Breakdown of هل ضبطت ساعتك البيولوجية؟
الal
the
هلhal
is / are (question marker)
كka
your / you (object)
ساعةsâ'a
watch / hour
ضبطdhabata
to set
بيولوجيbiyoolooji
biological
Questions & Answers about هل ضبطت ساعتك البيولوجية؟
Why does the adjective البيولوجية have the definite article الـ if ساعتك doesn't?
Even though ساعتك (your clock) doesn't start with الـ, it is grammatically definite because it has the possessive suffix ـك (your). Adjectives in Arabic must perfectly match their noun in definiteness, so البيولوجية requires الـ to match the definite status of the clock.
How do I know if this question is addressed to a man or a woman?
Without vowel marks (tashkeel), you can't tell from the text alone! If speaking to a male, you pronounce the verb and suffix with a short 'a' sound: hal dabaTta sā'ataka? For a female, both change to take a short 'i' sound: hal dabaTti sā'ataki?
The verb ضبطت is used for 'you set'. What is the literal meaning of this word?
The root ض-ب-ط relates to regulating, adjusting, or controlling something accurately. In everyday Arabic, it is the standard verb for 'setting' a clock, an alarm, or adjusting settings on your electronic devices.
Is البيولوجية just an English word written in Arabic letters?
Yes, it is a borrowed scientific term, pronounced al-biyūlūjiyya. Arabic adapts foreign terms like 'biology' by attaching standard Arabic endings. Here, the feminine adjective suffix ـيّة (iyya) is added so it functions as a proper Arabic adjective that agrees with the feminine noun ساعة.
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