Breakdown of ما به شنیدن جواب نیاز داریم.
ما
we
بهbe
to
داشتنdâshtan
to have
نیازniyâz
need
جوابjavâb
answer
شنیدنshenidan
to hear
Questions & Answers about ما به شنیدن جواب نیاز داریم.
How do we recognize the infinitive in this sentence?
The word شنیدن (to hear) is the infinitive. You can spot Farsi infinitives because they always end in either -dan (like here) or -tan. In this sentence, it functions like a noun, so it translates closely to 'hearing'.
How do I find the present stem of the verb 'to need' from this sentence?
The verb for 'to need' is the compound verb نیاز داشتن (niaz dashtan - literally 'to have need'). The infinitive part is داشتن (dashtan). Finding the present stem of this verb is tricky because it is irregular: you just have to memorize that the present stem of داشتن is دار (dar). We then add the 'we' ending (-im) to get داریم.
Why is there a به before the verb شنیدن?
The compound verb نیاز داشتن (to need) requires the preposition به (be), which usually means 'to' or 'at'. Instead of saying 'We need to hear', Farsi phrases it as 'We have a need to hearing'. That is why به comes right before the infinitive شنیدن.
Is there a hidden 'ezafe' (the connector vowel -e) between 'hear' and 'answer'?
Yes! Because the infinitive شنیدن is acting as a noun here ('the hearing'), it needs the hidden vowel sound (-e) to connect it to the next noun جواب (answer). When speaking, you pronounce it شنیدنِ جواب (shenidan-e javab), which acts like 'the hearing of the answer'.
Learn ما به شنیدن جواب نیاز داریم and more in Farsi
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free