Breakdown of كاد الكليب يختبئ وراء الشجيرة.
الal
the
وراءwarâ'a
behind
اختبأikhtaba'a
to hide (oneself)
كادkâda
to almost do
شجيرةshujayra
bush
كليبkulayb
puppy
Questions & Answers about كاد الكليب يختبئ وراء الشجيرة.
How does the word الكليب mean "puppy" using the diminutive pattern?
The base word for dog is كلب (kalb). To make it diminutive (expressing smallness or affection), we use the pattern فُعَيْل (fu'ayl). By applying this pattern to the root letters k-l-b, we get كُلَيْب (kulayb), meaning "little dog" or "puppy".
الشجيرة translates to "the bush," but how does it relate to the diminutive pattern?
الشجيرة (ash-shujayrah) is the diminutive form of شجرة (shajarah), meaning "tree." Because the original word is feminine and ends in a taa' marbuutah, its diminutive form takes the feminine pattern فُعَيْلة (fu'aylah), giving us "little tree" or "bush".
Why is the verb يختبئ in the present tense when the sentence translates to the past tense ("almost hid")?
The verb كاد (kaada) means "was about to" or "almost did." Grammatically, it acts like كان (kaana) but requires its predicate to be a present tense verb. So, كاد sets the past tense time frame, and the present tense يختبئ completes the action the puppy was on the verge of doing.
Why is the final hamza in يختبئ written on the letter yaa' (ئ) instead of sitting by itself?
Learn كاد الكليب يختبئ وراء الشجيرة and more in Arabic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free