A Hundred and One Rules in Arabic Grammar!
- The Cluster Buster. =======================
Generally speaking, Arabic does not tolerate three or more consonant clusters. The common practice to deal with such a phonological environment is to insert a short or long vowel in between. We mentioned earlier the use of the short helping vowel. A good example for the use of a long vowel is when we have an attached object pronoun for transitive verbs which have أنتم as a subject. Notice the use of the long vowel (و ) to break the cluster in the following sentences:
**شاهدتـُموها في السوق ِ.**
You (mp) saw her in the market.
**قابلتـُمونا في المقهی.**
You (mp) met us in the cafe.
**علمتـُموهُ العربية َ.**
You (mp) taught him Arabic.