هیچکس علامت را در صندوق ندید.hich-kas alâmat râ dar sandogh nadid.
Nobody saw the sign in the trunk.
Breakdown of هیچکس علامت را در صندوق ندید.
درdar
in
دیدنdidan
to see / to watch
راrâ
definite direct object marker
هیچکسhichkas
nobody
Questions & Answers about هیچکس علامت را در صندوق ندید.
Why is the verb negative (nadid) if hich-kas already means nobody?
In Farsi, you must use a double negative. Whenever you use a negative pronoun like hich-kas (nobody), hich-chiz (nothing), or hich-jâ (nowhere), the verb must also be negative. Literally, this sentence translates to: Nobody didn't see the sign in the trunk.
Why is râ used after alâmat?
The word râ marks a specific direct object. Because the sentence refers to a specific sign (the sign) that we already know about, rather than just any sign (a sign), we must follow it with râ.
Does hich-kas always take a singular verb like nadid?
Yes. Because hich-kas literally means no person, it acts as a singular subject. Therefore, it takes a third-person singular verb ending.
I learned that sanduq means box or chest. Does it also mean a car trunk?
Yes! While sanduq usually means a box or chest, it is also the standard everyday word for a car trunk. You will also often hear it called sanduq-e aqab, which literally means back box.