Breakdown of تريد فاطمة أن تبدل كعب هذا الحذاء.
الal
the
هذاhâdhâ
this (m)
أرادarâda
to want
أنan
to (with verbs)
حذاءhithâ'
shoe
فاطمةfâtima
Fatima
بدلbaddala
to replace
كعبka'b
heel
Questions & Answers about تريد فاطمة أن تبدل كعب هذا الحذاء.
Why does the verb تبدل (tubaddila) end with an "a" sound?
It comes directly after the particle أن (an), which means "to". In Arabic, when a present tense verb follows أن, it shifts into the subjunctive mood. For a regular verb like this one, it means the final vowel becomes a fatha ("a" sound), making it تبدل (tubaddila) instead of its default state تبدل (tubaddilu).
How does the grammar work for the phrase كعب هذا الحذاء (the heel of this shoe)?
This is an Idafa (possession or "of" relationship) that includes a demonstrative pronoun. كعب (heel) is the owned item, acting as the first part of the Idafa. The word هذا (this) takes the place of the possessor. Finally, الحذاء (the shoe) follows with the definite article "al-" to clarify exactly what "this" refers to. Literally, it pieces together as "the heel of this, the shoe."
What type of verb is تبدل and how does that affect its meaning?
It is a Form II present tense verb from the root ب د ل (b-d-l). You can spot Form II verbs because their middle root letter (the د) is doubled with a shadda. Form II verbs often carry an active, causative meaning built on the root. Here, the base meaning of "substitute" becomes the active action "to replace" or "to change".
If I am reading this sentence out loud with full grammatical endings, does the subject فاطمة take a tanween ("un" sound)?
Learn تريد فاطمة أن تبدل كعب هذا الحذاء 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