Instead of using full independent pronouns with the object marker را (like او را or من را), Farsi frequently uses short pronoun endings called pronominal enclitics. These attach directly to the verb to act as the direct object.
The Object Pronoun Endings
These six endings replace a direct object pronoun:
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | ـم | ـمان |
| 2nd | ـت | ـتان |
| 3rd | ـش | ـشان |
Attaching to Compound Verbs
Many Farsi verbs are compounds—a noun or adjective paired with a light verb like کردن or دادن. When using a compound verb, the object ending attaches to the end of the non-verbal part (the noun or adjective), right before the light verb.
| If the criminal lies, the judge will convict him. | اگر مجرم دروغ بگوید، قاضی محکومش میکند.agar mojrem dorugh beguyad, qâzi mahkumash mikonad. |
| When the judge summoned me, I swore an oath. | وقتی قاضی احضارم کرد، من قسم خوردم.vaqti qâzi ehzâram kard, man qasam khordam. |
Plural endings work exactly the same way:
| The judge sentenced them to imprisonment. | قاضی به حبس محکومشان کرد.qâzi be habs mahkumeshân kard. |
Attaching to Simple Verbs
For simple verbs, the object enclitic attaches to the very end of the word, right after the personal ending. For example, ببینم (I see) + ـت (you) becomes ببینمت (I see you).
| If I see you in court, I will tell the truth. | اگر در دادگاه ببینمت، حقیقت را میگویم.agar dar dâdgâh bebinamat, haqiqat râ miguyam. |
| The judge read the verdict and the criminal heard it. | قاضی حکم را خواند و مجرم شنیدش.qâzi hokm râ khând va mojrem shenidash. |
When attaching these endings to a third-person singular past tense verb (which has no visible personal ending), simply add the enclitic directly to the past stem.
| The murderer escaped, but the police caught him. | قاتل فرار کرد، اما پلیس گرفتش.qâtel farâr kard, ammâ polis gereftash. |
| Did the prosecutor see you in court yesterday? | آیا دادستان دیروز در دادگاه دیدت؟âyâ dâdsetân diruz dar dâdgâh didat? |
