Breakdown of آنها گفتند که اگر در رقابت پیروز نشویم، ما را اخراج میکنند.
ما
we
آنها
they
درdar
in
گفتنgoftan
to say / to tell
راrâ
definite direct object marker
کهke
that (conjunction)
پیروز شدنpirooz shodan
to win
اگرagar
if
رقابتreqâbat
competition (rivalry)
اخراج کردنekhrâj kardan
to fire
Questions & Answers about آنها گفتند که اگر در رقابت پیروز نشویم، ما را اخراج میکنند.
Why are the verbs نشویم and میکنند in the present tense when the main verb گفتند (said) is in the past?
This is a major difference between English and Farsi! In English, we usually shift tenses backwards in reported speech, changing 'will' to 'would'. Farsi does not do this. After که (that), you simply keep the exact tense the original speaker used. Their original thought used present and future ideas, so those tenses are preserved perfectly here.
Why is پیروز نشویم in the subjunctive mood?
The word اگر (if) sets up a condition. When talking about a real or likely future possibility like 'if we do not win', Farsi uses the present subjunctive for the verb inside the 'if' clause.
Where does the negative prefix go in a compound verb like پیروز شدن (to win)?
It always attaches to the helper verb part, never to the noun or adjective at the start. So, پیروز شدن becomes پیروز نشویم (we do not win), not نپیروز شویم. Notice that the usual subjunctive بـ prefix is dropped when the negative نـ is added.
The English translation says 'they will fire us', but isn't اخراج میکنند present tense?
Yes, it is the present indicative tense! In Farsi, the present tense is very frequently used to express future actions, especially for definite plans or direct consequences. You do not need a special future tense to say 'they will fire us' in this context.
Why do we need the word را after ما (us)?
را is the specific direct object marker. Because 'us' (ما) is the specific target receiving the action of the verb 'to fire' (اخراج کردن), it needs را right after.
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