Breakdown of كادت حبكة المأساة تنتهي بسرعة.
الal
the
بbi
by, with (attached)
انتهىintahâ
to finish
سرعةsur'a
speed
كادkâda
to almost do
حبكةhabka
plot
مأساةma'sâh
tragedy
Questions & Answers about كادت حبكة المأساة تنتهي بسرعة.
Why is the present tense verb تنتهي used when the English translation says 'ended'?
The verb كادت (almost / was on the verge of) acts similarly to كان (was). It requires a present tense verb as its main action to show what almost happened. Because كادت is in the past tense, the entire phrase is understood in the past: 'almost ended.'
Why does the first verb take the feminine form كادت?
It must agree with the subject of the sentence, حبكة (plot). Since حبكة ends in a taa marbuta (ة) and is feminine, the verb gets the feminine past-tense ending ـت.
Why doesn't حبكة have the definite article الـ if the translation says 'the plot'?
This is an Idafa (possession/construct) phrase: حبكة المأساة (the plot of the tragedy). In Arabic, the first word in this relationship never takes الـ (al-). It becomes definite automatically because the second word, المأساة, has it.
How does the word بسرعة form the adverb 'quickly'?
Arabic doesn't have a direct suffix for adverbs like '-ly' in English. Instead, it often uses the preposition بـ (with) attached to a noun. Here, بـ attached to سرعة (speed) literally means 'with speed,' which translates naturally to 'quickly.'
Learn كادت حبكة المأساة تنتهي بسرعة and more in Arabic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free