Noun Apposition (Badal)
When introducing someone, you often state their name or title followed by an additional descriptive role (e.g., "Our guest, the renowned mathematician"). In Farsi, this structure is called Badal (بدل) or noun apposition.
Normally, linking nouns to descriptions requires the Ezafe connector. However, in noun apposition, the second phrase acts as an independent clarification. Do not use an Ezafe to link them. Instead, place them side by side, separated by commas in writing and a slight pause in speech.
| Our guest, the renowned mathematician, arrived before the closing ceremony. | مهمان ما، ریاضیدان نامدار، قبل از اختتامیه رسید.mehmân-e mâ, riyâzidân-e nâmdâr, qabl az ekhtetâmiye resid. |
| The renowned researcher, the winner of the Nobel prize, accepted the statuette and smiled. | محقق نامدار، برندهی جایزهی نوبل، تندیس را پذیرفت و لبخند زد.mohaqqeqe nâmdâr, barandeye jâyezeye nobel, tandis râ pazireft va labkhand zad. |
Using را with Apposition
When the main noun is a specific direct object, the object marker را doesn't go immediately after it. Instead, را gets pushed to the very end of the entire appositive phrase.
| We introduced the new speaker, a successful pioneer. | ما سخنران جدید، یک پیشگام موفق، را معرفی کردیم.mâ sokhanrân-e jadid, yek pishgâm-e movaffaq, râ mo'arrefi kardim. |
| They invited the winner of the Nobel prize, an interesting writer. | آنها برندهی جایزهی نوبل، نویسندهی جالبی، را دعوت کردند.ânhâ barande-ye jâyeze-ye nobel, nevisande-ye jâlebi, râ da'vat kardand. |
Apposition with Prepositions
If the main noun is the object of a preposition (like "to" or "with"), the preposition stays in its normal place before the first noun, followed by the appositive phrase (without an Ezafe).
| We gave a statuette to the winner, a young genius. | ما به برنده، نابغهی جوان، یک تندیس دادیم.mâ be barande, nâbeghe-ye javân, yek tandis dâdim. |
| My brother talked to that pioneer, a brilliant mathematician. | برادر من با آن پیشگام، یک ریاضیدان باهوش، صحبت کرد.barâdar-e man bâ ân pishgâm, yek riyâzidân-e bâhoosh, sohbat kard |