Breakdown of ليس على هذا الحذاء تخفيض.
الal
the
هذاhâdhâ
this (m)
على'ala
on / of (evidence of) / to (lie to someone) / for (difficult for someone)
ليسlaysa
to not be
حذاءhithâ'
shoe
تخفيضtakhfîd
discount
Questions & Answers about ليس على هذا الحذاء تخفيض.
Why is the Arabic word الحذاء singular when the English translation says 'these shoes'?
In Arabic, حذاء (shoe) is frequently used in the singular to refer to a single pair of footwear. Because it is a singular masculine noun, it takes the singular masculine demonstrative هذا (this). We translate it as 'these shoes' so it sounds natural in English.
Why is the word تخفيض (discount) placed at the very end of the sentence?
In Arabic, if the subject of a sentence is indefinite (like تخفيض, meaning 'a discount') and the predicate is a prepositional phrase (like على هذا الحذاء, meaning 'on these shoes'), the subject must be delayed. It has to come after the prepositional phrase.
How does ليس affect the case endings in this sentence?
ليس (is not) is used to negate nominal sentences. It usually changes the predicate to the accusative case (mansub). However, since the predicate here is a prepositional phrase (على هذا الحذاء), its case doesn't visibly change. The delayed subject (تخفيض) remains in the nominative case (marfu').
Could I use لا instead of ليس to say 'There is no discount'?
Yes, but the grammar would change. You could use the 'absolute negation' structure and say لا تخفيضَ على هذا الحذاء (There is absolutely no discount on these shoes), where the noun after لا takes a single fatha. Using ليس is simply the standard way to negate a typical 'There is' or 'There are' statement.
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