Breakdown of بهتر است مادربزرگ را در خانه تنها نگذاریم.
است
is
خانه
house
مادربزرگmâdarbozorg
grandmother
درdar
in
Questions & Answers about بهتر است مادربزرگ را در خانه تنها نگذاریم.
How is the negative subjunctive نگذاریم formed here?
It comes from the verb گذاشتن (to put/leave). The present stem is گذار (gozār). To make it negative subjunctive, we attach the negative prefix نـ (na-) instead of the usual positive subjunctive prefix بـ (be-), and then add the "we" ending ـیم (-im). This gives us نگذاریم (nagozārim).
Why do we use the subjunctive mood for "we do not leave" in this sentence?
The phrase بهتر است (it is better) expresses a recommendation or opinion. In Farsi, impersonal phrases like "it is better that," "it is necessary that," or "it is possible that" always require the verb in the following clause to be in the subjunctive mood.
Why is the word را (rā) used right after مادربزرگ (grandmother)?
را (rā) is the specific direct object marker. Because "grandmother" is the direct receiver of the action (she is the one being left), and because she is a specific, known person (our grandmother, not just any grandmother), we must flag her with را.
Does the base verb گذاشتن usually mean "to leave"?
Its most common meaning is "to put." However, when you combine it with an adjective like تنها (alone), it means to leave someone or something in that specific state. So, تنها گذاشتن translates naturally to "to leave alone."