Question 1

Why is the preposition عن used after دافع instead of making the accused a direct object?

Accepted Answer

In Arabic, the Form III verb دافع (to defend) does not take a direct object for the person being defended. Instead, it must always be followed by the preposition عن (literally 'about' or 'away from'). You are effectively saying the lawyer 'defended on behalf of' or 'pushed attacks away from' the accused.

Question 2

Since المحامي is the subject of the sentence, why doesn't it end in a visible damma (the standard 'u' sound for subjects)?

Accepted Answer

المحامي (the lawyer) belongs to a special group of words called defective nouns (اسم منقوص), which end in a fixed yaa (ي). When these words are in the nominative case (like a subject) or the genitive case (after a preposition), their case ending is implied rather than pronounced. You just say al-muḥāmī, not al-muḥāmiyu.

Question 3

The word for the accused is المتهم. What is its root, and why does it have a shadda over the taa (تّ)?

Accepted Answer

The root is actually و ه م (w-h-m), which relates to suspicion or illusion, and المتهم is its Form VIII passive participle. In Form VIII, if a root begins with a waw (و), it changes into a taa (ت) and merges with the ت of the Form VIII pattern. This assimilation creates the double letter (تّ) seen in اتّهم (he accused) and مُتَّهَم (accused).

Question 4

What morphological pattern is used to create the word المحكمة (court)?

Accepted Answer

It is built on the 'noun of place' pattern (مَفْعَلَة), which indicates where an action happens. By taking the root ح ك م (h-k-m, related to judging or ruling) and plugging it into this pattern, you get محكمة, literally meaning 'the place of judging' or 'court'.

دافع المحامي عن المتهم في المحكمة.

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