Breakdown of علينا أن نساهم في العمل المدني.
الal
the
فيfî
in / about, regarding
على'ala
on / of (evidence of) / to (lie to someone) / for (difficult for someone)
ناnâ
our / us (object) / we (subject suffix on past verb)
عملamal
work
أنan
to (with verbs)
ساهمsâhama
to contribute
مدنيmadani
civil
Questions & Answers about علينا أن نساهم في العمل المدني.
Why is the verb نساهم in the subjunctive mood here, and what is its ending vowel?
It follows the particle أن, which forces the following present tense verb into the subjunctive mood (mansub). Therefore, it takes a fatha on the final letter, becoming نساهمَ (nusahima).
Does the verb ساهم always require the preposition في?
Yes, in Arabic you contribute 'in' something rather than 'to' something. The Form III verb ساهم pairs with the preposition في to mean 'to contribute to' or 'to participate in'.
How does the phrase علينا أن literally translate, and how does it express obligation?
Literally, it means 'upon us [is] that'. Combining the preposition على (on/upon) with an attached pronoun and the particle أن followed by a verb is the standard way to say 'must' or 'have to' in Modern Standard Arabic.
The word المدني translates to 'civil', but it looks related to the word for 'city'. Is there a connection?
Exactly. It comes from the noun مدينة (madinah), meaning 'city'. Adding the Nisba suffix (the doubled yaa at the end) creates the adjective مدني (madaniyy), which means 'civil' or 'civic'.
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