Breakdown of اذهب إلى الشباك الثالث لدفع الرسوم.
الal
the
ذهبdhahaba
to go
إلىilâ
to
لli
for, to (attached)
ثالثthâlith
third
دفعdafa'a
to pay
رسومrusûm
fees
شباكshubbâk
counter
Questions & Answers about اذهب إلى الشباك الثالث لدفع الرسوم.
Why is الشباك translated as "counter" here when it usually means "window"?
While شباك literally means "window," in the context of banks, government buildings, or stations, it is the standard word used for a "teller window" or "counter" where you are served.
Why does the sentence use the verbal noun دفع (paying) instead of a verb to say "to pay"?
In Arabic, expressing purpose is frequently done by attaching the preposition لِـ (li-, meaning "for") to a verbal noun (masdar). So لدفع literally means "for the paying." While you could use a verb in the subjunctive mood here, like لِتَدْفَعَ (so that you pay), using the verbal noun is standard and highly natural in formal instructions.
What is the grammatical relationship between دفع and الرسوم?
They form an idafa (genitive construct). Even though دفع (paying) represents an action, grammatically it acts as a noun. Therefore, the object of that action, الرسوم (the fees), becomes the second part of the idafa and takes the genitive case. Literally, it translates to "the paying of the fees."
What case ending does the adjective الثالث (third) take?
It takes the genitive case (majruur) and ends with a kasra (an "i" sound), making it الثالثِ. Because it acts as an adjective describing الشباكِ (the counter), it must perfectly match that noun's case. The noun is in the genitive case because it directly follows the preposition إلى (to).
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