Question 1

Why is the noun تعرقا used at the end, and why is it translated as 'really'?

Accepted Answer

This is the Cognate Accusative (المفعول المطلق). It is the verbal noun (masdar) of the sentence's main verb, تعرق (he sweated). By repeating the verb's action as an indefinite noun without any modifying adjectives, it strongly emphasizes that the action actually happened or was intense. In English, we often express this emphasis with words like 'really' or 'certainly.'

Question 2

Are the verb تعرق and the noun تعرقا pronounced with the exact same internal vowels?

Accepted Answer

No, the internal vowels differ slightly because both are Form V words. The past tense verb is تَعَرَّقَ (ta'arraqa) with a fatha on the doubled 'raa'. To make the verbal noun, you change that fatha to a damma, making it تَعَرُّق (ta'arruq). It is written with an alif at the end here (تعرقا) to carry the accusative tanwin (-an) required for the Cognate Accusative.

Question 3

If we wanted to say 'The athlete sweated heavily', how would the use of تعرقا change?

Accepted Answer

You would add an adjective after it, such as تعرقا شديدا (heavy sweating). When you add an adjective, the Cognate Accusative stops being 'for emphasis' and instead describes the type or extent of the action. The lesson here focuses on the emphasis form, which requires the verbal noun to stand completely alone without an adjective.

Question 4

Could we just use كثيرا (a lot) instead of the Cognate Accusative here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, saying تعرق الرياضي كثيرا (the athlete sweated a lot) is grammatically correct and very common in everyday speech. However, using the Cognate Accusative تعرقا is a more elegant, literary Arabic structure. It draws attention to the physical act of sweating itself to provide that emphasis.

تعرق الرياضي في الماراثون تعرقا.

Breakdown of تعرق الرياضي في الماراثون تعرقا.

Questions & Answers about تعرق الرياضي في الماراثون تعرقا.

Learn تعرق الرياضي في الماراثون تعرقا and more in Arabic