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اختبأ الولد وراء جذع الشجرة.

اختبأ الولد وراء جذع الشجرة.ikhtaba'a al-waladu warâ'a jidh'i ash-shajarati.
The boy hid behind the tree trunk.
From Lesson 332:Intense color and defect verbs (افْعَلَّ)·Arabic (Modern Standard)

Questions & Answers about اختبأ الولد وراء جذع الشجرة.

Why is the hamza at the end of اختبأ written on an alif (أ)?
In Arabic, the seat of a hamza at the very end of a word is determined only by the short vowel on the letter immediately preceding it. Because the ب (ba') has a fatha (اختَبَأَ - ikhtaba'a), the hamza sits on an alif.
What form is the verb اختبأ, and how does it change the root meaning?
It is a Form VIII verb (اِفْتَعَلَ), built from the root خ-ب-أ (to conceal or hide something). Form VIII often makes a verb reflexive. So while Form I خبأ means 'to hide something else', Form VIII اختبأ means 'to hide oneself'.
What case ending should go on the word جذع (trunk)?
It takes a kasra (genitive case) for two overlapping reasons. First, it directly follows the spatial adverb وراء (behind), which forces the next word into the genitive. Second, it is the first part of an Idafa (possessive construction) with الشجرة (the tree).
Could I use خلف instead of وراء for 'behind'?
Yes, خلف (khalfa) and وراء (waraa'a) are generally interchangeable when talking about physical locations. وراء is slightly more common when talking about being hidden out of sight, making it a great fit here, but خلف would be perfectly correct too.

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