Breakdown of يحتوي هذا الحاسوب على منفذ واحد فقط.
الal
the
هذاhâdhâ
this (m)
حاسوبhâsûb
computer
واحدwâhid
one / the same, uniform
فقطfaqat
only
احتوى علىihtawâ 'alâ
to contain
منفذmanfadh
port (computer, outlet)
Questions & Answers about يحتوي هذا الحاسوب على منفذ واحد فقط.
Why is the preposition على used here instead of connecting the verb directly to the noun?
The verb يحتوي (to contain or to comprise) is a phrasal verb that must be paired with the preposition على. While English simply uses a direct object (contains a port), Arabic literally says contains on a port.
Could I change the word order to يحتوي الحاسوب هذا instead of هذا الحاسوب?
Yes, both mean this computer. Placing the demonstrative before the definite noun (هذا الحاسوب) is the most standard and common structure in Modern Standard Arabic. Placing it after (الحاسوب هذا) is also grammatically correct but usually adds a bit of emphasis to the word this.
As a refresher, why does the number واحد come after the noun منفذ?
Unlike numbers 3 and up, the numbers 1 and 2 act as standard adjectives in Arabic. They must follow the noun they modify and agree with it in gender. Because منفذ (port) is masculine, the masculine adjective واحد follows it.
Does the word فقط always have to go at the very end of the sentence?
Generally, yes. In Arabic, فقط (only) strictly follows the word or phrase it modifies, which almost always places it at the end of the clause. You cannot place it before the verb or before the noun as you often do with only in English.
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