Breakdown of شمل الاستطلاع الديموغرافي ألف مشارك؛ خمسهم عازبون.
الal
the
مشاركmushârik
participant
همhum
their / them (object)
عازبâzib
single / unmarried
ألفalf
thousand
استطلاعistitlâ'
poll
شملshamala
to include
ديموغرافيdimughrâfi
demographic
خمسkhums
one fifth
Questions & Answers about شمل الاستطلاع الديموغرافي ألف مشارك؛ خمسهم عازبون.
How is the word for "a fifth" formed in this sentence?
It follows the pattern فُعْل (fu'l), which is the standard pattern for fractions from a third to a tenth. The root for five is خ-م-س, so "one-fifth" is خُمْس (khums). In this sentence, it is attached to the pronoun suffix ـهم (them), making it خُمْسُهم (khumsuhum), meaning "a fifth of them".
Why is the noun مشارك (participant) in the singular when the sentence refers to a thousand of them?
In Arabic, the numbers 100 (مئة) and 1,000 (ألف) as well as their multiples must be followed by a singular noun in the genitive case (majrur). Even though the meaning is plural, the grammatical rule requires the singular مشارك.
Why does عازبون (single) take the regular masculine plural ending ـون here?
The phrase خمسهم عازبون is a complete nominal sentence. خمسهم is the subject (mubtada'), and عازبون is the predicate (khabar). Predicates must be in the nominative case (marfu'), which is shown by the ـون ending for regular masculine plurals. It takes a plural form because it logically describes the multiple people that make up that "fifth".
What is the root and form of الاستطلاع (the poll)?
It is the Form X verbal noun (masdar) from the root ط-ل-ع, which is related to rising, appearing, or knowing. Form X often carries the meaning of seeking something. Therefore, استطلاع translates to seeking information or looking into a matter, making it the standard word for a poll or survey.
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