Question 1

Why does the sentence use دارد (has) in the present tense, instead of the past tense like we often do in English?

Accepted Answer

This is a key rule in Farsi reported speech! In English, when we report what someone said in the past, we usually change the tense to match: "He said that he had experience." In Farsi, after the word که (that), you must keep the exact tense the person originally used. Since he originally said "I have ten years of experience", Farsi keeps the verb in the present tense: دارد (he has).

Question 2

Why is سال (year) singular when it comes after the number ده (ten)?

Accepted Answer

In Farsi, any noun that directly follows a number must always remain in its singular form. You will never make the noun plural after a number. So, instead of "ten years", Farsi literally says "ten year" (ده سال).

Question 3

I learned that تجربه means "experience". Why is سابقه used here instead?

Accepted Answer

While تجربه (tajrobe) means experience in a general or life sense, سابقه (sābeqe) specifically refers to a "record," "history," or "background." When talking about job history or professional experience, Farsi speakers use سابقه (or سابقه کار - work experience) rather than تجربه.

Question 4

Since Farsi doesn't have gendered pronouns, how do we know who has the experience?

Accepted Answer

Because او means "he" or "she", and دارد means "he/she has", this sentence could technically mean "He said that he (himself) has experience," "She said that she has experience," or even "He said that she (someone else) has experience." However, in everyday conversation, if no other person is mentioned, it is assumed the speaker is talking about themselves. Context almost always clears this up!

او گفت که ده سال سابقه دارد.

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