Breakdown of الوجبات غالية، ومع ذلك المطعم مزدحم دائما.
الal
the
وwa
and
مطعمmat'am
restaurant
دائماdâ'iman
always
وجبةwajba
meal
مزدحمmuzdaḥim
crowded
غاليghâli
expensive
مع ذلكma'a dhâlika
nevertheless, even so
Questions & Answers about الوجبات غالية، ومع ذلك المطعم مزدحم دائما.
Why is the adjective غالية (expensive) in the singular feminine form when الوجبات (meals) is plural?
In Arabic, plural nouns that do not refer to humans are treated grammatically as feminine singular. Since الوجبات (meals) is a non-human plural, it takes the feminine singular adjective غالية.
What is the literal translation of the phrase ومع ذلك?
It literally translates to and with that (و is and, مع is with, and ذلك is that). This is a very common fixed expression used to link sentences, meaning even so, nevertheless, or however.
Why does the word دائما (always) end with the double dash mark (tanween fatha)?
That double mark is an ending that produces an -an sound. In Arabic, this ending is frequently added to the end of nouns or adjectives to turn them into adverbs of time or manner, changing the core meaning from constant to always.
Where are the verbs for are and is in this sentence?
They are implied because both halves of the sentence are nominal sentences, which means they start with a noun. Arabic does not use a present tense verb for is or are. Putting the subject and its description side by side, like المطعم مزدحم, perfectly translates to the restaurant is crowded.
Is the word مزدحم (crowded) related to the Arabic word for traffic?
Yes, they share the same three root letters (ز ح م) which deal with pushing, pressing, or crowding. You might already recognize the noun زحمة (traffic or crowd). The word مزدحم is an adjective form describing a place that is full of people.
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