Learn Arabic (Modern Standard): سمعنا زئير الأسد يقترب من الخيمة. - We heard the lion's roar approaching the tent.

In Arabic, the Form VIII verb اقترب (to approach or draw near) strictly pairs with the preposition من. While English says "approaching the tent," Arabic expresses this as getting closer in relation to or from the tent. Using a direct object or إلى here would be grammatically incorrect.

Why is "approaching" translated with the present-tense verb يقترب rather than an active participle or gerund?

After verbs of perception like سمع (to hear) or رأى (to see), Arabic typically uses a present-tense verb to express an ongoing action happening at that moment. Because the object it refers to (زئير الأسد, the lion's roar) is definite, this verb phrase functions as a circumstantial clause (a Haal clause), describing the state of the roar when it was heard.

If I were reading this with full case endings (tashkeel), what vowel goes on the end of زئير?

It takes a fatha (زئيرَ, za'īra). It is the direct object of the verb سمعنا (we heard), so it must be in the accusative case (mansub). Because it is the first word in an Idafa (possession) construction, it drops the tanween (the "n" sound) and takes just the single short vowel.

Why is the hamza in زئير (roar) written on a yaa' shape (ـئـ)?