Direct Object Relative Clauses
In English, we use relative clauses to give more information about a noun (like "the drill that I borrowed"). In Farsi, we link these descriptive clauses to the noun using که. We also attach the suffix ی to the noun before adding که.
The Resumptive Pronoun (آن را)
Here is where Farsi differs from English: if the noun is the direct object inside the relative clause, Farsi requires a "resumptive pronoun" to refer back to it.
For inanimate objects like tools and equipment, we use آن را. You are literally saying "The drill that I borrowed it." (For people, you would use او را).
| The drill that I borrowed is broken. | دریلی که آن را قرض گرفتم، خراب است.derili ke ân râ qarz gereftam, kharâb ast. |
| The ladder that I borrowed from you is very tall. | نردبانی که آن را از شما قرض گرفتم، خیلی بلند است.nardebâni ke ân râ az shomâ qarz gereftam, kheyli boland ast. |
| Where is the new screwdriver that you had bought? | پیچگوشتی جدیدی که آن را خریده بودید، کجا است؟pichgooshtiye jadidi ke ân râ kharide boodid, kojâ ast? |
Objects in Both Clauses
Sometimes, the noun is the direct object of the relative clause and the direct object of the main sentence.
In these cases, the main noun will take the object marker را, and you will still use آن را inside the relative clause.
| I returned the drill that I borrowed. | من دریلی را که آن را قرض گرفتم، پس دادم.man dirili râ ke ân râ qarz gereftam, pas dâdam. |
| I washed the wrench that I found under the table. | من آچاری را که آن را زیر میز پیدا کردم، شستم.man âchâri râ ke ân râ zir-e miz peydâ kardam, shostam. |
Notice how the main noun gets را before که, while the relative clause maintains its own آن را.