Breakdown of صحيح أن السيارات مريحة، لكنها مضرة بالبيئة.
الal
the
سيارةsayyâra
car
هاhâ
her / her (object) / it (feminine)
بbi
by, with (attached)
لكنlâkin
but
مريحmurîh
comfortable
بيئةbi'ah
environment
مضرmudirr
harmful
صحيح أنsahîhun anna
it is true that (…, but)
Questions & Answers about صحيح أن السيارات مريحة، لكنها مضرة بالبيئة.
Why do we use أن instead of إن after صحيح?
We use أن because it forms a noun clause that acts as the subject of the sentence. Literally, it translates to 'That cars are comfortable is true.' You only use إن at the absolute beginning of a main sentence or directly after forms of the verb to say (قال).
Why does لكنها (but they) use the feminine singular pronoun ها when referring to plural cars?
In Arabic, non-human plurals like السيارات (cars) are treated grammatically as feminine singular. Therefore, the attached pronoun on لكن (but) must be the feminine singular ها rather than a plural pronoun. This applies to the adjective مريحة (comfortable) as well.
Does the word لكن (but) change depending on what follows it?
Yes. Because it attaches to a pronoun here, we use the heavy form لكنّ (lakinna), which is a 'sister of inna' and must be followed by a noun or an attached pronoun. If you were following 'but' with a verb instead, you would use the light form لكنْ (lakin).
Why does the sentence use the preposition بـ in بالبيئة (to the environment) instead of لـ?
The adjective مضرة (harmful) naturally pairs with the preposition بـ in Arabic. While English says 'harmful to', you must memorize that Arabic uses مضر بـ.
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