Questions & Answers about آنها یک ماشین ندارند.
How do we make the verb dârand (they have) negative in this sentence?
To make the verb dâshtan (to have) negative, you simply add the negative prefix na- to the front. Here, dârand (they have) becomes nadârand (they do not have).
When adding the negative na-, does the spoken stress change?
Yes! In Farsi, when you add the negative prefix na- to a verb, the spoken emphasis (stress) shifts to that prefix. You should pronounce this verb as NA-dârand, putting the main stress on the first syllable.
Why is the verb nadârand placed at the very end of the sentence?
Farsi uses a Subject-Object-Verb word order. ânhâ (they) is the subject, yek mâshin (a car) is the object, and the verb nadârand comes last. The main verb almost always sits at the very end of a Farsi sentence.
Is the word mâshin just the English word machine?
It is a loanword from French, but in everyday Farsi, mâshin specifically means car or automobile. If you want to talk about a factory machine or mechanical device, you would usually use a different word.
Do I strictly need the word yek (a or one) here?
Not strictly. You could say ânhâ mâshin nadârand and it would still mean they do not have a car. Adding just puts a slight emphasis on the fact that they do not have one single car.