Breakdown of اگر نجار بیاید، بریدن قطعهها را شروع میکند.
آمدنâmadan
to come
شروع کردنshoru' kardan
to start
راrâ
definite direct object marker
بریدنboridan
to cut
اگرagar
if
نجارnajjâr
carpenter
قطعهqet'e
piece
Questions & Answers about اگر نجار بیاید، بریدن قطعهها را شروع میکند.
How does the phrase connecting cutting and the pieces work grammatically here?
The word بریدن is a verbal noun meaning cutting or to cut. To connect it to its logical object, the pieces (قطعهها), we use the Ezafe vowel -e (pronounced boridan-e qet'e-hâ). This literally translates to the cutting of the pieces, which is how Farsi links verbal nouns to the things they act upon.
Why is the direct object marker را placed after the pieces instead of after the word for cutting?
In Farsi, را marks the entire noun phrase that serves as the direct object. Here, the direct object of the verb he starts (شروع میکند) is the whole phrase cutting the pieces (بریدن قطعهها). The marker را always attaches to the very end of that complete phrase block.
Why is the first verb بیاید (comes) in the subjunctive form?
The sentence starts with اگر (if), which creates a conditional sentence. When talking about a possible future condition, the verb in the if clause is put into the subjunctive mood because it describes an uncertain or hypothetical event. You can spot the subjunctive by the prefix بـ attached to the present stem.
The English translation says will start, but شروع میکند is in the present tense. Is this a mistake?
Not at all! In Farsi, the present tense is very frequently used to express actions that will happen in the near or certain future. This is especially common in the result clause (the then part) of an if sentence. While a strict future tense exists, the present tense sounds much more natural here.
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