Question 1

How exactly does the phrase بالإضافة إلى work to mean "in addition to"?

Accepted Answer

It is made of three parts: the prefix بـ (with/by), the noun الإضافة (the addition), and the preposition إلى (to). Because the phrase ends with the preposition إلى, the noun that follows it (الشهادة) must be in the genitive case, meaning it would take a "kasra" (an "i" sound) at the end if you pronounce the full formal vowels.

Question 2

Could I use فضلاً عن instead of بالإضافة إلى in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can! Saying أرسلت السيرة الذاتية فضلاً عن الشهادة is perfectly correct and carries the same meaning. Just remember that عن is also a preposition, so the word following it (الشهادة) will still take the genitive case, just as it does after إلى.

Question 3

Why does "resume" translate to two words (السيرة الذاتية) here?

Accepted Answer

In Arabic, a resume or CV is expressed as a noun-adjective phrase. السيرة means "the biography" or "the journey", and الذاتية is an adjective meaning "self" or "personal". So, a resume is literally a "personal biography". Because the noun is definite, the adjective must also take the definite article الـ to match it.

Question 4

Why does the verb أرسلت start with a written hamza (أ) rather than a plain alif?

Accepted Answer

The verb أرسل (to send) is a Form IV verb. A key rule for Form IV verbs is that their past tense starts with a "cutting hamza" (hamzat qat'). This means the "a" sound is a permanent part of the word that must always be written and pronounced, unlike the drop-away "connecting hamza" (hamzat wasl) found at the start of the definite article or some other verb forms.

أرسلت السيرة الذاتية بالإضافة إلى الشهادة.

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