Question 1

How does the apposition work between المبنى and قبوه?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of بدل البعض من الكل (apposition of a part to the whole). Instead of using a standard possessive phrase, Arabic can state the 'whole' first as the main object (المبنى, the building), followed immediately by the 'part' (قبو, basement). The part must have a pronoun suffix (ـه) linking it back to the whole noun.

Question 2

What case ending does قبوه take?

Accepted Answer

It takes the accusative case (منصوب) with a fatha, making it pronounced qabwa-hu. An apposition (badal) always copies the grammatical case of the noun it replaces or clarifies. Since المبنى is the direct object of the verb تفقد (inspected), it is in the accusative case, so قبو must copy that accusative case.

Question 3

If المبنى is the direct object, why doesn't it have a fatha at the end to show the accusative case?

Accepted Answer

المبنى ends in an alif maqṣūra (ـى). Words ending in this letter cannot take short vowel markers for pronunciation reasons, so their case endings are implied (or 'assumed'). Even though you cannot see or hear the accusative marker on المبنى, it is grammatically accusative, which is why its apposition قبوه clearly shows the fatha.

Question 4

Could I just use an idafa construct and say تفقد المفتش قبو المبنى? What is the stylistic difference?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely! قبو المبنى is the standard idafa (possessive construct) way to say 'the basement of the building'. The apposition structure used in this sentence is simply a stylistic choice. It creates a slight emphasis: it brings the entire building to the listener's mind first as the object of inspection, and then zooms in specifically on the basement.

تفقد المفتش المبنى قبوه.

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