Learn Arabic (Modern Standard): يحتاج الأب إلى مصفاة للأرز. - The father needs a strainer for the rice.

The verb يحتاج (he needs) requires the preposition إلى before its object. Unlike English where the verb takes a direct object, in Arabic you literally express that someone is in need of something using this preposition.

Why is 'for the rice' spelled للأرز instead of keeping the alif from the definite article?

When the preposition لِـ (for) attaches to a definite noun starting with ال, the alif of the definite article is always dropped in spelling. Therefore, لِـ plus الأرز merges into للأرز. This is an early rule that learners often forget when the noun starts with a hamza.

What kind of noun is مصفاة and how is it formed?

It is an instrument noun (a word for a tool) derived from the root ص ف و (to be clear or pure). It uses a standard tool pattern, which takes this specific shape because the final root letter is weak. You see this same pattern in other tools like مكواة (an iron).

What is the root of the verb يحتاج?

The root is hollow: ح و ج. Because يحتاج is a Form VIII verb, it inserts a taa after the first root letter. The weak middle root letter (waw) transforms into an alif for pronunciation reasons, which is standard behavior for hollow Form VIII verbs.