Breakdown of سرت في كل مكان، حتى الهوة.
الal
the
فيfî
in / about, regarding
مكانmakân
place
كلkull
all / every
سارsâra
to walk
حتىhattâ
even
هوةhuwwa
abyss
Questions & Answers about سرت في كل مكان، حتى الهوة.
What case ending does الهوة take after حتى in this sentence?
It takes the genitive case, ending with a kasra. In this context, حتى means 'even' or 'up to and including' and can be analyzed either as a preposition or as a coordinating conjunction linking back to the genitive word مكان. In either analysis, الهوة becomes genitive.
The translation says 'even into the abyss', but there is no preposition for 'into' after حتى. Why is that?
The particle حتى connects the noun الهوة directly to the preceding action. Because the first part of the sentence establishes the context of walking in or into a place using في, you do not need to repeat the preposition after حتى. The inclusion is understood automatically.
Why is the first letter of سرت pronounced with a kasra instead of a fatha?
The verb for 'to walk' has the root letters س ي ر. Because it is a hollow verb, meaning its middle root letter is weak, that middle letter drops out when conjugated for the first person past tense. The kasra on the first letter remains as a footprint to remind us that the missing middle letter was a ي.
Why do we use كل مكان instead of a single word for 'everywhere'?
Arabic typically expresses the concept of 'everywhere' using the construction كل مكان, which is an idafa (possessive phrase) that literally translates to 'every place'. The word كل must always be followed by a noun in the genitive case.
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