئا is indefinite, it gets the an sound (tanwin fatha) at the end, which in writing requires adding that extra alif.
Why does the adjective البدين have the definite article ال attached to it?
In Arabic, an adjective must strictly match the noun it describes in definiteness. Because the noun it modifies, اللص, is definite (meaning the thief), the adjective must also be definite, making it اللص البدين.
What is the grammatical relationship between وراء and الباب?
Spatial words like وراء (behind) create an Idafa (genitive or possessive phrase) with the noun that follows them. This means الباب is in the genitive case, behaving exactly like the second word in a phrase such as the key of the door.

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