Question 1

Why do we use فيه تسوس to say 'has a cavity' instead of a verb for 'to have'?

Accepted Answer

Arabic doesn't have a direct verb for 'to have'. Instead, it uses prepositions. For physical possession or conditions located inside something, we use في (in) + a pronoun suffix. So فيه literally means 'in it', making the phrase 'in it [is] a cavity'.

Question 2

Why is the word تسوس placed after فيه? Shouldn't the subject come first?

Accepted Answer

In an Arabic nominal sentence, when the subject is indefinite (like تسوس, meaning 'a cavity') and the predicate is a prepositional phrase (like فيه, 'in it'), the prepositional phrase must come first. You cannot start the sentence with an indefinite noun here.

Question 3

لأن (because) is usually followed by a noun in the accusative case. Why doesn't هذا change its ending?

Accepted Answer

You are right that لأن makes the following noun accusative. However, demonstrative pronouns like هذا are fixed or 'indeclinable'. They don't change their word endings to show case, even though هذا is technically in the accusative position here.

Question 4

Does الضرس take the accusative case here because of لأن?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When a definite noun directly follows a demonstrative pronoun (like هذا الضرس, 'this molar'), it copies the grammatical case of that pronoun. Since هذا is in the accusative position after لأن, الضرس must also be accusative. If fully voweled, it would be الضرسَ with a fatha at the end.

Question 5

What form is the word تسوس?

Accepted Answer

تسوس (decay/cavity) is the verbal noun (masdar) of a Form V verb. Its root is س-و-س, which is related to decay, being worm-eaten, or going bad.

ذهبت إلى العيادة لأن هذا الضرس فيه تسوس.

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