Questions & Answers about وصلنا إلى الفندق عن طريق القرية.
Why does this sentence use إلى after وصلنا instead of a word for 'at' or 'in'?
In Arabic, the verb وصل (to arrive) pairs with the preposition إلى (to) to indicate a destination. While English speakers say 'arrived at' or 'arrived in', Arabic treats arriving as a motion toward a place, so you are literally saying 'we arrived to the hotel'.
Is عن طريق a fixed phrase for 'by way of'?
Yes! Literally, it translates to 'from the road of'. However, عن طريق is a very common fixed expression used to mean 'via', 'through', or 'by way of'. It is used for physical routes, as in this sentence, and also for abstract methods like sending a message via email.
Why isn't there an ال (the) attached to طريق if we are saying 'the way of the village'?
This happens because طريق القرية forms an Idaafa (a possessive or 'of' construction). In an Idaafa, the first word (طريق) never takes the definite article ال, but it is still understood as definite because the second word (القرية) is definite.
Could I use بواسطة to mean 'by' in this sentence instead?
It wouldn't sound natural here. The word بواسطة is generally used for a tool or means of transportation (like 'by car' or 'by bus'). Because the village is a route or location you travel through rather than a vehicle you use, عن طريق is the correct phrase.