Breakdown of يجب أن تتوقف السفينة، وإلا سيهاجم القرصان.
الal
the
سsa
will (future prefix)
أنan
to (with verbs)
توقفtawaqqafa
to stop
يجبyajibu
must / has to
هاجمhâjama
to attack
سفينةsafîna
ship
وإلاwa'illâ
otherwise
قرصانqursân
pirate
Questions & Answers about يجب أن تتوقف السفينة، وإلا سيهاجم القرصان.
Exactly what words combine to make وإلا, and how does that explain its meaning?
The word وإلا is a contraction of three words: و (and) + إن (if) + لا (not). Literally meaning "and if not," it functions perfectly as "otherwise" to introduce the consequence of the first action (تتوقف) failing to occur.
Does the verb after وإلا need to be in the jussive (majazoum) mood, since it contains the conditional إن?
No. Even though it contains the conditional إن (which normally forces the verb into the jussive mood), the actual condition is implied and omitted here ("if it does not stop..."). Because of this, the consequence clause starts fresh. سيهاجم is just a normal present/future verb in the indicative mood, marked by the future prefix سـ.
Why is the first verb يجب masculine, but the second verb تتوقف is feminine?
The verb يجب translates to "it is necessary" and is an impersonal verb; it always stays fixed in the masculine singular. The feminine verb تتوقف belongs to the subordinate clause and agrees with its own subject, the feminine noun السفينة (the ship).
Why use the Form III verb سيهاجم instead of the basic Form I سيهجم for "will attack"?
While the Form I verb هجم means to attack, charge, or pounce, the Form III version هاجم (present tense يهاجم) carries a stronger, more deliberate sense of engaging in combat or directing a sustained attack against a target, which fits a pirate attacking another vessel.
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