Question 1

How does the compound particle قلما work here, and why is it followed by the present tense verb أستاء?

Accepted Answer

The word قلما combines the verb قلّ (to be little/rare) with the particle ما. The ما stops it from behaving like a normal verb and allows it to introduce a verbal clause. While you will often see قلما followed by a past-tense verb to express a general truth, Modern Standard Arabic frequently uses it with the present tense (like أستاء here) to describe an ongoing habit.

Question 2

What is the root of أستاء, and why do we use the preposition من with it?

Accepted Answer

أستاء (I am displeased) is a Form VIII verb from the hollow root س-و-ء, which relates to badness (like the word سيء). In Arabic, this verb specifically pairs with the preposition من (from). Literally, you are displeased "from" someone, even though in English we say displeased "with" them.

Question 3

Why isn't there a verb for "making" or "doing" in the phrase تتعمد الخطأ?

Accepted Answer

The verb تعمّد (Form V) means "to do something intentionally" or "to intend". Instead of adding a verb for "to make", Arabic simply takes the noun of the action as the direct object. Literally, لا تتعمد الخطأ means "she does not intend the mistake," which translates naturally as "she doesn't intentionally make a mistake."

Question 4

Why does the sentence use لأنها instead of لأن هي for "because she"?

Accepted Answer

The word لأنّ is a combination of the preposition لـِ (for) and أنّ (that). Because أنّ is one of the "sisters of Inna" (particles that introduce nominal sentences), its subject must be an attached pronoun (like ـها) or a noun. It cannot be an independent pronoun like هي.

قلما أستاء من زميلتي، لأنها لا تتعمد الخطأ.

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