Breakdown of كأن الوجود ظاهرة غريبة.
الal
the
غريبgharîb
strange
كأنka'anna
as if
وجودwujûd
existence
ظاهرةzhâhira
phenomenon
Questions & Answers about كأن الوجود ظاهرة غريبة.
Why does "existence" have the definite article in Arabic when it doesn't in the English translation?
In Arabic, abstract concepts and broad categories usually take the definite article الـ. So while we just say "existence" in English, Arabic requires الوجود (literally "the existence").
What kind of word is كأن and how does it change the grammar of the sentence?
كأن means "as if" or "as though." It is a particle known as one of the sisters of إن (Inna). When these words start a sentence, they force the subject following them into the accusative case, meaning the subject will take a fatha (a short "a" vowel).
If the subject changes case, how would I pronounce the hidden vowel on الوجود?
Because it is the subject of كأن, it takes the accusative case. You would pronounce it as al-wujuuda, adding a short "a" (fatha) sound to the final letter.
Why don't the words for "strange phenomenon" change their case like the subject does?
The phrase ظاهرة غريبة is the predicate of the sentence (the information about the subject). The rule for كأن and its sisters is that while the subject becomes accusative, the predicate stays in the default nominative case. So they both end with an "un" sound (tanween damma): thaahiratun ghareebatun.
Where is the word for "is" in this Arabic sentence?
There isn't one! Arabic does not use an equivalent for the present tense verb "to be." Instead, you simply place the subject (الوجود) and the predicate (ظاهرة غريبة) side by side to create what is called a nominal sentence.
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