Rule 1: 1. Asking about a past event
The question words you already know stand directly before the perfect verb: مَتَى when, مَنْ who, مَا or مَاذَا what, أَيْنَ where, and كَمْ مَرَّةً how many times. هَلْ turns a statement into a yes/no question. The answer repeats the verb in the person that fits the answerer.
مَتَى دَخَلْتَ الْمَحْكَمَةَ؟ – دَخَلْتُهَا صَبَاحَ أَمْسِ.
matā dakhalta-l-maḥkamata? – dakhaltuhā ṣabāḥa amsi
When did you enter the court? – I entered it yesterday morning.
مَنْ سَرَقَ السَّاعَةَ؟ – مَا سَرَقَهَا أَحَدٌ.
man saraqa-s-sāʿata? – mā saraqahā aḥadun
Who stole the watch? – Nobody stole it.
كَمْ مَرَّةً سَأَلْتُمُ الشَّاهِدَ؟ – سَأَلْنَاهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ.
kam marratan saʾaltumu-sh-shāhida? – saʾalnāhu thalātha marrātin
How many times did you (pl.) ask the witness? – We asked him three times.
هَلْ عَلِمْتِ بِالْحُكْمِ يَا هِنْدُ؟ – نَعَمْ، عَلِمْتُ بِهِ.
hal ʿalimti bi-l-ḥukmi yā hindu? – naʿam, ʿalimtu bihi
Did you (f.) learn of the judgment, Hind? – Yes, I learnt of it.