Learn Arabic (Modern Standard): من الأفضل أن نذهب إلى الطبيب الآن. - It is better that we go to the doctor now.

In Arabic, impersonal expressions like 'It is better' or 'It is impossible' are usually formed using من followed by a definite adjective and the word أن (that). So, من الأفضل أن literally translates to 'From the best is that...', which is the natural way to say 'It is better to...' in Arabic.

Why does Arabic use نذهب (we go) instead of an infinitive like 'to go'?

Arabic does not have a direct equivalent to the English infinitive verb form. Instead, it expresses 'to do something' by using the particle أن (that) followed by a conjugated present tense verb. Since the action applies to the speakers, it is conjugated in the 'we' form as أن نذهب (that we go).

How does the particle أن affect the grammar of the verb نذهب?

The word أن forces the following present tense verb into the subjunctive mood. For a regular verb like نذهب, this means the vowel on the final letter changes from a standard 'damma' (u sound) to a 'fatha' (a sound). If fully vocalized, it is pronounced as nadhhaba rather than nadhhabu.

How is the word الأفضل (better/best) formed?

It is built on the root ف-ض-ل (f-D-l) using the standard Arabic pattern for comparatives and superlatives. This pattern adds an alif at the beginning to create words like أفضل (better/best) or أكبر (bigger/biggest).