Breakdown of آیا ساختن میز را شروع کردی؟
میزmize
table
آیاâyâ
whether (question particle)
شروع کردنshoru' kardan
to start
راrâ
definite direct object marker
Questions & Answers about آیا ساختن میز را شروع کردی؟
How do we connect the action 'building' to 'the table' in this sentence?
We use the Ezafe! The word for building is the verbal noun sâkhtan. To say 'building the table', we link it to miz (table) with the invisible 'e' sound: sâkhtan-e miz. It literally translates to 'the building of the table'.
Why is the object marker ra placed after the table (miz) instead of the action (sâkhtan)?
The word ra (or râ) marks the entire noun phrase that comes before it as the direct object. The direct object of the main verb shoru' kardi (you started) is the whole phrase sâkhtan-e miz (building the table). Therefore, ra goes at the very end of that phrase.
Wait, isn't sâkhtan the infinitive verb 'to build'?
Yes, but in Farsi, infinitives (words ending in -tan or -dan) double as verbal nouns. This means they work exactly like '-ing' words in English. Here, sâkhtan acts as a noun meaning 'building' or 'making'.
Is the word âyâ mandatory for a yes/no question like this?
No, âyâ is optional and makes the sentence sound a bit more proper or formal. In everyday spoken Farsi, you can just drop it and use a questioning tone of voice at the end of the sentence.