Breakdown of أحب هذا المطعم، إلا أن أسعاره غالية.
الal
the
هذاhâdhâ
this (m)
مطعمmat'am
restaurant
هhu
his / him (object) / it (dummy pronoun after لأن)
سعرsi'r
price
أحبuhibbu
to love
غاليghâli
expensive
إلا أنillâ anna
however (except that)
Questions & Answers about أحب هذا المطعم، إلا أن أسعاره غالية.
How does إلا أن translate to "however" in this sentence?
Literally, إلا means "except" and أن means "that". Together, they form a common connector meaning "except that" or "however". It is a slightly more advanced alternative to using لكن (but) to show a contrast.
Does the word أن affect the grammar of the word أسعاره (its prices) that follows it?
Yes! أن is one of the "sisters of إن", a group of words that forces the following noun into the accusative case (mansub). If you were pronouncing the ending vowels, you would say أسعارَهُ (as'aara-hu) with an "a" (fatha) sound on the letter Raa.
Why is the adjective غالية (expensive) in the feminine singular form?
It describes أسعار (prices), which is the plural of سعر (price). A major rule in Arabic is that all non-human plurals are treated grammatically as feminine singular, so any adjectives modifying them must match that form.
Why does المطعم (restaurant) need the definite article ال here?
Because it follows the demonstrative word هذا (this). To say "this restaurant", the noun must be definite. If you left off the ال and said هذا مطعم, the meaning would change to a full sentence: "This is a restaurant."
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