Learn Arabic (Modern Standard): مديرة الشركة قلما تتسرع في عملها. - The company manager rarely acts hastily in her work.

قلما (qallama) is formed by combining the verb قل (to be rare or few) with the particle ما. This ما acts as a buffer that stops قل from needing a regular noun subject. Because of this, the phrase can be followed directly by a verbal clause, like تتسرع (she acts hastily), to seamlessly express that 'it is rare that she acts hastily.'

Why is the subject مديرة الشركة placed at the very beginning of the sentence?

This creates a nominal sentence to establish مديرة الشركة (the company manager) as the main topic. The particle قلما functions as a fixed unit that usually sits right before the verb it modifies. Because the internal grammatical structure of قلما expects a verbal clause rather than a noun subject, putting the person first as the topic is the most natural way to structure the sentence.

Does the particle قلما affect the grammatical case or mood of the verb تتسرع?

No, it does not. Unlike particles such as أن (which triggers the subjunctive mood) or لم (which triggers the jussive), قلما has no grammatical effect on the verb's ending. The verb تتسرع (tatasarra'u) remains in the standard present indicative state, taking a regular damma on its final letter.

How does the verb تتسرع get its specific meaning of 'acting hastily'?