Question 1

How does the word حسب affect the grammatical case of the word that follows it (الحجم)?

Accepted Answer

حسب (hasaba) functions as a preposition of accordance here, meaning according to or depending on. Like other prepositions, it forces the following noun, الحجم (the size), into the genitive case (majroor). Therefore, it is pronounced الحجمِ (al-hajmi) with a kasra at the end.

Question 2

Why does العبوات take a kasra (an "i" sound) on its last letter if it is the direct object of the verb?

Accepted Answer

العبوات (the containers) is indeed the direct object of the active verb, so it is in the accusative case (mansub). However, because it is a sound feminine plural (a noun ending in ـات), it takes a kasra instead of the usual fatha in the accusative case. So it is correctly read as العبواتِ (al-'abuwwāti).

Question 3

What case ending does the verb ترتب take in this sentence, and why?

Accepted Answer

Because it is immediately preceded by the particle أن (an), the verb is placed in the subjunctive mood (mansub). This means the present tense active verb تُرَتِّب (you arrange) takes a fatha on its final letter, making it تُرَتِّبَ (turattiba).

Question 4

Could this sentence be read passively, meaning 'The containers must be arranged'?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it can be read passively if you change the internal vowels of the verb. You could read it as the passive verb تُرَتَّبَ (turattaba) rather than the active تُرَتِّبَ (turattiba). If you do this, العبوات becomes the subject of the passive verb and would take a damma for the nominative case (marfoo'), becoming تُرَتَّبَ العبواتُ. The provided English translation reflects the active reading.

يجب أن ترتب العبوات حسب الحجم.

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