Reported Speech and Tense Retention
In English, when we report what someone said, we usually "backshift" the tense (e.g., "is" becomes "was").
In Persian, there is no backshifting. You report the statement using the exact same tense the original speaker used. Simply link the reporting phrase to the original statement using the conjunction که (that).
| He transmitted that the signal there is clear. | او مخابره کرد که سیگنال آنجا واضح است.u mokhâbere kard ke signâl ânjâ vâzeh ast. |
| The fisherman transmitted that there was a lot of static on this frequency. | ماهیگیر مخابره کرد که پارازیت در این فرکانس زیاد است.mâhigir mokhâbere kard ke pârâzit dar in frekâns ziâd ast. |
| She said that she was receiving the messages clearly. | او گفت که پیامها را واضح دریافت میکند.u goft ke payâm-hâ râ vâzeh daryâft mikonad. |
Reporting Completed Actions
The exact same rule applies to the present perfect tense. If someone reports a completed action with a current result, Persian keeps it in the present perfect. English, however, often shifts this to the past perfect (e.g., "had broken" or "had transmitted").
| The operator said that the radio's antenna was broken. | اپراتور گفت که آنتن بیسیم شکسته است.operâtor goft ke ânten-e bisim shekaste ast. |
| Did he say that he had transmitted the coordinates of the island? | آیا او گفت که مختصات جزیره را مخابره کرده است؟âyâ u goft ke mokhtasât jazire râ mokhâbere karde ast? |
Relaying Observations and Negatives
Whether you are reporting a negative state or a continuous action, the rule remains unchanged. Always preserve the original tense of the statement being reported.
| The officer wrote that the radar was not receiving anything. | افسر نوشت که رادار هیچچیز دریافت نمیکند.afsar nevesht ke râdâr hich chiz daryâft nemikonad. |
| They told us that they were sending the secret coordinates on a new frequency. | آنها به ما گفتند که مختصات محرمانه را روی یک فرکانس جدید میفرستند.ânhâ be mâ goftand ke mokhtasâte mahramâne râ ruye yek farkânse jadid miferestand. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io
