Question 1

The dictionary form for "to give" ends in a weak letter. Why doesn't أعطت have one?

Accepted Answer

The base "he" form of the verb is أعطى (he gave), which is a Form IV verb ending in a weak letter (alif maqsurah). When we add the feminine past tense ending ـت to make it "she gave", the weak letter is dropped to avoid having two silent consonants in a row. Therefore, it becomes أعطَت (a'Tat).

Question 2

Why is "to the dog" written as للكلب instead of لالكلب?

Accepted Answer

When you attach the preposition لـ (to/for) to a definite word that starts with الـ (al-), the ا (alif) is completely dropped in spelling. So, لـِ + الكلب becomes لِلكلب (li-l-kalb). This is a special spelling rule just for the preposition لـ.

Question 3

The sentence uses لـ (to) for the dog. Could I word it without the preposition, like "gave the dog an injection"?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Just like in English, the verb أعطى can take two direct objects. You could absolutely say أعطت الطبيبة البيطرية الكلبَ حقنةً (literally "The vet gave the dog an injection"). Using لـ (to) is also perfectly correct and is just another way to phrase it, which puts slightly more emphasis on the recipient.

Question 4

How can I tell that الطبيبة البيطرية is an adjective phrase and not an Idafa (possessive relationship)?

Accepted Answer

You can tell because both words have the definite article الـ. In an Idafa (like "the doctor's dog"), the first word never takes الـ. Because both الطبيبة and البيطرية are definite, as well as being feminine and singular, they match perfectly. This matching tells you that البيطرية (veterinary) is an adjective describing الطبيبة (the doctor).

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