To describe setting about a complex physical task, such as an artist tackling a massive block of ice, Farsi uses a specific formal verb of engagement.
The Verb پرداختن به
The verb پرداختن combined with the preposition به translates to "to set about", "to engage in", or "to address".
| to set about / to engage in | پرداختن بهpardâkhtan be |
To use it, place the preposition به followed by the activity (a noun or a long infinitive), and put the conjugated form of پرداختن at the end of the phrase.
Engaging in a Noun
When به is followed by a standard noun, this structure expresses engaging in a specific activity, event, or task.
| After setting the stopwatch, the artists excitedly engaged in the competition. | بعد از تنظیم زمانسنج، هنرمندان با هیجان به مسابقه پرداختند.ba'd az tanzim-e zamân-sanj, honarmandân bâ hayajân be mosâbeqe pardâkhtand. |
| Right at the beginning, the best sculptor immediately set to work. | در همین آغاز، بهترین پیکرتراش بلافاصله به کار پرداخت.dar hamin âghâz, behtarin peykar-tarâsh belâfâsele be kâr pardâkht. |
Setting About an Action
To express setting about doing something, follow به with a long infinitive. In Farsi, the long infinitive is the dictionary form of a verb (ending in ـدن or ـتن), which functions as a verbal noun (like a gerund in English).
| The sculptor impatiently set about carving the huge ice cube. | پیکرتراش بیصبرانه به تراشیدن مکعب یخ بزرگ پرداخت.peykar-tarâsh bisabrâne be tarâshidan-e moka'ab-e yakh-e bozorg pardâkht. |
| The sculptor set about carving the ice block with a chisel. | پیکرتراش با اسکنه به تراشیدن مکعب یخ پرداخت.peykartarâsh bâ eskene be tarâshidan-e moka'ab-e yakh pardâkht. |
Moods and Negation
Because پرداختن behaves like any regular Farsi verb, it can be conjugated into different tenses and moods. To form the negative, add the نـ prefix.
| Before the start, no one set about carving the ice. | قبل از آغاز، هیچکس به تراشیدن یخ نپرداخت.ghabl az âghâz, hich-kas be tarâshidan-e yakh napardâkht. |
To suggest or command an action, use the subjunctive mood by adding the بـ prefix.
| Let's carefully engage in judging the masterpieces of this competition! | بیایید با دقت به داوری شاهکارهای این مسابقه بپردازیم!biyâyid bâ deqqat be dâvari-ye shâhkârhâ-ye in mosâbeqe bepardâzim! |