Complementizer که | Farsi Grammar

The complementizer که links a main predicate to a complete clause that supplies its content: می‌دانم که خسته‌ای “I know that you are tired.” The clause after که has its own subject—expressed or understood—and a finite verb. What changes across speech, thought, desire, and evaluation is not the linker but the status of that content.

English that is often optional and English can use an infinitive after many verbs. Persian more consistently uses a finite که clause when the embedded subject differs. Mood shows whether the content is asserted as a fact or presented as wanted, possible, necessary, or evaluated.

Complement map

Main predicate	Content status	Typical complement	Register
گفتن، دانستن	reported/asserted proposition	که + indicative	all
فکر کردن	belief or prediction	indicative in assertions; subjunctive often under negation or questioning	all
خواستن، ترجیح دادن	desired event	که + subjunctive	all
لازم است، ممکن است	evaluation/modal possibility	که + subjunctive	neutral/formal

مدیر گفت که جلسه ساعت نه شروع می‌شود.

modir goft ke jalase sâ'at-e noh shoru' mi-shavad.

The manager said that the meeting starts at nine. (neutral standard; reported content)

می‌دانم که این مسیر کوتاه‌تر است.

mi-dânam ke in masir kutâh-tar ast.

I know that this route is shorter. (neutral; factual complement)

The indicative presents the embedded proposition from a factual or reporting viewpoint. A past reporting verb does not automatically backshift Persian tense; see Reported Speech and Tense Retention.

Desire and evaluation favor the subjunctive

When the main predicate presents an event as desired, required, possible, or evaluated rather than asserted, the complement commonly uses the subjunctive.

می‌خواهم که فردا زودتر بیایی.

mi-khâham ke fardâ zud-tar bi-âyi.

I want you to come earlier tomorrow. (neutral; different embedded subject)

لازم است که همه‌ی فرم‌ها امضا شوند.

lâzem ast ke hame-ye form-hâ emzâ shavand.

It is necessary for all the forms to be signed. (formal; evaluated necessity)

ممکن است که پرواز به‌دلیل مه لغو شود.

momken ast ke parvâz be-dalil-e meh laghv shavad.

The flight may be cancelled because of fog. (formal-neutral possibility)

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Ask whether the main predicate asserts the complement or merely places it in a desired, possible, or evaluated world. Assertion favors indicative; nonassertion commonly favors subjunctive.

Same and different subjects

With different subjects, که plus a finite verb is the dependable pattern: “I want [you come].” When both actions share a subject, Persian often uses a shorter subjunctive construction and can omit که.

می‌خواهم فردا زودتر حرکت کنم.

mi-khâham fardâ zud-tar harekat konam.

I want to leave earlier tomorrow. (neutral; shared subject, که omitted)

می‌خواهم که شما نتیجه را مستقیم برای من بفرستید.

mi-khâham ke shomâ natije râ mostaqim barâ-ye man be-ferestid.

I want you to send the result directly to me. (polite; different subject expressed)

Persian pro-drop can leave the embedded subject unspoken when agreement and context identify it. گفت که می‌آید normally takes the person mentioned as the understood subject, but add a noun or pronoun if two candidates are active.

When که can disappear

Everyday conversation often omits که after گفتن، فکر کردن, and other frequent predicates when the boundary is short and clear. Formal prose retains it to prevent a garden path.

رضا گفت فردا مدارک را می‌آورد.

Rezâ goft fardâ madârek râ mi-âvarad.

Reza said he would bring the documents tomorrow. (careful conversation; که omitted)

پژوهشگران نتیجه گرفتند که روش دوم دقت بیشتری دارد.

pazhuheshgarân natije gereftand ke ravesh-e dovvom deqqat-e bishtari dârad.

The researchers concluded that the second method is more accurate. (academic; که clarifies a long complement)

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Omit که only when the selecting predicate and clause boundary remain obvious. Keeping it in formal or densely embedded prose helps the reader locate the complement immediately.

A short exchange

— فکر می‌کنی سارا قبول کند؟ — امیدوارم که قبول کند؛ این فرصت برایش مهم است.

— fekr mi-koni Sârâ qabul konad? — omidvâram ke qabul konad; in forsat barâ-yash mohemm ast.

— Do you think Sara will accept? — I hope she does; this opportunity is important to her. (neutral conversation)

Common Mistakes

1. Using an infinitive for a different embedded subject

❌ می‌خواهم شما فردا آمدن.

Incorrect — the embedded subject شما requires a finite subjunctive.

✅ می‌خواهم شما فردا به دفتر بیایید.

mi-khâham shomâ fardâ be daftar bi-âyid.

I want you to come to the office tomorrow.

2. Giving one complement two finite predicates

❌ لازم است که او می‌آید بیاید.

Incorrect — choose the subjunctive بیاید; do not stack indicative and subjunctive.

✅ لازم است که او تا ظهر بیاید.

lâzem ast ke u tâ zohr bi-âyad.

He needs to come by noon.

3. Repeating که without a selecting head

❌ مدیر که گفت که جلسه که لغو شد.

Incorrect — only a licensed complement or relative boundary takes که.

✅ مدیر گفت که جلسه‌ی امروز لغو شده است.

modir goft ke jalase-ye emruz laghv shode ast.

The manager said today's meeting had been cancelled.

4. Leaving the embedded subject ambiguous

❌ علی به رضا گفت که خودش دیر می‌رسم.

Incorrect — خودش is third-person singular, but می‌رسم is first-person singular.

✅ علی به رضا گفت که خودش دیر می‌رسد.

Ali be Rezâ goft ke khod-ash dir mi-rasad.

Ali told Reza that he himself would be late.

Key Takeaways

که introduces a finite clause that supplies a predicate's content.
Factual speech and knowledge favor indicative complements; desire, possibility, and evaluation commonly favor subjunctive.
Different embedded subjects make a finite که clause especially important.
Conversation can omit که after familiar predicates; formal prose keeps it when boundaries need help.
Subject agreement and discourse—not که itself—identify an omitted embedded subject.

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