Breakdown of کدام کتاب روی میز است، کتاب نارنجی یا کتاب بنفش؟
بودنbudan
to be
کتابketâb
book
رویruye
on
میزmize
table
کدامkodâm
which
یاyâ
or
نارنجیnârenji
orange
بنفشbanafsh
purple
Questions & Answers about کدام کتاب روی میز است، کتاب نارنجی یا کتاب بنفش؟
Why is the noun ketâb (book) singular after kodâm (which)?
In Farsi, the question word kodâm is always followed by a singular noun. This is exactly like English, where you ask 'which book' rather than 'which books', even when choosing from a larger group of items.
Is there an ezafe (the hidden 'e' connecting sound) between kodâm and ketâb?
No, question words like kodâm (which) and che (what) do not use the ezafe connector. You simply say kodâm ketâb. However, you do need an ezafe to connect a noun to its adjective, which is why the options are pronounced ketâb-e nârenji (the orange book) and ketâb-e banafsh (the purple book).
Why does the word ruy (on) need an ezafe connection to miz (table)?
Prepositions of location like ruy (on) and zir (under) act a bit like nouns in Farsi. To link them to the specific place they refer to, you must use the ezafe sound. Therefore, it is always pronounced ruy-e miz (on the table).
Why is the verb ast (is) in the middle of the sentence instead of at the very end?
Farsi verbs usually go at the end of the sentence, but this is a two-part thought. The main question is kodâm ketâb ruy-e miz ast (Which book is on the table?). The choices ketâb-e nârenji yâ ketâb-e banafsh are just tacked on at the end to clarify the options, so they naturally come after the main verb.
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