المحاولة كانت صعبة.

The attempt was difficult.

Breakdown of المحاولة كانت صعبة.

• كان: to be
• صعب: difficult
• محاولة: attempt

Questions & Answers about المحاولة كانت صعبة.

Why is it كانت and not كان?

Because المحاولة is a feminine singular noun, and كان in the past tense agrees with it here.

• كان = masculine singular
• كانت = feminine singular

Since محاولة ends in ـة and is feminine, the sentence uses كانت.

A masculine example would be:

• الامتحان كان صعب = same structure, but with a masculine noun

Why is صعبة feminine too?

Because adjectives in Arabic usually agree with the noun they describe in gender and number.

Here, صعبة describes المحاولة, so it also has to be feminine:

• محاولة صعبة = a difficult attempt

If the noun were masculine, you would usually get:

• صعب

So the feminine ـة on صعبة matches the feminine محاولة.

What does الـ mean in المحاولة?

الـ is the definite article, like the in English.

So:

• محاولة = an attempt / attempt
• المحاولة = the attempt

In Levantine pronunciation, is often pronounced more like or , depending on the region.