Breakdown of لو عرف الشقر الحقيقة، لكان مقصدهم مختلفا.
الal
the
عرفarafa
to know
حقيقةhaqîqa
truth
كانkâna
to be
همhum
their / them (object)
شقرshuqrun
blonde (pl.)
مختلفmukhtalif
different
لوlaw
if (hypothetical/unreal)
لla
then (conditional response)
مقصدmaqsid
purpose
Questions & Answers about لو عرف الشقر الحقيقة، لكان مقصدهم مختلفا.
How does the word مقصدهم function as a Mim-prefix verbal noun here, and what is its root?
It comes from the root ق ص د (to intend or aim). The word مَقْصَد (maqsad) is a Mim-prefix verbal noun on the مَفْعَل (maf'al) pattern. It acts just like the regular verbal noun قَصْد (qasd, meaning intention or purpose) but is often chosen for stylistic variety. Here, with the pronoun suffix هم (hum), it means their purpose.
Why is there a لَـ attached to كان in the second half of the sentence?
This لَـ (la) is the answering particle used in hypothetical sentences. When a conditional sentence starts with لو (law), which introduces an impossible or contrary-to-fact condition in the past, the result clause usually begins with لَـ attached to a past tense verb. Together, لكان translates to would have been.
The word for the blond men is الشقر. What is the singular form, and why does it use this specific plural pattern?
The masculine singular is أشقر (ashqar). Adjectives describing colors and inherent physical traits follow the أفعل (af'al) pattern, and their plurals consistently follow the فُعْل (fu'l) pattern. Therefore, the plural of أشقر is شُقْر (shuqr).
Why does the sentence end with مختلفا in the accusative case?
It is the predicate (khabar) of the verb كان (kaana). The verb كان always takes a nominative subject, which in this sentence is مقصدهم (maqsaduhum), and an accusative predicate, which makes the word for different take the accusative ending as مختلفا (mukhtalifan).
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