Questions & Answers about آنها دیروز یا پارچه خریدند یا نخ.
Why does the verb خریدند come before یا نخ instead of at the very end of the sentence?
While Farsi usually puts verbs at the end of the sentence, structures using یا ... یا (either ... or) often break this rule to sound more natural. Splitting the objects and putting the verb in the middle puts equal emphasis on both choices, though saying یا پارچه یا نخ خریدند with the verb at the very end is also grammatically correct.
Are we required to put the first یا right before the noun پارچه?
Yes, because the choice being made is specifically between the two objects: fabric and thread. In Farsi, you must place یا directly before the specific things, actions, or descriptions that are being compared.
Why aren't there any plural markers or indefinite articles on پارچه and نخ?
When talking about general materials or uncountable nouns like fabric and thread, Farsi typically uses the plain singular form. Adding plural markers here would change the meaning to specific pieces of fabric or specific spools of thread.
As a quick review, what part of خریدند tells us this is the simple past tense?
The verb is built from the past stem خرید (from the infinitive خریدن, to buy). Whenever you attach a personal ending like the 'they' ending ـند directly to a past stem, it forms the simple past tense. The word دیروز (yesterday) also acts as a clear time clue for this.