Hafiz soon
As-Saffat · 37:169

We would have been the chosen servants of Allāh."

Sahih International

Word 1 of 4

لَكُنَّا

lakunnā

Certainly, we (would) have been

Word breakdown

ل

Harf · Emphatic particle

indeed

كُ

Fi'l · Verb

Certainly, we (would) have been

Rootكونkwn

to be, exist, happen

1,390× in the Quran · Extremely common

LemmaكَانَVerb (form I) - to be

نا

Ism · Personal pronoun

us/our

Grammar rules

Past tense verb

لَكُنَّا (Certainly, we (would) have been) is a past tense verb — the action already happened and is complete.

We translate it in past tense — "did", "created", "said", etc.

Lesson 8 · Verbs — Past & Present
Emphatic لَ (indeed)

لَكُنَّا (Certainly, we (would) have been) starts with لَ for emphasis — it's like saying "indeed!" or "certainly!".

We add "indeed" or "certainly" to show the emphasis.

Lesson 15 · إنّ and Sisters